Undergraduate Analytics Major

Undergraduate Analytics Major

Where innovation meets insight

The School of Business Analytics is your gateway to a future where data-driven decision-making is the key to your success. 

The business analytics major prepares you for a career requiring a breadth of business knowledge and an in-depth ability to assemble, use, and analyze data to generate insights and make practical recommendations for improving results across a wide range of functional business areas.

Analytics Major Overview

Demonstrate the ability to collect, link, clean and augment data using database management technologies.

Demonstrate the ability to use state-of-the-art analytics methods and competence in analytics packages and tools that are commonly used in business.

Demonstrate proficiency in the most common software, including programming languages, i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Tableau/Power BI, SQL, Python, and R.

Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with an emphasis on data communication, including visualizing.

Business Analytics Advising

Work with your Business Analytics academic advisor to get questions answered and plan for your goals.

Meet Julio Pena, Business Analytics Advisor

School of Business Analytics

The Eller School of Business Analytics is here to ignite the power of data to shape the future of business. Our school stands as a beacon of innovation and expertise in the dynamic field of business analytics, leading the way in educating the next generation of data-driven decision-makers.    

Explore the School of Analytics

Business Analytics Sample Coursework Plan

How your Eller Business Analytics experience can play out:

This sample plan is based on 14-17 credits per semester, but each student and their academic plan is unique. Please meet with your Academic Advisor to create a custom plan for you.  Please note that your general education, including second language, requirements are determined by when you were admitted to the university.  Your Academic Advisor can help you navigate the requirements relevant for you. For a full list of official degree requirements, check out the University General Catalog. 

First Year

First Semester
Courses Units
ENGL 101* First Year Composition      
MIS 111* Computers and Internetworked Society
MIS 112* Computers and Internetworked Society Lab 
MATH 112 College Algebra Concepts and Applications 
General Education and/or Second Language
 
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Career Days		 3
3
1
3
3-7
 Total 13-17   
Second Semester 
 Course  Units
ENGL 102* First Year Composition 
MATH 116* Calculus Concepts for Business Majors 
General Education 
General Education and/or Second Language
BNAD 100 Language and Context of Business 
   
Attend Career Showcase and UA Career Days 		 3
3
3
3-7
1
Total 13-17   
Summer
Use summer to catch up on math if behind in sequencing based on placement results prior to your first year.

Sophomore Year

1st Semester
Course Units
BNAN 276* Statistical Inference in Management 
ACCT 200* Introduction to Financial Accounting  
ECON 200* Basic Economic Issues  
General Education  
General Education
BNAD 200 Career Management in Business  
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Career Days		 3
3
3
3
3
1
Total 16
2nd Semester
Course Units
ACCT 210* Introduction to Managerial Accounting  
BNAN 277* Analytical Methods for Business 
BCOM 214* Fundamentals of Business Communication
BNAN 225* Programming Fundamentals for Business Analytics 
General Education or Ethics**  
   
Attend Career Showcase and apply for Professional Admissions in February, and attend UA Career Days		 3
4
3
3
3
Total 16
Summer
We highly recommend that students participate in a study abroad and career-related experience.

In order to take the following upper-division courses, students must be admitted to the major through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process.

Professional Phase

1st Semester
Course Units
MGMT 310A Organization Behavior and Management  
MKTG 361 Introduction to Marketing  
BCOM 314R Business Communication  
FIN 360 Quantitative Finance Management  
FIN 360L Quantitative Financial Management Techniques (1 unit Excel lab)
BNAN 410 Database Fundamentals for Business Analytics
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Career Days		 3
3
3
3
1
3
Total 16
2nd Semester
Course Units
OSCM 373 Basic Operations Management  
MIS 304 Using and Managing Information Systems
ECON 300 Microeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions    
BNAN 420 Business Analytics Techniques
BNAN 430 Prescriptive Analytics
    
Attend Career Showcase and UA Career Days		 3
3
3
3
3
Total 15
Summer
Use summer to gain career-related experience through internships, study abroad or volunteering.

Professional Phase

3rd Semester
Course Units
MGMT 402 Integrating Business Fundamentals with Ethics and Law in Management  
ECON 330 Macroeconomic and Global Institutions and Policy  
ENTR 485 Innovating: Creating the Future  
BNAN 440 Data Visualization for Business 
BNAN Major Elective Course 
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Career Days		 3
3
3
3
3
Total 15
4th Semester
Course Units
BNAN Major Elective Course
General Education 
General Education
General Education
Minor, Electives, or remaining General Education requirements
     
Attend Career Showcase and UA Career Days, and Graduation in May		 3
3
3
3
0-3
Total 12-15
Summer
Enjoy your summer and continue the job search if necessary!

Note: This is only a sample plan and requirements are subject to change and may vary based on catalog year, placement tests, AP/CLEP credit, transfer work, summer school, etc.

All students enter as Foundational Business Management majors, and must go through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process to gain entry to the upper-division professional majors. The above plan is designed on the assumption that a student tests into College Algebra on the PPL Math Placement Exam; students who test lower than College Algebra should refer to the Foundational Five-Semester Plan and work with their academic advisor to learn how they can adjust their schedule to meet their educational goals.

* Eller Foundation Courses: You need to take these classes before you apply for admission into the professional program. BNAN 225 is only required for students pursuing a major in Business Analytics Professional Admission is required before enrolling in 300- and 400-level core and major courses. Students transferring directly into the upper division who do not have a BCOM 214 equivalent completed will be required to take BCOM 315 before graduation instead.

** Business Emphasis Areas: You must take one ethics course to complete your degree. This class does not need to be completed before applying for Professional Admission.

Students can meet the Second Language requirement by demonstrating second semester proficiency through examination or taking any of a variety of second semester language courses. Each student needs to meet a minimum of 120 total credits. Students are strongly encouraged to take BNAD 100 and BNAD 200 to develop their professional knowledge and competencies required for success in the upper division. Please consult with your Advisement Report and your academic advisor.

Business Analytics Elective Course Options

Statistical methods in estimating and testing economic models; single and simultaneous equation estimation, identification, forecasting, and problems caused by violating classical regression model assumptions.

Units: 3
Usually offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Regular Grading
May be convened with: ECON 518

Forecasting techniques used in business and government; assembly, interpretation and use of economic data; analysis of business conditions; examination of related environmental factors; construction of actual sales or revenue forecasts.

Units: 3
Usually offered: Fall
Grading: Regular Grading

The objective of the class is to develop advanced data handling, graphic visualization, and econometric methods that are used in the analysis of large/big economic and business datasets. Statistical software such as SAS will be used for statistical programming and data visualization. In addition, SQL programming may be used for data management (the accessing, cleaning, merging, and preparation of large datasets for analysis).

Units: 3
Usually offered: Spring
Grading: Regular Grading

The primary objective of this course is to "marry" corporate finance theory with practice. You should develop the ability to use finance concepts to solve practical finance problems. In particular, we will focus on the use of a spreadsheet (e.g., Microsoft Excel) to develop models that can be used in the financial decision-making process. Therefore, in addition to learning and applying finance concepts, you will also improve and refine your computer skills. You will use Excel to build capital budgeting and financial planning models, examine capital structure issues and risk/return tradeoffs, and perform financial statement (ratio) analysis. Available only to Finance majors.

Units: 3
Prerequisite(s): FIN 412 (grade of C or better), FIN 421 (grade of C or better)
Usually offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Regular Grades

Analyzes business cases in an international context.

Units: 3
Prerequisite(s): FIN 412 (grade of C or better), FIN 421 (grade of C or better)
Usually offered: Spring
Grading: Regular Grades

This undergraduate senior-level course (elective) will cover the important concepts and techniques relating to data analytics, including: statistical foundation, data mining methods, data visualization, and web mining techniques that are applicable to emerging e-commerce, government, health and security applications. The course contains lectures, readings, lab sessions, and hands-on projects. Most business school seniors are welcome. The course will require some basic computing and database background. The course will prepare students to become a data scientist or a data-savvy manager for different businesses.

Units: 3
Usually offered: Spring

Business Analytics Major Career Resources

Business Analytics Career Coaching

Eller students have a world of options in front of them—which is why a dedicated career coach is so valuable. Get professional coaching on internship and job opportunities awaiting you. 

Meet the Career Coaches