Business Analytics, B.S.

Department Contact:

Chair: Dr. Angela Seidel, aseidel@francis.edu, 814-472-3076

Program Description:

The Business Analytics program prepares students to apply models, methods, and tools to data to produce insights that lead to informed business decisions. Business is becoming increasingly data-driven and requires business professionals to understand how analyzing data can be utilized to produce an organizational competitive advantage. Along with completing coursework in the traditional foundational domains of business including management, marketing, accounting, economics, and finance, business analytics students will develop competencies in the art and science of data analytics. Specifically, students in this program will complete courses to build skills and expertise in the areas of programming, statistics, data management, and data transformation and visualization.

Accreditation Statement:

This program has not yet received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). The department plans on applying after its first graduating class.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The Shields School of Business will graduate students who have the knowledge, skills, love of learning, confidence, drive, and ethical and moral values needed to be spiritually fulfilled in life and successful in professional careers. Upon completion of this program, students are able to:

Demonstrate, in the Spirit of Saint Francis in the Marketplace, knowledge of the ethical value choices and responsibilities of businesses and business leaders;
Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles in business in the functional areas of accounting, information systems, finance, management, and marketing;
Demonstrate knowledge of the legal, social, economic environments of business;
Demonstrate knowledge of the global dimension of business;
Integrate the functional areas of business in the process of decision making;
Demonstrate the ability to professionally communicate.

Estimated Completion Time:

Typically 4 years of full-time study

Capstone Requirement:

All students complete the three-credit course MGMT401, Strategic Management, which serves as the capstone for all undergraduate business programs. Among other learning experiences, this course includes a simulation that requires students to synthesize and apply learning from across the business domains of accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, and information systems.