Business Analytics
The associate of arts in Business Analytics is designed to meet the growing demand for highly skilled professionals with analytics expertise. The program grounds students in general business courses, including economics and accounting, and builds essential skills in business analytics, statistics, scripting in programming language, data visualization, and applied decisionmaking. You will gain hands-on experience in using Excel, R, Tableau, and SQL in business analytics to summarize, visualize, and analyze data. The program is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year college and major in business analytics.
Program Outcomes
Upon program completion, the student will be able to:
- Employ business analytics tools and techniques for the purpose of using data to inform organizational decision-making related to core business functions.
- Understand, evaluate, and apply ethical principles and practices in the data lifecycle.
- Demonstrate competency using appropriate statistical methods to engage in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to gain business insights.
- Develop original analyses and prescribe solutions related to scenarios involving the core business functions of operations, finance and accounting, marketing, and human resources.
- Summarize and communicate findings of analyses using charts, graphs, infographics, and dashboards.
Program Advising
Meet with your academic advisor regularly to discuss your academic plans and make sure you are on track to graduate and/or transfer. The program advising guide outlines the degree requirements and is meant to supplement the advising process.
Explore the following Business Analytics Pathways to learn about what academic preparation (certificate, associate's, bachelor’s, or master's degree) is required for various jobs in the field. Montgomery College can help you start your journey!
- Business Analytics AA Program Advising Guide (PDF,
) - Business Analytics Pathways (PDF, )
- Business Analytics AA 620 Advising Worksheet (PDF, )
Transfer Opportunities
MC has a long history of successfully preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions. Requirements for business majors are fairly standard regardless of your transfer destination.
See specific Business, Accounting, Economics, and Hospitality transfer agreements.
Careers
For some positions listed, a bachelor's degree or higher may be required. Use the Career and Program Explorer to see a full report for this career field. See links below chart for further guidance and/or connect with a Program Advisor to discuss career goals.
Careers include financial analyst, management consultant, accountant, actuary, market research analyst, business teacher, financial manager, business operations manager, and cost estimator. Some positions require a bachelor’s degree.
- MC Student Employment Services: Speak with the Student Employment Specialist for help with resume writing, interviewing, setting up a College Central Network (CCN)new windownew window account and other job search topics.
- Career Coach: Explore Career Coach to learn more about this career and/or discover related majors and in-demand careers based on your current interests! Take a Career Assessment and then browse careers and job opportunities in the area.
Curriculum
A suggested two-year course sequence for students in Business Analytics Associate of Arts follows
- All students should review the advising guide and consult an advisor.
- Find out about related programs and course in the Fields of Study section.
- Most courses have either assessment levels that must be met or prerequisites (courses that must be taken first). Part-time students and those who need to meet assessment levels or take prerequisite courses will take longer to complete a degree. An advisor will help make sure you are taking your courses in the right order.
- All degree-seeking students must take a central group of General Education courses in English, mathematics, arts, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, and science. These courses are included in the suggested course sequence below.
Suggested Course Sequence
Students should complete the required English and Math foundation courses within the first 24 credit hours. All students should review the Program Advising Guide and consult an advisor.
First Semester
- ENGL 101 - Introduction to College Writing 3 semester hours
- MATH 117 - Elements of Statistics 3 semester hours (MATF)
- Behavioral and Social Sciences Distribution 3 semester hours (BSSD) ** ‡
- COMM 112 - Business and Professional Speech Communication 3 semester hours (HUMD)
-
OR
- COMM 108 - Foundations of Human Communication 3 semester hours (HUMD)
- BSAN 101 - Introduction to Business Analytics 3 semester hours
Second Semester
- English Foundation 3 semester hours (ENGF)
- Arts Distribution 3 semester hours (ARTD) ‡
- PHIL 140 - Introduction to the Study of Ethics 3 semester hours (HUMD)
- CMSC 135 - Introduction to Scripting 3 semester hours
- MATH 150 - Elementary Applied Calculus I 4 semester hours
-
OR
- MATH 181 - Calculus I 4 semester hours
Third Semester
- ECON 201 - Principles of Economics I 3 semester hours (BSSD)
- Natural Sciences Distribution with or without Lab 3 semester hours (NSD)
- Arts Distribution (ARTD), Humanities Distribution (HUMD) or Health (HLTH) General Education Course 3 semester hours (GEIR) ‡
- ACCT 221 - Accounting I 4 semester hours
- DATA 110 - Data Visualization and Communication 3 semester hours
Fourth Semester
- Natural Sciences Distribution with Lab 4 semester hours (NSLD)
- ACCT 222 - Accounting II 4 semester hours
- BSAN 250 - Business Analytics Capstone 2 semester hours
- ECON 202 - Principles of Economics II 3 semester hours
* ENGL 101/ENGL 011, if needed for ENGL 102/ENGL 103. Please consult an advisor or transfer institution for assistance with course selection.
** Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSSD) should be from different disciplines.
† Many, but not all, four year institutions require MATH 150 or MATH 181. Students should consult with an advisor regarding the requirements of transfer institutions.
‡ Students must complete one Global or Cultural Perspectives (GCP) designated course as part of their General Education Program to graduate.
Related Programs and Courses
If you choose to pursue an associate of science in data science degree, you can explore the Associate of Science in Data Science Degree Option.
If you choose to pursue a general studies degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM Core), you can explore the Data Science Certificate plus A.A. Degree Option.
MC offers a wide variety of noncredit courses designed to help you upgrade your skills, pursue career training, or learn something new.