Human Contexts & Ethics: Shaping Responsible Data Scientists
At UC Berkeley, we believe that technical skills alone are not enough to prepare students for the complex, data-driven world they will shape. Our Human Contexts and Ethics (HCE) curriculum grounds data science education in real-world contexts, equipping students to navigate the social, historical, and ethical dimensions of their work. This approach is a hallmark of Berkeley’s program and one of the reasons our graduates stand out as both innovative thinkers and responsible leaders.
Our courses invite students and educators to engage deeply with questions that have no easy answers:
- How did we come to live in a world where everything can be turned into data?
- How are data-driven technologies involved in making social order?
- What does responsible action mean in an age where data systems influence nearly every aspect of life?
By exploring these questions, students learn to identify the historical patterns and societal dynamics that inform today’s challenges and to see where their own work can make a difference.
HCE is integral to the UC Berkeley data science curriculum, which includes HCE-focused classes (Data 4AC and Data C104) and HCE materials integrated into core courses.
Learn More
HCE in UC Berkeley's Data Science major
Read more about the HCE requirement in UC Berkeley's data science major
UC Berkeley Faculty: Bring HCE to your classroom
UC Berkeley Faculty: Collaborate with us to integrate HCE materials into your course
Highlighted articles
Breaking Down the Divide Between Technology and Society at Berkeley
Berkeley’s undergraduate Data Science program is embedding Human Contexts and Ethics (HCE) directly into its core technical courses. Instead of treating ethics as an afterthought, faculty are demonstrating their commitment to the "society" piece in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society--working to show students that technical decisions have real-world consequences for real people.
Teaching tomorrow's data scientists: Ethics in action at UC Berkeley
With the growing popularity of the Data Science major at UC Berkeley, the value of the technical skills its students will develop is often front of mind. But a group of passionate Data Science faculty has turned their attention to giving students tools to manage data ethically as they step into roles with human impacts.
UC Berkeley alum uses data science to shape California's energy future
Alan Jian hadn’t always envisioned a career in government, but his perspective began to shift when he became a teaching assistant for a class on the human contexts and ethics of data. The course asked students to critically examine the ethical implications of data-driven decisions, particularly their impact on underserved communities. This experience sparked a new curiosity about how his skills could be used beyond the private sector.
Alexandra Stassinopoulos uses data to disrupt wildlife crime
In the complex world of animal trafficking, Alexandra Stassinopoulos, B.A. ‘21 has found her niche using data to combat illicit networks. Inspired by courses that integrated human context and ethics assignments, Stassinopoulos now works at C4ADS using technology to track and disrupt wildlife crimes around the globe.
Conversation at UC Berkeley workshop shares perspectives on AI and humanity
Safiya Noble, an internet studies scholar, social scientist and UCLA professor, joined Jennifer Chayes, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), at the UC Berkeley campus to envision a future where AI is used to benefit communities and societies. Their conversation highlights the critical need for HCE education.
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