Business Analytics Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Arizona

Program Overview

The Business Analytics (BSBA) at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management prepares students to use data, technology and business knowledge to generate insights and make practical recommendations across a wide range of business functions. It is particularly suited to students who want to combine business strategy with technical skills in SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI and Microsoft Office, while developing the ability to collect, manage, analyze and communicate data effectively.

Curriculum Structure

First Year:
Students establish their academic and business foundation through courses such as MIS 111: Computers and Internetworked Society, MIS 112: Computers and Internetworked Society Lab and MATH 116: Calculus Concepts for Business Majors. They also complete BNAD 100: Language and Context of Business, writing and general education courses, while beginning to develop their understanding of business technology and quantitative reasoning.

Second Year:
The second year introduces students to core analytics and business concepts through BNAN 276: Statistical Inference in Management, BNAN 277: Analytical Methods for Business and ACCT 210: Introduction to Managerial Accounting. BCOM 214: Fundamentals of Business Communication also develops the ability to communicate business information clearly, while BNAD 200: Career Management in Business begins the professional-development component of the degree.

Third Year:
After entering the Professional Phase, students move into specialist Business Analytics coursework including BNAN 325: Applied Programming in Business Analytics, BNAN 331: Database Management Systems and BNAN 420: Business Analytics Techniques. They also study BNAN 430: Data Visualization for Business, alongside marketing, management, operations, economics and information-systems courses, creating a strong connection between technical analytics and business decision-making.

Fourth Year:
The final year focuses on advanced analytics and strategic business application through courses such as BNAN 440: Prescriptive Analytics, together with a Business Analytics major elective and MGMT 402: Integrating Business Fundamentals with Ethics and Law in Management. Students also complete ENTR 485: Innovating: Creating the Future and ECON 330: Macroeconomic and Global Institutions and Policy, helping them connect analytical skills with innovation, ethics, strategy and broader economic environments.

Focus areas

Business analytics, statistical inference, analytical methods, programming, database management, data visualization, prescriptive analytics, business intelligence, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, economics, information systems and business communication.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to collect, link, clean and augment data using database technologies; apply modern analytics methods; use business analytics software and programming languages; and communicate data-driven insights through effective visualization and professional communication.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Business Analytics BSBA is offered through the Eller College of Management, which holds AACSB accreditation for its business programs. Eller states that its business accreditation was renewed for another five years following AACSB's rigorous review process.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Eller reports that its undergraduate programs are ranked #20 among public universities and #31 overall by U.S. News & World Report. The college also reports that 90% of undergraduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school full-time 60 days after graduation, while its undergraduate starting-salary positioning is reported as 23% above the national average.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Business Analytics major is designed around practical use of data and technology rather than business theory alone. Students gain hands-on experience with programming, databases, statistical analysis and visualization while also applying these skills to accounting, marketing, operations, finance and management problems; Eller also encourages study abroad, internships and other career-related experiences during the degree.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Programming tools: BNAN 225: Programming Fundamentals for Business Analytics provides hands-on experience using Excel, Python and R to explore, clean and analyze data and communicate insights professionally.
Database management: BNAN 331: Database Management Systems develops students' ability to work with database technologies, an important part of the program's focus on collecting, linking, cleaning and augmenting data.
Data visualization: BNAN 430: Data Visualization for Business develops the ability to communicate analytical findings visually; Eller specifically identifies Tableau and Power BI among the software students are expected to become proficient in.
Analytics software: Students develop proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Tableau/Power BI, SQL, Python and R, giving the degree a strong technical component.
Statistical analysis: BNAN 276: Statistical Inference in Management and BNAN 277: Analytical Methods for Business provide the statistical and analytical foundation needed for later specialist courses.
Advanced analytics: BNAN 420: Business Analytics Techniques and BNAN 440: Prescriptive Analytics allow students to progress from foundational analysis toward more advanced approaches to business decision-making.
Career-related experience: Eller recommends using summer periods for internships, study abroad or volunteering to gain career-related experience.
Study abroad: Students are highly encouraged to participate in a study-abroad and career-related experience during the summer following their foundational coursework.
Employer engagement: Eller integrates business partnerships, real-world case studies, alumni interaction, student projects, case competitions and mentoring opportunities into its undergraduate experience.
Career coaching: Business Analytics students have access to a dedicated Business Analytics career coach who provides guidance on internship and job opportunities.
Career events: Students participate in the Eller Career Expo, Career Showcase and UA Career Days, giving them opportunities to interact with employers while progressing through the curriculum.
Eller Externships: The college offers one-day job-shadowing experiences designed to introduce students, particularly freshmen and sophomores, to professional environments and potential career fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Analytics BSBA develops a combination of business knowledge and technical analytics skills that can be applied across different functional areas and industries. Graduates can use their expertise in data analysis, programming, database management and visualization to support evidence-based business decisions, while Eller provides dedicated career coaching, employer engagement and professional-development opportunities.

Typical career roles include: Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Visualization Analyst

Career development and graduate outcomes

Dedicated career coaching: Business Analytics students have access to a dedicated career coach who helps them explore internship and employment opportunities relevant to analytics.
Professional Development Center: Eller provides undergraduate professional-development resources, with career preparation incorporated into the curriculum and student activities.
Employment outcomes: Eller reports that 90% of undergraduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school full-time 60 days after graduation. This is an Eller undergraduate-wide figure and is not presented as Business Analytics-specific.
Salary information: Eller reports that graduates with a bachelor's degree in business analytics have median salaries in the $100K+ range, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is an external occupation-level statistic rather than a salary specific to University of Arizona graduates.
Employer engagement: Eller works with employers through real-world projects, case competitions, classroom speakers, alumni interaction and mentoring opportunities.
Employer network: Eller identifies employers where its graduates work, including EY, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Honeywell, Microsoft, PwC and Nationwide.
Career fairs and recruitment: Eller provides employer-facing opportunities through the Eller Expo, Career Showcase and University of Arizona Career Days, supporting internship and full-time recruitment.
Accreditation value: The degree is delivered through an AACSB-accredited business school, an accreditation held by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide according to Eller.
STEM designation: Eller identifies Business Analytics as its first undergraduate STEM major, reflecting the program's emphasis on programming, databases, analytics and technology.
Graduate outcomes: Eller reports that its undergraduate students have opportunities to enter employment, continue into graduate education or pursue entrepreneurial pathways after graduation.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into advanced study in areas such as business analytics, information systems, finance, accounting, marketing, economics, management and other business disciplines. Eller offers postgraduate options including an MS in Business Analytics, MS in MIS, MS in Finance, MS in Accounting, MS in Economics, MS in Marketing and MBA programs, allowing graduates to deepen either their analytics expertise or broader business leadership skills.