Business + Data Science, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

The BS in Business + Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business combines a broad business education with a STEM-designated data science curriculum, preparing students to use statistics, programming, databases and analytics to solve complex business problems. Students can customize the degree through four specializations—Information Systems, International Business, Management, or Operations Management—while developing the technical and business skills needed for data-driven decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students typically begin with the mathematical and data foundations needed for the + Data Science curriculum, including STAT 107: Data Science Discovery and a calculus option such as MATH 234: Calculus for Business 1. Alongside these technical foundations, students begin Gies Business core coursework and general education requirements.

Year 2: Students build stronger data-science capabilities through courses such as STAT 207: Data Science Exploration, CS 277: Algorithms and Data Structures of Data Science, and CS 307: Modeling and Learning in Data Science. They also continue the business core, including areas such as finance, marketing, management and operations, while progressing toward their chosen specialization.

Year 3: Students deepen their technical understanding through courses such as IS 467: Ethics and Policy for Data Science and IS 477: Data Management, Curation, & Reproducibility, while completing specialized business coursework. Depending on their chosen pathway, students may study BADM 352: Database Design and Management, BADM 312: Designing and Managing Organizations, or BADM 374: Management Decision Models.

Year 4: Students complete advanced specialization and remaining degree requirements, applying their business and data science knowledge to strategic, managerial and operational challenges. Depending on the selected pathway, final coursework can include BADM 353: Information Systems Analysis and Design, BADM 383: Topics in International Business, BADM 314: Leading Negotiations, or BADM 379: Business Process Improvement.

Focus areas: Data science, business analytics, statistics, programming, machine learning, database systems, data visualization, artificial intelligence, information systems, international business, management, operations management, decision-making, supply chain, quality control, business strategy

Learning outcomes: Analyze and interpret business datasets, apply statistical and computational methods to business problems, develop data-driven strategies, use programming and database technologies, communicate analytical findings, make evidence-based managerial decisions, and apply data science across business functions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BS in Business + Data Science is STEM-designated, reflecting its interdisciplinary emphasis on technical, mathematical and business skills. Gies College of Business is accredited by AACSB and holds both business and accounting accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings): Gies College of Business is ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 6 among public business schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report undergraduate business rankings reported by Gies. Its Analytics specialty is ranked No. 19 nationally.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Business + Data Science program is designed to move beyond classroom theory by combining technical data-science training with practical business applications. Students develop skills in data visualization, decision-making, coding, computer programming, statistics and database systems, and Gies provides opportunities to apply those skills through real-world client projects.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Real-world client projects: Gies Business states that Business + Data Science students gain confidence using data to build strategies and make decisions through projects involving real-world clients.
Data science programming: The curriculum includes CS 307: Modeling and Learning in Data Science and CS 277: Algorithms and Data Structures of Data Science, providing structured exposure to computational and data-science methods.
Database experience: BADM 352: Database Design and Management develops skills relevant to organizing and managing business data, while the data science curriculum also includes IS 477: Data Management, Curation, & Reproducibility.
AI and machine learning: Gies describes the + Data Science program as preparing students to leverage machine learning and analytics in strategic business contexts and implement AI-driven solutions.
Deloitte Foundation Center for Business Analytics: The University of Illinois–Deloitte Foundation Center develops business analytics curriculum and resources designed to equip students with data expertise for the future of business.
Analytics tools: Illinois' Deloitte Foundation Center materials document hands-on use of Python, Jupyter Notebooks, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, Pandas and Seaborn for data acquisition, cleaning, visualization and analysis.
Student organizations: Gies Business provides access to 30+ student organizations, giving students opportunities to develop professional networks and leadership experience alongside their academic work.
Internships: Gies reports that 91% of undergraduates complete an internship, providing an important opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings.
Career and professional development: The Gies Office of Career & Professional Development provides support in career exploration, personal branding, interview preparation, employer insights and recruitment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business + Data Science degree prepares students for careers that combine business decision-making with data, technology and analytics. The university specifically highlights opportunities to manage and interpret datasets, improve business functions and work across areas such as information systems, international business, management and operations.

Typical job roles: Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Systems Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst

Career development and progression opportunities include:

Career services: The Gies Office of Career & Professional Development supports students with career exploration, personal branding, interview preparation, employer and industry insights, and recruitment activities.
Internship outcomes: Gies reports that 91% of undergraduates complete an internship, giving students professional experience before graduation.
Overall graduate outcomes: For the 2024–25 Gies undergraduate cohort, 96% achieved a successful outcome within six months of graduation through employment or continuing education, with an average salary of $81,621 and an average signing bonus of $7,180. These figures are Gies-wide undergraduate outcomes and are not specific to Business + Data Science.
Industry connections: Gies provides employers with access to students through career fairs, Handshake, recruiting guidelines, Hire Illini and employer engagement activities.
Real-world business experience: Every Gies undergraduate student participates in at least one real client project, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to an actual business problem.
Industry-facing analytics resources: The University of Illinois–Deloitte Foundation Center for Business Analytics develops analytics curriculum and resources and supports the development of data expertise relevant to modern business.
Accreditation value: Gies holds AACSB business and accounting accreditation, which evaluates areas including faculty qualifications, teaching effectiveness, research, societal impact and student learning outcomes.
Graduation and retention: The official Myillini program profile reports 3.7 years to degree, 96% second-year retention, 87% graduation within four years and 92% graduation within six years; the university notes that some retention and graduation figures are aggregated from majors in a similar interest area.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into postgraduate study in areas such as business analytics, data science, information systems, finance, management or technology management. Gies offers graduate programs including an MS in Business Analytics, while the broader University of Illinois ecosystem provides additional opportunities to pursue advanced study combining business, analytics and technology.