Business Analytics (BUAN)
BUAN 294 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS
Units: 1-4 Repeatability: Yes (Repeatable if topic differs)
An overview and analysis of selected topics in business analytics. The course may be repeated if the topic changes. Prerequisites may change depending on the topic.
BUAN 299 | INDEPENDENT STUDY
Units: 1-3 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)
Independent study including empirical research and written reports. Approval is required by instructor, department chair and dean.
BUAN 314 | DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS & DATA MANAGEMENT
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: (ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-)
Advances in our capability to generate and collect information coupled with decreasing disk‐space prices are pushing us toward a world centered around data management. Data preparation and storage are the foundation of today’s business analytics. They ensure data are properly processed for later meaningful analysis. Data preparation includes data cleansing and data transformation. The objective of data preparation is to collect the data from various sources into a single location and transform it into a form that is ready for later analysis. Databases are at the heart of modern commercial application development for data storage. Once data is prepared and properly stored, the first step of analysis usually involves summarizing basic facts about what has happened in the past. This preliminary examination of data falls in the category of descriptive analytics (exploratory data analysis). The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction of the data management process ‐ from data preparation, storage, to descriptive analytics applications. (Course can be taken upon completion of 45 units and completion of all other prerequisites.).
BUAN 370 | DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS & DATA MANAGEMENT
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: (ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-)
Advances in our capability to generate and collect information coupled with decreasing disk‐space prices are pushing us toward a world centered around data management. Data preparation and storage are the foundation of today’s business analytics. They ensure data are properly processed for later meaningful analysis. Data preparation includes data cleansing and data transformation. The objective of data preparation is to collect the data from various sources into a single location and transform it into a form that is ready for later analysis. Databases are at the heart of modern commercial application development for data storage. Once data is prepared and properly stored, the first step of analysis usually involves summarizing basic facts about what has happened in the past. This preliminary examination of data falls in the category of descriptive analytics (exploratory data analysis). The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction of the data management process ‐ from data preparation, storage, to descriptive analytics applications. (Course can be taken upon completion of 45 units and completion of all other prerequisites.).
BUAN 371 | ANALYTICAL DECISION MODELING
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: (ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-)
Many business situations can be represented by quantitative models, typically on spreadsheets. This course introduces prescriptive analytics, which is the branch of analytics focusing on identifying the best course of actions. The course will introduce quantitative models for business decision‐making. Much emphasis will be placed on practical applications of the models. Topics to be covered include linear programming, integer programming, network models, non‐linear programming and Monte Carlo simulation. The primary goal is to acquaint students in business and relevant disciplines with useful concepts, theories, and solution methods in predictive analytics. The problems examined in this course are simplified versions of those that may be encountered in many areas of business. While the approach is quantitative, this is not a mathematics course ‐ we will not prove theorems or solve systems of equations. Instead, we will focus on problem formulation and rely on Excel to do the heavy lifting. In other words, we will focus on developing your model‐building skills and managerial interpretation of results.
BUAN 381 | PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS & BIG DATA
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: (ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C- or ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C- or ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C- or (BUAN 314 with a minimum grade of C- or BUAN 370 with a minimum grade of C-) or (ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C- and ECON 202 with a minimum grade of C-))
Analytics is the process of transforming data into insight in order to make better-informed decisions. Predictive analytics is the branch of analytics problem type that focuses on the central question of “what will (or could) happen?” This involves making predictions by describing static and dynamic relationships using a collection of techniques including, but not limited to response surface modeling, simulation, and forecasting. This course will focus on developing a toolkit for solving two important and common types of prediction problems: 1) formulating a continuous prediction; 2) formulating a categorical (discrete) prediction. With these goals in mind, methodologies will be introduced by leveraging modern-day software implementation and machine learning when appropriate. By the end of the course, you will know how to estimate and assess the performance of (validate) a variety of predictive models for applications in business.
BUAN 390 | BUSINESS ANALYTICS STRATEGY
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: (ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C- or ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C- or ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-) and (ISYE 330 with a minimum grade of C- or (BUAN 314 with a minimum grade of C- and BUAN 370 with a minimum grade of C-) or (ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C- and ECON 202 with a minimum grade of C-))
Business analytics refers to the ways in which enterprises such as businesses, nonprofits, and governments can use data to gain insights and make better decisions. The ability to use data effectively to drive rapid, precise, and profitable decisions has been a critical strategic advantage for many companies. In this course, we will examine how managers and other stakeholders can apply advanced statistical techniques and tools that are central to the analysis of structured data that is used in business decision making. Data visualization and exploratory analysis will be emphasized as a key first step in the analytics process. Students will go through the process of identifying the data needs of a company, identifying key questions, identifying and exploring data sources to address these needs & questions, study design, strategy for implementation of study design, and communication of results. Special emphasis will be on communicating and translating analytic information into actionable business intelligence. Students will explore a variety of industry sectors (business, financial, technology, healthcare, sports, social innovation/ “big data for social good”, social media).
BUAN 470 | MACHINE LEARNING
Units: 3 Repeatability: No
Prerequisites: ITMG 100 with a minimum grade of C- or BUSN 101 with a minimum grade of C- and (ECON 216 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 217 with a minimum grade of C-) and (MATH 130 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 133 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C-) and (BUAN 381 or ECON 381)
The goal of the class is to develop practical working knowledge of the tools and methods for using machine learning, as well as talking knowledge of underlying concepts that go into algorithms, so that one can explain why/how methods apply for different kinds of use cases. The class combines in class demonstrations/tutorials of certain tools/languages, such as Weka, R, Python, with graphical depictions/programming exercises that involve certain mathematical concepts, including maximizing fit/optimization, dimension reduction/matrix factorization, evaluation methods, Bayesian learning, matrix operations, etc.. Content includes various predictive models, such as Random Forests, Naïve Bayes, and larger landscape of models relate, including the latest Neural Networks for deep learning. Data techniques will be reviewed or discussed as needed, but the emphasis will be on models.
BUAN 494 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS
Units: 1-4 Repeatability: Yes (Repeatable if topic differs)
An overview and analysis of selected topics in business analytics. The course may be repeated if the topic changes. Prerequisites may change depending on the topic.
BUAN 496 | UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Units: 1-3 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)
Students develop and/or assist in research projects in various fields of Business Analytics under the supervision of a faculty member. Students will meet with a faculty member, with whom a research relationship is established, on an on-going basis to discuss the research project, assess the student’s role and responsibilities, and to discuss the process of conducting scholarly research. Students may participate in a range of research activities, including but not limited to: survey construction and design, project management, participant solicitation, experimental research, qualitative interviewing, focus group moderation, fieldwork, literature searches, data entry, data analysis, critical analysis, political economy inquiries, and writing of instruments and manuscripts. Students must register with a specific faculty member with whom they complete a contract outlining the roles and responsibilities of the student and faculty member. A maximum of three units of undergraduate research may be used to satisfy requirements for the major. Requires professor’s and department chair’s approvals.
BUAN 499 | INDEPENDENT STUDY
Units: 1-3 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)
Independent study including empirical research and written reports. A maximum of three units of independent study may be used to satisfy requirements for the major.
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