Data visualization provides an effective means to communicate information and tell a story of quantitative data through graphic patterns. Especially in the big-data era, data visualization makes the massive data more approachable and valuable and greatly impacts the decision-making process in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and science. This course introduces students to the core concepts and various techniques and tools for data visualization. The course will first explore what data visualization is. The techniques of good design consideration and data preparation for the best visuals will be discussed. The course will present the elements of cognitive science theory and the principles of graphic/interaction design. It will then apply them to the visualization of information. Finally, the course will examine the appropriate forms for data representation through case studies. A variety of common and uncommon digital visualization software tools are used in the class for information exaction and presentations.