Business Analytics, B.S.B.A.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of North Carolina Charlotte

Program Overview

The Business Analytics, B.S.B.A. at University of North Carolina at Charlotte prepares students to collect, analyze, and interpret business data using computational, statistical, and mathematical methods to support better decisions. It is a strong fit for students who enjoy quantitative problem-solving and want to apply analytics to areas such as finance, marketing, operations, and business intelligence.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin as Pre-Business students and build the quantitative and business foundation needed for the upper-division analytics major. Early coursework includes subjects such as Introduction to Business Computing (INFO 2130) and foundational accounting, economics, statistics, mathematics, and business courses, helping students develop the computational and analytical skills required for later study.

Second Year: Students continue strengthening their business and quantitative preparation through progression courses in areas such as accounting, economics, statistics, mathematics, and programming. Coursework such as Business Computing (BUSA 2130) applies spreadsheet software and Excel VBA to business problems, giving students an early introduction to automating analytical tasks.

Third Year: After meeting the progression requirements and formally entering the Business Analytics major, students move into the structured upper-division curriculum. Courses such as Business Analytics (INFO 3236), Econometrics (ECON 3112), and Topics in Business Analytics (BUSA 3090) develop students’ ability to analyze data, use quantitative models, and connect analytical findings with business decisions.

Fourth Year: The final stage brings together quantitative analysis and business applications through advanced analytics and business-core study. Students further develop skills for data-driven business intelligence, decision models, and big-data analytics while preparing for professional employment or graduate study in areas such as data science and business analytics, mathematical finance, or economics.

Focus Areas

Business analytics, statistical analysis, quantitative modeling, computational methods, business intelligence, data-driven decision-making, data visualization, business problem-solving, information technology, econometrics, predictive and prescriptive analytics

Learning Outcomes

Analytical problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, computational skills, business process understanding, information technology skills, data-driven decision-making, communication, organizational skills, critical thinking

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

UNC Charlotte's Belk College of Business has held AACSB International accreditation for more than 30 years, providing students with a business education within an internationally recognized accreditation framework. The Business Analytics program is housed within the Department of Business Information Systems and Operations Management and is also part of UNC Charlotte's interdisciplinary School of Data Science.

Reputation (Employability)

UNC Charlotte reports that 63% of its 2023 Business Analytics graduates were employed full- or part-time, while 17% were enrolled in continuing education, with graduates reporting an average salary of $70,900; the university notes a 95.35% knowledge rate for the destination survey.

The university's Business Analytics career guide also identifies strong applications for analytics across finance, healthcare, marketing, and workforce management, reflecting the breadth of industries in which graduates can use data-driven business skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Business Analytics B.S.B.A. now includes a High-Impact Experience requirement for students following the 2026–27 catalog or later, ensuring that students apply classroom learning through an approved practical experience before graduation. Options include an internship, study abroad, project-based learning, undergraduate research, or an experiential program such as a competition, hackathon, simulation, or workshop.

Students can build their practical analytics and career skills through opportunities such as:

Business analytics projects: Project-based learning gives students opportunities to apply analytical concepts to practical business problems rather than relying only on classroom theory.
Business computing and Excel: BUSA 2130 – Business Computing uses spreadsheet software for business problem-solving and introduces basic and advanced Excel functionality together with Excel VBA programming for task automation.
Internships: Students can satisfy the High-Impact Experience requirement through an approved professional internship, gaining experience that can be carried into their first job after graduation.
Undergraduate research: Approved undergraduate research can count toward the required High-Impact Experience, giving students an opportunity to investigate an analytical question in a structured research environment.
Analytics competitions and events: Experiential programs can include competitions, hackathons, simulations, and workshops, while the university's analytics community provides opportunities to engage with the field beyond regular coursework.
Analytics networking: The annual BISOM Networking Night connects students with employers and professionals working in information systems, operations, supply chain management, and business analytics; the 2026 event historically attracted more than 100 attendees.
Career technology: The Niblock Student Center and Career Center provide Hire-A-Niner for internship and job postings, while students can use Big Interview for interview practice and Excel modules to strengthen their technical preparation.
Business analytics community: Students can participate in organizations such as the Association for Information Systems and the Charlotte Sports Analytics Club, while the university also highlights the Analytics Frontiers Conference and Women in Data Science Conference.
Early graduate-study opportunity: The Belk Scholars Program in business analytics offers high-achieving students a fast-track route allowing them to pursue a bachelor's and master's degree in five years.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Business Analytics graduates develop a combination of quantitative, computational, and business skills that can be applied across finance, healthcare, marketing, workforce management, and other data-intensive industries. UNC Charlotte's own career materials identify business analytics as a field focused on describing, predicting, and informing business decisions through statistical analysis and data.

Typical career directions include: Business Intelligence Analyst, Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Analytics Consultant

Students can strengthen their transition from university to employment through:

Career support: The Niblock Student Center provides academic and career support from the beginning of undergraduate study through graduation, while the Career Resources team provides Business Analytics career guides, professional-development resources, Hire-A-Niner, interview preparation through Big Interview, and micro-internship opportunities.
Employment outcomes: UNC Charlotte reports that 63% of 2023 Business Analytics graduates were employed full or part time, 17% continued their education, and graduates reported an average salary of $70,900. The university reports a 95.35% knowledge rate for these destination-survey results.
Career demand: UNC Charlotte's Business Analytics career material reports a 30% projected field growth in North Carolina and 35% nationally for business intelligence analysts, along with a North Carolina salary range of $66,220–$180,220 and a national median salary of $108,020, citing O*NET Online.
Industry engagement: Students can meet employers through BISOM Networking Night, Career Center events, internships, and professional organizations. The 2026 BISOM Networking Night specifically brought together employers and students interested in business analytics and related fields.
High-impact experience: Beginning with the 2026–27 catalog, Business Analytics students must complete at least one approved High-Impact Experience before graduation, creating a formal opportunity to gain professional or project-based experience.
Accreditation value: The Belk College of Business has maintained AACSB accreditation for more than 30 years, providing a recognized quality framework for the business education students receive.
Graduation and career preparation: The Belk College's Gold Standard initiative encourages students to complete multiple high-impact experiences such as internships, study abroad, leadership, and project-based learning; its first graduating cohort documented 35 internships and 15 project-based learning experiences among other activities.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into graduate study after the B.S.B.A., particularly through UNC Charlotte's M.S. in Data Science and Business Analytics. The university also offers the Belk Scholars fast-track pathway, which enables selected high-achieving students to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in five years, providing a structured route from undergraduate Business Analytics study into advanced analytics education.