Business Analytics Minor

Introduction

This program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in business analytics. Specifically, the program will focus on the three fundamental areas in business analytics methods: descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. In addition, students will have an opportunity to gain exposure to application areas of analytics in business and economics.

Why Consider a Business Analytics Minor?

A minor in Business Analytics can provide a student with the concepts and tools necessary to succeed in today’s data-rich business world. The minor not only provides a solid foundation in basic analytics but also allows each student to choose analytics electives that are specific to their major or concentration. The Business Analytics minor will therefore strengthen a student’s depth of knowledge in their major or concentration while also introducing you to a new and increasingly critical area of study. Career opportunities for students with a background in analytics include data analysis, data science, business intelligence, and quantitative analysis.

Student Resources

Department website: Decision Sciences

Contact information: Sherri Nelson, Interim Department Manager, Parks Hall 343, 360-650-3275, OfficeDSCI@wwu.edu

Department advising: Visit the Advising section of the Decision Sciences website.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample careers: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Consultant-Analytics, Data Scientist

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Application to the program is open to students who have already been accepted as a major in the College of Business and Economics and are in good academic standing as defined by the retention standards for the College of Business and Economics.

How to apply

For consideration as a minor, complete the online application form. Students will be contacted via their Western email and asked to complete an additional application for the minor. A Decision Sciences faculty admission committee will review all minor applications that meet the above requirements. Admission to the minor is based on:

• Space available in the minor
• Past academic performance
  • Western GPA is the primary factor considered but other factors may include:
    • Performance in business courses taken at Western
    • Trends in academic performance
    • Performance in courses taken at other institutions as listed on the Transfer Equivalency Report
• At the time of application, the applicant must have completed (or be in process of completing) at least two of the three minor pre-requisite courses:
  • DSCI 305/ECON 375
  • MIS 320/ACCT 321
  • OPS 360
• Admission priority will be given to students with the best academic performance relative to the rest of the applicant pool.
• Academic performance will be the primary decision factor, but other factors may be considered (e.g., rationale for pursuing field of study, related work experience, student leadership, etc.).

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.