Building an Undergraduate Program in Business Analytics

This paper reviews some of the thought process toward establishing a business analytics program at a small undergraduate institution. The case for big data and business analytics as a field of study is reviewed, especially concerning its growth as a business application and as a source of jobs in the upcoming decade. Illustrative programs, both graduate and a few of the limited number of undergraduate in analytics are benchmarked and show a pattern of content in statistics, data applications, and functional analytics. A proposed track/concentration is included, with current courses and proposed courses, some of which will require additional resources. Overall, such an approach is an opportunity to establish a unique academic offering providing exceptional value to students but also illustrates the creativity necessary to establish such a program with limited resources.