Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

Overview

Business Analytics is the practice of transforming data into business insights to allow for better decision-making. By employing the latest tools, models and techniques, Business Analytics can help evaluate complex situations, consider all available options, predict outcomes and present critical risks for business decision makers. Harnessing the power of mathematical models, Business Analytics uses advanced tools and technologies to help each organization make the most of its data. The methods and models of analytics draw from disciplines including statistics, operations research, computer science, information systems and others. Business Analytics continues to be among the fastest-growing areas in business education in the United States.

The newly introduced Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics (BSBA) degree, also known as the Business Analytics major, now provides students with the option to major in Business Analytics in addition to the already available option of a concentration in Business Analytics. While a concentration includes five field courses and provides a broad introduction to the foundations of Business Analytics, a major in Business Analytics includes ten field courses that provide additional depth and rigor, and prepares students for analytics-focused jobs and careers. The BSBA will be a STEM degree and will train students in areas that are aligned with CIP Code 52.1301.

Some distinguishing attributes of the major are:

• A rigorous curriculum that is comprised of a combination of methods/foundational courses in Descriptive, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics (Methods)
• Elective options in Analytics applied to a specific functional area or an industry (Applications) available through several departments at GWSB
• A focus on communication, team, and project management (Skills)
• Hands-on exposure to industry standard Analytics tools/software (Technology)

An industry related project will serve as a capstone experience where students will work in teams on a real problem typically at one of our advisory board partner firms, and present their findings to the firm at the end of the project.

Career Options

A McKinsey report in 2016 emphasized that “most companies are capturing only a fraction of the potential value of data and analytics. Turning a world full of data into a data-driven world is an idea that many companies have found difficult to pull off in practice... and (leaving as a result) a great deal of that value still on the table.” Students who complete the Business Analytics major or concentration should be particularly strong candidates in the job market because of the continuing need in the marketplace for managers/analysts with strong analytical skills. Applications of analytics span a variety of industries and functional areas including marketing, finance, operations, HR, public policy, strategy, health care, tourism, sport, retail, etc. Some of the fastest-growing, most in-demand positions include:  

• Analyst / Consultant for Business Case Modeling
• Business Analytics and Optimization Consultant
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Scientist
• Decision Science Analyst
• Marketing Strategy Consultant
• Manager of Modeling and Analytics
• Pricing and Revenue Optimization Analyst

Recommended Minors or Second Majors

Business Analytics major students could consider adding one of the following fields as a minor or a second major:

• Computer Science
• Economics
• Math
• Political Science 
• Statistics

Recommended GWSB Concentrations

Business Analytics major students could consider adding one of the following fields as a concentration to compliment their major:

• Accountancy
• Finance 
• Information Systems and Technology Management 
• Marketing Strategy and Analytics

Degree Requirements