Program Overview

---

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics program at Florida Polytechnic University provides students with a comprehensive education in data analytics, business, and technology. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to solve complex problems in the management of big data analytics, marketing, finance, and innovation and technology.

What is Business Analytics?

Business analytics is a field that combines the broad application of math and statistics, the intelligent design/computing of data science, and the business savvy of operations research and management to support success. In a global, digital world, businesses, products, markets, and economies face common pressures — make smart decision making faster, make it easier to measure success, and make success more routine.

Careers in Business Analytics

Business analytics is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of career opportunities. Job titles include:

• Analytics manager
• Data-driven decision-maker
• Functional analyst
• Data systems developer
• Chief data officer
• Business intelligence developer
• Business intelligence architect

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of management analysts, including business analysts, is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Salary Ranges

The median annual wage for management analysts was $101,190 in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $174,140.

Curriculum

The Business Analytics curriculum provides training in the skills needed to solve complex problems that occur in the management of big data analytics, marketing, finance, and innovation and technology. The program offers an education that can be found only at Florida Poly: data analytics expertise with a business focus by offering a cutting-edge program especially designed to prepare students for top jobs in today’s technology and data-intensive business world.

Concentrations in Business Analytics

The program offers four concentrations:

• Advanced Topics: Students can design their own four-course concentration within the major based on their personal academic and professional pursuits.
• Intelligent Mobility and Autonomous Systems: This concentration uses data and technology to connect people, places, and goods across all transportation modes.
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management: This concentration is the coordination of all logistical functions in an enterprise, including acquisition, handling, the internal allocation of resources, delivery, and output.
• Quantitative Economics and Econometrics: This concentration focuses on quantitative analysis and rigorous modeling of economic phenomena.

Why Florida Poly?

At Florida Poly, our small campus environment fosters a unique approach to STEM education. Through a curriculum that progresses from freshman to senior year, emphasizing project-based learning, individualized mentorship with faculty, required internships in high-tech industries, and culminating in a senior capstone design project, students are equipped with comprehensive skills and experiences, uniquely preparing them for success in the rapidly advancing tech landscape.

The Internship Experience

At Florida Poly, internships aren't just encouraged—they're a fundamental part of the educational experience. Mandatory for all students, these internships provide direct engagement with high-tech industry leaders. This immersive experience not only provides practical skills but also fosters crucial connections within the industry, frequently paving the way to future employment opportunities for our graduates.

Capstone Design

Florida Poly's capstone design course is the pinnacle of each student's academic journey, consolidating their four years of learning into a single project. During their senior year, students in this course collaborate with peers from various fields to tackle real-world challenges supported by industry sponsors. Through this interdisciplinary approach, students not only apply theoretical concepts but also gain practical experience, preparing them for successful careers in their respective fields.

Alumni Making an Impact

Armed with the knowledge and skills gained at Florida Poly, especially through internships and capstone projects, our alumni smoothly entered thriving careers in high-tech industries. These hands-on experiences offered invaluable insights and practical expertise, enabling our alumni to innovate and excel in dynamic, leading-edge settings, influencing the trajectory of technology.

Program and Student Outcomes

The business analytics curriculum provides training in the skills needed to solve complex problems that occur in the management of big data analytics, marketing, finance, and innovation and technology. The undergraduate program in business analytics offers an education that can be found only at Florida Poly: data analytics expertise with a business focus by offering a cutting-edge program especially designed to prepare students for top jobs in today’s technology and data-intensive business world.

Upon completion of a Business Analytics degree, students will be able to:

• Apply current business analytics concepts, techniques, and practices to solve business problems.
• Analyze a given business problem using appropriate analytics techniques to generate insights and solutions.
• Effectively communicate insights, analysis, conclusions, and solutions to a diverse audience.

Meet the Faculty

• Shahram Taj, Chair & Professor Data Science & Business Analytics
• James Dewey, Associate Professor
• Debbie Frank, Assistant Professor
• Susan LeFrancois, Associate Professor
• Artem Malinin, Assistant Professor
• Bijun Wang, Assistant Professor

Get Involved Outside the Classroom

We have an active student organization community with more than 35 clubs that vary based on specific academic interests, professional development, and activities just for fun.

• Events & Activities: Dive into the thrilling campus life at Florida Poly. From Florida PolyCon (a comic-con like event), Purple Fire Week, poolside grill-outs and movie nights, to an annual 5K Pie Run, an epic Humans vs. Zombies Nerf gun war, and so much more.
• University Teams: Join Florida Poly's University Teams for next-level competition and camaraderie! Whether you're into esports, soccer, weightlifting, robotics, or lacrosse, there's a team for you.
• Student Clubs & Organizations: At Florida Poly, campus engagement is key to fostering lifelong connections, teamwork, and leadership. With over 35 student-run clubs, there's ample opportunity to explore passions and forge friendships beyond lectures and labs.
• Campus Recreation: Florida Poly's exceptional recreation facilities offer students, faculty, and staff opportunities for physical activity, fostering healthy lifestyle habits. Featuring a fully equipped weight room, junior Olympic swimming pool, basketball courts, beach volleyball, soccer fields, and disc golf, there's something for everyone to stay active and energized.