SOUTHFIELD—The exponential growth of data being gathered by organizations of all types has created new opportunities for data analysts.
Lawrence Technological University has responded with two new degree programs—Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in business data analytics, both available through the LTU College of Business and Information Technology. Classes are offered in-person, online, or in a hybrid format.
Data analytics is used to process raw data through data mining, data cleansing, data transformation, data modeling, and more. Data analysts find trends and solve problems in several industries, including finance, healthcare, engineering, and technology. The College of Business and IT will equip students with software engineering and machine learning skills to design and implement efficient, data-driven solutions to real-world problems.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market for management analysts is expected to grow 11 percent through 2029, much faster than the average of all occupations, with median salaries of $87,660. The picture is even brighter for operations research analysts, with job growth of 25 percent through 2029, and a similar median salary of $86,200. Data analysts of all types are seeing sharp job growth, according to government economists.
“The curricula for both degree programs have been designed with very significant feedback from data analytics professionals and the College of Business and Information Technology Industry Advisory Board,” LTU Provost Tarek Sobh said. “Graduates of the programs will be able analyze numeric data and use it to help companies make better business decisions. They will also be involved in preparing data, in addition to coding, developing, constructing, testing and maintaining complete architectures for data visualization and interpretation.”
In LTU’s Bachelor of Science program, students gain the knowledge and skills for data-intensive problem-solving. They learn from expert faculty the skills needed to effectively define, discuss, and solve complicated problems related to the management, analysis, and dissemination of vast amounts of information. They also can access to LTU’s well-connected career placement services.
First-year students begin with foundational courses in management, mathematics, composition, and marketing, with an introductory course in data analytics. Sophomore students take courses in statistics, accounting, and computer programming, and foundational courses in natural sciences and history. Junior year, students study business law, machine learning, financial management, computer networking, cybersecurity, and data mining. Senior year is dominated by business analytics, operations management, project management, and database systems.
The Master of Science program provides students with the skills they need to solve complex big data problems. Students partner with faculty who teach the critical thinking skills required to effectively define, discuss, and solve complicated problems related to managing, analyzing, and disseminating vast amounts of information.
Required courses include statistics for data analytics, management information systems, database modeling, machine learning, data science, digital marketing, and more. An undergraduate degree in business, mathematics or computing is not required, and the curriculum allows students with varying undergraduate backgrounds to join the graduate program.
For more information, contact LTU Admissions at (800) 225-5588 or admissions@ltu.edu, or the College of Business and Information Technology at (248) 204-3050 or busitdean@ltu.edu. More about the programs at www.ltu.edu/business-it/bachelor-of-data-analytics.asp or www.ltu.edu/business-it/masters/business-data-analytics.asp.
Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
(Illustration by user Yayamamo via Wikimedia Commons.)