The Integration of Business Analytics into a Business College Undergraduate Curriculum

Business analytics continues to be an explosive competitive advantage for many companies. Universities are under pressure to prepare undergraduate students with the proper skills to compete in today's "big data" work force and to help their students create value by effectively performing their jobs using business analytics skills. In this paper, we address the demand for business analytics talent for undergraduates from business schools and describe how Michigan State University has provided the appropriate skill level and breadth of knowledge required for business school graduates to be successful using business analytics skills. This paper highlights a breadth of changes being made to the undergraduate curriculum and focuses primarily on two undergraduate classes at Michigan State University's College of Business, which were redesigned to emphasize the necessary skill development associated with business analytics.