Business Analytics Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Business Analytics major teaches you to use data and statistics to answer business questions. Business analytics majors learn statistics, data management, visualization and predictive modeling, applied to marketing, operations and finance problems.

A Business Analytics major includes coursework in business statistics, data management and SQL, data visualization, predictive modeling, and operations research and more. You build skills such as data analysis, spreadsheets and SQL, visualization and dashboards, and statistical reasoning. Typical degrees: bachelor's and master's degrees.

Typical courses include business statistics, data management and SQL, data visualization, predictive modeling, operations research, and analytics projects. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Business Analytics is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 194 colleges reported certificate awards, 18 colleges reported associate awards, 271 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 381 colleges reported master’s awards, and 48 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to business analytics include management analyst, operations research analyst, data scientist, financial analyst, budget analyst, and survey researcher. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include management analyst (typical training: Less than 5 years of experience), operations research analyst (typical training: Entry-level with a quantitative degree), data scientist (typical training: 4–6 years), financial analyst (typical training: 4 years), budget analyst (typical training: Entry-level with a degree), and survey researcher (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s).

Business Analytics majors build skills such as data analysis, spreadsheets and SQL, visualization and dashboards, statistical reasoning, and presenting findings.

Good pairings include Computer Science (adds programming for more advanced analysis), Marketing (applies analytics to customers and campaigns), and Finance (applies analytics to investments and planning).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as management analyst, operations research analyst, and data scientist, and enjoy subjects like business statistics and data management and SQL. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes business statistics, data management and SQL, and data visualization; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

576 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Pennsylvania (52), California (40), New York (35), Texas (33), and Massachusetts (31), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

529 of the colleges that offer business analytics also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Business Analytics teaches you to use data and statistics to answer business questions. Business Administration is a broad business major that covers management, finance, marketing and operations. Business Analytics leads to careers such as management analyst and operations research analyst, while Business Administration leads to careers such as general and operations manager and administrative services manager.

Business Analytics teaches you to use data and statistics to answer business questions. Marketing studies how organizations understand customers and promote products and services. Business Analytics leads to careers such as management analyst and operations research analyst, while Marketing leads to careers such as marketing manager and digital marketing specialist.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to business analytics, such as Management Analyst Training.