Overview

Learn How Data Analytics Inform Business Decisions and Practices

The Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics from Grand Canyon University is designed for students who want to develop a strong foundation in business and learn how data informs business practices. As a business analytics student, you will be taught about all aspects of business, including:

Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Economics
Management

In your program, you can learn to apply the analytical skills of data visualization and data mining to models, and then interpret what these models show to make business decisions.

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

Offered By

Colangelo College of Business

Class Settings

Campus

Online

Tuition Rate

Campus: $8,250 per semester [More Info]

Online: $485 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 120

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)

16+ years old
High School Graduate
3.0+ Unweighted GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

ACT: 19
SAT: 1000*

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).

Why GCU

Benefits of Pursuing a BS in Business Analytics Degree

The on-campus or online bachelor’s in business analytics degree is offered by the Colangelo College of Business. This means that your degree was created to address the needs of contemporary businesses, teaching you responsible business practices that emphasize a high pursue and conscious capitalism.

Your business courses are also instilled with a Christian worldview, meaning that you not only have the opportunity to develop academically, but personally and spiritually as well, while learning material based on the guiding pillars of business: servant leadership, ethics and entrepreneurism.

Earn Your Online Bachelor’s in Business Analytics

You can pursue your BS in Business Analytics on campus or online. When completing online bachelor’s in business analytics courses, you can benefit from the flexibility and convenience that online courses offer. You can also utilize online learning resources and support from your knowledgeable professors and your classmates.

This Degree is Offered Online

Develop Skills for Using Analytics in Business Settings

At GCU, the BS in Business Analytics degree program was created around set of important skills that may help graduates in the workplace.

Some of these skills include:

Business communication and critical thinking skills

Information literacy and data analysis

Business operations and environments

Legal, ethical and values-driven business

Business analytics

Business Analytics vs. Applied Business Analytics

GCU offers both a Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Business Analytics. Both programs can prepare you for career options in business and analytics.

The coursework for the bachelor’s in business analytics focuses on foundational aspects of business practices, while including instruction in fundamentals of database structures, data visualization, project management, data mining and predictive and prescriptive models. This degree program emphasizes the process of making data-driven decisions within the context of business.

The BS in Applied Business Analytics program also focuses on fundamentals of database structures, data visualization, project management, data mining and predictive and prescriptive models. However, students are not required to complete foundational business courses, but rather are allowed to take electives in other areas, including information technology-related courses.

Coursework

Coursework and Competencies of this Bachelors

This bachelor’s in business analytics degree combines coursework in business and analytics. Skills such as effective communication and critical thinking are also emphasized to help prepare you for business analytics careers. You may find yourself in positions where you not only interpret data, but share it across broad networks of stakeholders.

Specifically in this bachelor’s in business analytics program, you can use financial statements to analyze how effective an organization is. You will also be taught about supply and demand trends to measure market economies. In addition, you will have the opportunity to look at operations and management structures to solve business problems.

Some competencies that the business analytics program focuses on include:

Demonstrating skills for effective collaboration, negotiation and teamwork
Applying techniques for creative problem solving and encouraging innovation within organizations
Designing and delivering persuasive business presentations
Demonstrating appropriate research strategies for acquiring information necessary to meet specific business needs
Applying strategies for analyzing and synthesizing data, and evaluating risk in making business decisions
Using quantitative techniques and tools to analyze data relevant to business decision making

Careers

Career Opportunities With a BS in Business Analytics

Bachelor’s in business analytics program graduates will have been taught to follow industry-specific laws, regulations and ethical practices. Upon graduation, they can apply statistical analysis and modeling to data to promote effective business practices.

BS in Business Analytics grads may have the opportunity to fulfill several career opportunities. They may find work as:

General and operation managers
Operations research analysts
Management analysts
Data scientists

FAQ

Bachelor’s in Business Analytics FAQs

If earning your on-campus or online bachelor’s in business analytics sounds like the right step for you, learn more by reading through some of these most frequently asked questions.

Data analytics is a career that requires many workers, with a minimal supply of qualified professionals to do the job. According to Investopedia, “Because demand is strong and the supply of people who can do this job well is limited, data analysts command higher-than-average salaries and perks, even at the entry level.”¹

Often, being involved with business analytics involves analyzing and interacting with large amounts of data. Such massive amounts of data can have major repercussions if there in an incident in analysis. Because of this, a career in data analytics involves focus and critical thinking. While challenging, it may be the ideal career path for you if you feel you could thrive in this environment.

Yes, you will need to have a solid background in mathematics for business data analytics careers. Several important areas of business analytics involve math, such as accounting, economics, finance and statistics. If math is not your strong suit, it may be advisable to spend some extra time focusing on strengthening your math skills to prepare yourself for your business analytics program.

Your specific salary will vary depending on your job title and other varying factors; however, we can look at the average median salary of a data scientist as reference. In May 2021, data scientists had a median annual salary of $100,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.²

Many careers in the business data analytics field are projected to experience much faster than average occupational growth within the next decade, for example, data scientists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for data scientists to increase by about 36% from 2021 to 2031, accounting for an estimated increase of 40,500 jobs in the field.³

According to DataQuest, three of the top skills that employers want to see from data analysts include:⁴

Data cleaning and preparation
Data analysis and exploration
Statistical knowledge

Other skills listed that data analysts will use in their jobs include creating data visualizations, creating dashboards and reports, writing and communication, domain knowledge and problem-solving.

While business data analysts work closely with data analysis, it is not considered an IT job. However, like many IT jobs, these professionals will need to be familiar with specific database tools and programming languages to be able to effectively do their job.

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

General Education Requirements34-40 credits

Major68 credits

Open Elective Credits12-18 credits

Degree Requirements120 credits

General Education Requirements

General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University's General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.

Competency

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community.

Competency

9-12 Total Credits

Competency

4 Total Credits

Competency

11-12 Total Credits

Course Description

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, physical geography, ecology, economics, theology, logic, philosophy, technology, statistics, accounting, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of intermediate algebra or higher.

Competency

6-8 Total Credits

Course Description

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, cross-cultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.

Core Courses

BIT-205

4 Total Credits

ACC-240

4 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, students examine basic accounting concepts and explore how accounting information assists business leaders in making financial decisions that increase profitability and contribute to competitive advantage. There is specific emphasis on the analysis of financial statements in the business decision-making process, budgeting, and factors businesses must consider when determining appropriate pricing of goods and services. Prerequisite: MAT-134, MAT-144, MAT-154, or higher subsequent math course.

MKT-315

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces models and practices used by contemporary marketers in fast-paced, dynamic, domestic and global markets, including the marketing concept and processes for developing, implementing, and assessing the effectiveness of marketing plans. Building from a foundational understanding of consumer behavior and marketing research, students examine the development and implementation of marketing mix strategies and tactics with an emphasis of how marketing integrates within all aspects of business.

MGT-420

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Drawing upon real-world management situations, this course is a study of individual and group behavior in organizations through detailed coverage of the functions of management, individual differences/diversity, leadership, motivation, decision making, organizational design, and organizational change and development. Emphasis is placed on how an understanding of organizational behavior leads to effective management practice.

BUS-352

4 Total Credits

BIT-320

4 Total Credits

SYM-400

4 Total Credits

ECN-351

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This survey course covers the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. The course begins by addressing the fundamental concepts of scarcity, choice, opportunity cost, and comparative advantage. The course builds on these fundamentals to explain the market forces of supply and demand, market efficiency, the economics of the public sector, and the firm's behavior under competitive market conditions. The second half of the course focuses on basic macroeconomic concepts, including measurement of national income, economic growth, and productivity. In addition, this course covers the monetary system and the classical theory of inflation.

FIN-350

4 Total Credits

BIT-415

4 Total Credits

BIT-431

4 Total Credits

BIT-446

4 Total Credits

BIT-417

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This writing-intensive course examines the role of governance and ethics within information technology. Topics include understanding and satisfying Sarbanes/Oxley, preparing for an information technology audit, complying with government regulations such as HIPAA, and understanding data-privacy issues. Students examine real-world case studies. Prerequisite: BIT-200, BIT-205, CST-110, or CST-111.

BIT-435

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers key concepts related to predictive and prescriptive analytics by combining information technologies and statistical techniques to extract meaning from organizational data. Students apply predictive and prescriptive analytics techniques in order to understand the business environment and guide business-related decisions. Use of selected industry tools to apply predictive and prescriptive analytics techniques is also addressed. Prerequisite: BIT-430 or BIT-431.

BUS-485

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This writing-intensive course is built around a team-based simulation requiring a high level of peer interaction and collaboration and serves as the capstone experience in business and management, introducing students to functional, business, and corporate strategy from the perspective of a strategy analyst. Tools and techniques are applied to the student’s previous knowledge of accounting, finance, management, analytics, marketing, economics, entrepreneurship, and leadership acquired through their individual programs of study. Students integrate strategic analysis to demonstrate mastery of a wide variety of business domains. Prerequisites: MGT-420 or MGT-422HN; FIN-210 or FIN-350; and MKT-245 or MKT-315.

MGT-455

4 Total Credits

BIT-456

4 Total Credits

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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Start Your Journey Today

If you are passionate about leading business through the use of data-driven analysis, a Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics could be the right path for you. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.

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¹ Depersio, G. (2023, June 11). Data Analyst: Career Path and Qualifications. Investopedia. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

² The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Data Scientists, as of May 2021, retrieved on June 26, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as data scientists. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

³ COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Data Scientists, retrieved on June 26, 2023.

⁴ DataQuest. (2023, May 18). 8 Data Analyst Skills Employers Need to See in 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

Bachelor’s in Business Analytics Degree

Bachelor’s in Business Analytics Degree

Learn How Data Analytics Inform Business Decisions and Practices

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

Benefits of Pursuing a BS in Business Analytics Degree

Earn Your Online Bachelor’s in Business Analytics

This Degree is Offered Online

Develop Skills for Using Analytics in Business Settings

Business Analytics vs. Applied Business Analytics

Coursework and Competencies of this Bachelors

Career Opportunities With a BS in Business Analytics

GCU Offers Accredited Business Degrees

Bachelor’s in Business Analytics FAQs

Course List

Start Your Journey Today

Course List

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics