By Sheryl Grey-Contributor
Businesses rely on technology to create products and services that meet consumer needs. A business analytics career path allows you to use mathematics and statistics to help clients understand how technology impacts their business or services.
So what can you do with a business analytics degree? In this article, we explore business analytics degree options and requirements and list potential career options for graduates. To learn more about this field, see our guide on how to become a business analyst.
Associate of Science in Business Analytics
Earning an associate of science in business analytics degree prepares you to use information technology and analyze software development data in entry-level positions.
Admission requirements for associate in business analytics programs vary by educational institution but often include a high school diploma or GED certificate. This degree typically consists of 60 credits and takes two years of full-time study to complete. Colleges may offer online and in-person business analytics programs.
Coursework
Coursework varies by program, but below are typical courses for an associate in business analytics:
- Applied business analytics. This course covers the basic principles of relational databases. In this course, you learn how to manage data using tables and reports.
- Data visualization for business decisions. This course teaches how to gather and present business data in a complex visual format.
- Excel data analysis. This course covers how to represent data using Microsoft Excel. This includes creating workbooks and documents, such as invoices, budgets and performance charts.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Analytics
A bachelor of science (BS) in business analytics prepares you to analyze and create data-driven strategies for businesses and organizations to increase revenue and improve customer satisfaction. A BS in business analytics consists of 120 credit hours and takes full-time students four years to complete.
Admission requirements vary by institution but often include:
- College preparatory math coursework
- Transcripts of past coursework with a minimum GPA
- Minimum SAT or ACT scores
Coursework
Required coursework varies by educational institution, but typical courses include:
- Information technology for business. This course teaches the basics of information technology and information systems, including common techniques and tools such as Microsoft Excel and relational database management systems.
- Introduction to web analytics. This course teaches how to use web analytic tools to gather and analyze web data and understand paid search and advertising.
- Business analytics. This course covers customer segmentation, customer relationship management and analytic techniques used for data mining and extracting business intelligence for applications.
In addition to core coursework, students may pursue a specialization. Some examples include:
- Operations and supply chain management
- Information technology
- Data science
- Finance and risk analytics
- Marketing analytics
Master of Science in Business Analytics
A master’s in business analytics analyzes and extracts data from large data sets to create more effective business strategies. This graduate degree opens doors to career advancement and higher earning potential.
Most business analytics master’s programs require 30 credit hours and take one to two years to complete, depending on the program and your enrollment status. Accelerated business analytics programs allow students to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree concurrently in under five years.
Admission requirements vary by institution, but typical requirements include:
- An undergraduate degree
- GMAT or GRE test scores
- Transcripts from previous coursework
- Letters of recommendation
- Résumé
- Goal statement
- English language proficiency
Coursework
Common coursework for a master’s degree in business analytics includes:
- Data visualization. This course focuses on analyzing and visualizing data through user-friendly visualizations, data stories and user dashboards to assist in managerial decision-making.
- Big data analytics and cloud computing. This course focuses on analyzing and transforming large datasets with popular industry tools and techniques to address business programs.
- Database and SQL programming. This course teaches how to use relational databases to store, report and manage data. It covers the relational data model and advanced Structured Query Language (SQL) queries.
Read the full article here: /https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/business-and-marketing/business-analytics-career-path/
