Business Analytics

Big Data=Big Job Opportunities

Do you have an inquisitive mind, a fascination with data, math acumen, attention to detail, and a knack for seeing the big picture? A BS in Mathematical Sciences from Michigan Tech—with a concentration in business analytics—can help you hone your analytical skills and prepare for a big career in big data.

Become a Data Visionary

Business analysts and data scientists are taking the world of big data by storm. Thanks to its recent growth in the business sector, this profession has earned the title of “sexiest job of the 21st century”—and business analyst jobs will continue to grow by 22 percent through 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Business analytics uses mathematical and statistical modeling to optimize business performance. The job description requires both analytical skills and knowledge of business processes. Data scientists use the scientific method in their work, just as chemists and other natural scientists do: they formulate a research question, collect and analyze the data, and interpret the results.

Big Data Is Ubiquitous

With 90 percent of the world's data generated in the last two years, the demand for professionals who can crunch big data is at an all-time high. Just think: globally, we create an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day, according to IBM. Big data surrounds us: sensors collect climate information; doctors receive medical updates on hospital patients; search engines record webpage hits; financial institutions record credit card purchase transactions; and people create posts on social media sites, such as status updates on Tech's Facebook page and Tweets on Tech's Twitter account.

Raw data is nebulous and floats around meaninglessly in the “Cloud” or elsewhere until the right person, skilled in data analysis, plucks it down and turns it into something tangible. Numerous industries have recognized the immense value that data packs, as well as the fact that a person effectively trained to handle and process data is an indispensable part of an organization. It is estimated that the United States needs 140,000–190,000 more people with “deep analytical” expertise in the workforce.

Data-driven discovery and decision making is the future of business, academia, and government—let the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Michigan Tech prepare you to create that future.