BS in Business Analytics

APU’s business management major offers each student a solid business foundation, followed by a focus on a special area of interest that aligns with their career goals.

66 units

The Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics is for students interested in developing expertise in data science and data analytics with specialization in the field of business. This program gives students a foundation in business and business management, and they are able to customize their degree by selecting a concentration in accounting, economics, finance, or marketing. 

Utilizing methods and systems to extract information or knowledge from large quantities of data that come in various forms, students learn to synthesize broad perspectives, knowledge, skills, and interconnections in business. Coursework gives students the opportunity to use use big data and historical data to develop models that help organizations make data-driven decisions.

This program equips students to solve complex problems and offer practical conclusions based on real business data, as they learn to utilize models, theories, and techniques drawn from the broad areas of mathematics, business and management sciences, and management information systems. Students learn to analyze large quantities of data and discover value-oriented insights, becoming data-driven decision makers in their organizations. Information is applied to a wide range of data-rich business domains such as accounting, economics, finance, marketing, human resource management, and supply chain management. 

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Students in this program acquire practical skills and experience in business analytics, building their portfolios and résumés through applied projects. Coursework includes opportunities for hands-on application with big data manipulation and analysis, system management, and data visualization, including multiple strategies to produce and leverage data-driven decision making. 

Students may also participate in internships, student clubs, honor societies, and study-away opportunities. Students participating in study-away programs engage with topics of globalization, trade, culture, and global management and leadership as they travel the world. Typically, study-away trips include visiting global and international organizations and learning from universities and business leaders around the world.

Certificates, Credentials, and Microcredentials

Today, employers are looking for new hires with technical skills in big data and data analytics. This program gives students the opportunity to earn industry-valued, internationally recognized certificates, credentials, and microcredentials, such as in spreadsheets, data visualization, business analytics, and much more, that can be added to résumés and uploaded to online portfolios, certifying and showcasing their mastery of these skills to potential employers.

Career Opportunities

BS in Business Analytics students are equipped to pursue professional careers in industry, as demand for data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers in job markets across all industries is high and supply is low. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees strong growth in the data science field and predicts that the number of jobs will increase by about 28% through 2026, which is equivalent to approximately 11.5 million new jobs in the field. 

The median annual wage for management analysts was $93,000 as of May 2021. And about 41,000 openings for financial analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 

Requirements

Business and Management Core
ACCT 120Principles of Accounting I3
ACCT 121Principles of Accounting II3
BUSI 111Business Statistics 13
BUSI 100Personal Finance 23
BUSI 240Introduction to Information Systems and Business Applications3
BUSI 244Data Analytics, Spreadsheets, and Data Visualization3
BUSI 296Business Law3
BUSI 311Quantitative Analysis for Management3
BUSI 370International Business 33
ECON 200Survey of Economics 43
FIN 300Business Finance for Managers3
MGMT 210Principles of Management 53
MGMT 448Organizational and Administrative Behavior 23
MGMT 450Strategic Management 53
MKTG 260Principles of Marketing 33
Business Analytics Core
BUSI 246Foundations of Business Analytics3
BUSI 314Big Data Analytics for Business3
BUSI 414Application of Business Analytics3
Concentration12
Select one of the following:
Accounting
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Accounting II
Auditing Principles I
Auditing Principles II
Economics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Intermediate Microeconomics
Econometrics
Financial Markets and Institutions
Finance
Financial Analysis
Applied Portfolio Management
Investment Analysis
Financial Risk Management
Marketing
Consumer Behavior: An Applied Approach 2
Marketing Research
Retail Management
Digital and Social Media Marketing
Total Units66
1

Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.

4

Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.

5

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.