Best data science college courses to consider?

I'm thinking about a data science major and am trying to plan my future class schedule. What are considered some of the best or 'must-take' courses for aspiring data scientists? Are there any instructors or classes that stand out?

When planning your studies in data science, there are several key courses that are fundamental to this field. Remember, data science is highly interdisciplinary, combining aspects of mathematics, computer science, and applied statistics. I'll provide an example structure, but bear in mind it may vary between universities, and the exact names of the courses may also differ from one institution to another:

1. Introduction to Statistics: This course is crucial for understanding how to interpret and analyze data. Concepts such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, correlation, and p-value are foundational.

2. Programming: Typically, courses in Python or R will be recommended, as these are widely-used languages in data science.

3. Data Structures & Algorithms: This will enhance your coding skills as well as teach you methods for optimizing your code.

4. Calculus and Linear Algebra: Many machine learning models depend upon an understanding of these subjects.

5. Databases Systems: You'll learn about database design, and SQL, which is essential for querying databases.

6. Data Visualization: This is important for communicating data insights effectively. Courses may cover tools like Tableau or libraries in Python like Matplotlib and Seaborn.

7. Machine Learning: Most data science programs will have one comprehensive machine learning course encompassing both supervised and unsupervised learning, or separate courses covering each. This will delve into models like linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, and SVMs, and clustering algorithms like K-means.

8. Big data Technologies: Courses in technologies like Hadoop and Spark are useful given the scale of data most industries work with.

9. Advanced Electives: These might include courses in Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Time Series Analysis, and more, to help you specialize further or delve deeper into areas of interest.

Just remember, there aren't specific teachers or courses that are universally accepted as 'the best'. It's more about comprehensively understanding the broad topics mentioned above. As for the instructors you might have, it's always a good idea to research them to some extent. You can often find professor ratings and reviews by students online, which can provide insight into their teaching style and effectiveness.

Remember to take advantage of resources like office hours and study groups, and don't be afraid to ask if you need additional help. Seeking clarification when you don't understand something can make a big difference in your learning journey.