Business Administration (BS): Business Analytics Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

North Carolina State University Raleigh

Program Overview

The Business Administration (BS): Business Analytics Concentration at NC State University prepares students to use statistics, data management, artificial intelligence, and analytical techniques to solve business problems and support data-driven decisions. Students develop a broad business foundation across accounting, finance, marketing, operations, management, and strategy, then build specialized expertise in business analytics through courses focused on databases, analytics, statistical programming, and data-driven decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their foundation in business, mathematics, economics, and communication through courses such as MIE 201: Introduction to Business, MA 121: Elements of Calculus or an approved calculus alternative, and ACC 210: Concepts of Financial Reporting. They also begin developing professional identity and communication skills while studying EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics.

Year 2: Students broaden their business knowledge through ACC 220: Introduction to Managerial Accounting, BUS 340: Information Systems Management, and BUS/ST 350: Economics and Business Statistics. They then begin focused analytics study with BUS 351: Introduction to Business Analytics and ST 307: Introduction to Statistical Programming-SAS or ST 308: Introduction to Statistical Programming-R, alongside subjects such as finance, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship, and people management.

Year 3: Students move into the core of the Business Analytics concentration with BUS 440: Database Management and BUS 458: Analytics: From Data to Decisions. They can complement these subjects with courses such as DSA 201: Introduction to R/Python for Data Science, DSA 202: Introduction to Data Visualization, DSA 405: Data Wrangling and Web Scraping, or DSA 412: Exploring Machine Learning, while continuing their broader business coursework.

Year 4: Students deepen their analytics expertise through concentration electives and complete MIE 480: Business Policy and Strategy, connecting analytical capabilities with strategic business decision-making. Elective choices can include BUS 459: Business Analytics Practicum, BUS 470: Operations Modeling and Analysis, BUS 476: Decision Modeling and Analysis, MIE 437: People Analytics, DSA 406: Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data, and DSA 435: Predictive Analytics for Improving Services.

Focus Areas

Business analytics, data management, statistical analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data visualization, business intelligence, data governance, finance, marketing analytics, accounting analytics, entrepreneurship, supply chain and operations analytics.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to collect and clean data, apply statistical and AI-based analytical methods, manage business data, use data governance and business intelligence processes, visualize and communicate analytical findings, and translate data into business decisions across areas such as marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, and supply chain operations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Business Administration degree is offered through NC State's Poole College of Management, whose business programs are AACSB-accredited. The Business Analytics concentration is designed with industry input and emphasizes practical analytics capabilities, including data management, AI, machine learning, and business decision-making.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

NC State Poole College of Management reports that its undergraduate Business Analytics program was ranked No. 1 in North Carolina, No. 10 among U.S. public universities, and No. 22 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in its most recent ranking cited on the university's catalog page. The college also states that the curriculum was developed with industry experts to provide skills and practical knowledge intended to help graduates contribute to the workforce from day one.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Business Analytics concentration at NC State's Poole College of Management emphasizes practical application alongside analytical theory. Students work with data collection, statistical methods, AI, data management, visualization, and business decision-making, while courses such as BUS 459: Business Analytics Practicum and BUS 458: Analytics: From Data to Decisions provide opportunities to connect analytics with real business problems. The Business Analytics and AI Initiative also connects students with industry, research, and applied projects, creating opportunities to use analytics in authentic business settings.

Key opportunities and resources include:

Business Analytics Practicum: BUS 459: Business Analytics Practicum is available as a concentration elective, giving students a dedicated opportunity to apply business analytics knowledge in a practical setting.
Real-world projects and case studies: The concentration integrates AI and machine learning through real-world projects and hands-on case studies, allowing students to extract insights, communicate findings, and support data-driven decisions.
Statistical programming: Students can take ST 307: Introduction to Statistical Programming-SAS or ST 308: Introduction to Statistical Programming-R, developing practical programming skills for analytics.
Data management: BUS 440: Database Management develops knowledge of managing business databases, while BUS 458: Analytics: From Data to Decisions focuses on turning data into actionable business insights.
R/Python: Students can choose DSA 201: Introduction to R/Python for Data Science, providing additional exposure to programming tools used in data science.
Analytics and modeling: Electives include BUS 470: Operations Modeling and Analysis, BUS 476: Decision Modeling and Analysis, and MIE 437: People Analytics, allowing students to apply analytics to operational, decision-making, and workforce contexts.
Business Analytics and AI Initiative: The Initiative connects education, research, and industry and provides opportunities for students to gain real-world experience alongside faculty through analytics and AI research.
Industry practicum projects: The Business Analytics and AI Initiative works with industry partners on practicum projects where student teams can tackle real-world business challenges and develop analytics-driven solutions.
Student research: Students can participate in research connected with the Business Analytics and AI Initiative, whose projects address real business problems involving revenue, efficiency, productivity, AI, and machine learning.
Complexity, Analytics, and Data Science Lab: The CADS Lab, located within Poole College of Management, uses business analytics, data science, machine learning, network analysis, natural language processing, and geographic information systems to investigate complex business and management problems.
Employer engagement: Poole College employers can offer business challenges for student teams, recruit students for internships and co-ops, provide mentorships, and participate in speaking and networking events.
Career preparation: Poole's Career Center supports students through career preparation and connections with employers, while the college reports that its curriculum incorporates practical work, practicum projects, internships, and co-ops.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Analytics concentration prepares graduates to work across data-driven business functions by combining business knowledge with statistics, data management, AI, analytics, and decision-making. NC State's Poole College reports that its undergraduate programs emphasize practical work, internships, co-ops, and employer engagement, while its Business Analytics curriculum is designed with industry input to develop skills applicable from the beginning of a graduate's career.

Typical career paths include business analyst, data analyst, business intelligence analyst, marketing analyst, operations analyst, management analyst, financial analyst, data consultant, analytics consultant, and supply chain analyst.

Career development and progression can include:

Career Center support: Poole's dedicated Career Center provides career preparation and employer connections, including support for students seeking internships, co-ops, and full-time positions.
Employment outcomes: For the 2024–2025 graduating class across Poole College undergraduate programs, the university reports a 91% employment rate six months after graduation, an average base salary of $67,508, and an average signing bonus of $7,026. These figures are for Poole undergraduate programs overall, not specifically for the Business Analytics concentration.
Industry-specific outcomes: Poole reports average base salaries of $71,475 in technology, $74,513 in consulting, $71,735 in financial services, and $70,666 in health care/pharmacy for the 2024–2025 undergraduate cohort.
Employer network: Companies listed among Poole's top employers include Amazon, IBM, PwC, Bank of America, KPMG, Red Hat, Cisco, Lenovo, SAS, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Oracle, EY, UBS, Vanguard, Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo, and Volvo.
Industry partnerships: Poole employers can recruit for internships and full-time roles, mentor students, provide business challenges for student teams, participate in networking events, and collaborate with faculty on research.
Business Analytics and AI Initiative: The BAI connects students, faculty, and industry around business analytics, machine learning, and AI, including research and real-world practicum opportunities.
Specific industry research: Current BAI research includes an industry-sponsored Bank of America project developing a web portal to quantify greenhouse-gas impacts of business travel, as well as research with Workplace Options using predictive analytics for workplace mental-health incidents.
Accreditation: The Business Administration degree is offered through Poole College of Management, whose business programs are AACSB accredited, providing an internationally recognized quality framework for business education.
Business Analytics recognition: The university reports that its undergraduate Business Analytics program was ranked No. 1 in North Carolina, No. 10 among U.S. public universities, and No. 22 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in the ranking cited by NC State for 2025.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study in business, analytics, information technology, economics, finance, management, or related fields. At NC State, relevant postgraduate options include programs within Poole College of Management as well as the university's broader graduate offerings, allowing students to deepen their expertise in areas such as business analytics, AI, management, finance, or related data-driven disciplines.