Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Functional Data Analytics is an online degree program designed to prepare students for careers in data analysis, decision-making, and communication. This program combines math, science, and computer skills with communication fundamentals to equip students with the ability to perform detailed data analytics and present findings to various audiences.

Program Details

• The program requires 122 credits.
• The tuition fee is $638/$685 per credit.
• The program is 100% online, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace.
• The application deadline for the summer semester is March 15.

Entrance-to-Major Requirements

To change their major to Functional Data Analytics, students must successfully complete four entrance-to-major courses with a grade of C or better:

• CMPSC 121
• DA 101
• MATH 110 or MATH 140
• PSYCH 200 or STAT 200

Prescribed Courses

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all prescribed courses, which include:

• CAS 100: Effective Speech
• DA 101: Introduction to Data Analytics
• DA 201W: Descriptive Analytics
• DA 301: Diagnostic Analytics
• DA 302W: Predictive Analytics
• DA 305: Data Ethics and Privacy
• DA 401: Prescriptive Analytics
• DA 402W: Qualitative Analytics
• DA 475: Data Analytics Implementation Capstone I
• DA 476: Data Analytics Implementation Capstone II
• DIGIT 410: Data Visualization
• DIGIT 430: Simulations of Human Behavior
• ENG 202C: Effective Writing: Technical Writing
• IST 230: Language, Logic, and Discrete Mathematics
• MGMT 409: Project Management for Non-Business Majors
• MIS 415: Social Media Management and Analytics
• MIS 447: Data Warehousing
• PHIL 103: Ethics
• STAT 184: Introduction to R

Additional Courses

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all additional courses, which include:

• CMPSC 121: Introduction to Programming Techniques
• ENGL 15: Rhetoric and Composition
• MATH 110: Techniques of Calculus I
• MATH 140: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
• MIS 336: Database Management Systems
• IST 210: Organization of Data
• PSYCH 200: Elementary Statistics in Psychology
• STAT 200: Elementary Statistics

Supporting Courses and Related Areas

Students must select one special interest concentration from the program-approved list of concentrations and complete six credits from any major field or course, except STAT 100, MATH 200, MATH 201, any ENGL course below ENGL 15, any KINES (GHW) courses, and any MATH course below MATH 83.

Concentrations

The program offers several concentrations, including:

• Cross-Disciplinary Analytics Concentration
• Financial Analytics Concentration
• Program Evaluation Concentration

General Education Requirements

Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.

Career Opportunities

Skilled professionals who can collect and analyze data, as well as communicate their findings and anticipate future performance, are in demand. The following roles are often held by people with this type of degree:

• Budget Analyst
• Statistical Analyst
• Business Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Credit Risk Analyst
• Planning Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Technical Analyst

Employment Outlook

The employment outlook for occupational fields related to this degree is promising, with growth expected in various areas, including:

• Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 8.3% employment growth
• Management Analysts: 10.6% employment growth
• Data Scientists: 36% employment growth
• Financial and Investment Analysts: 9.5% employment growth
• Statisticians: 11.8% employment growth
• Budget Analysts: 3.9% employment growth
• Statistical Assistants: 0.2% employment growth
• Credit Analysts: -3.9% employment growth

Costs and Financial Aid

The tuition rate for the 2025-26 academic year is $638 per credit for students with 59 or fewer credits and $685 per credit for students with 60 or more credits. Financial aid and military benefits are available to eligible students.

Application Instructions

To apply for the program, students must submit an application, transcripts, and other required materials by the deadline. The application process involves several steps, including reviewing admission requirements, gathering required materials, creating a Penn State login account, and completing the application.

Admissions Help

If students have questions about the admissions process, they can contact an admissions counselor for assistance.

Learn from the Best

The program is brought to you in partnership by Penn State World Campus and several Penn State schools, including the Behrend Black School of Business and the Behrend Schools of Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science. Students will learn from the same well-regarded faculty who teach on campus.

News

Penn State has been featured in U.S. News' 2025 'Best Online Programs' rankings, and the university offers various undergraduate business degree options.

We Are Penn State

This program is part of the real Penn State, offering the same caliber of academic quality that students associate with the university. Students can expect a world of possibilities with Penn State World Campus.