Faculty Contact: Dr. Satish Nargundkar (snargundkar@gsu.edu)
Catalog Description:
The Business Analysis concentration provides the requisite expertise for analytically oriented careers in business with emphasis on applications of data analysis, business modeling operations management and project management techniques. The student gains valuable Information Technology skills to develop appropriate decision support systems. The mission of this program is to prepare professionals to take on leadership roles in information analysis. BBA graduates with the business analysis major are ideally positioned for careers in any functional area of business that requires business analysis and information technology skills.
The BBA in Business Analysis will develop the ability of students to apply analytical techniques to address real-world business situations. Students will learn to create meaningful applications of Information Technology for managerial decision making in areas such as Finance, Marketing, and Operations. Students will be better qualified to pursue careers in Financial Analysis, Marketing Analysis, Operations Management, Business Intelligence and Data Analysis. The major is grounded in the functional areas of business and complemented by statistical and management science modeling techniques. This major also prepares you for certification in Six Sigma.
Required Courses in the Major: MGS 4130, MGS 4300, MGS 4700
Business Analysis track:
MGS 4020 Business Intelligence (currently offered in Spring)
MGS 4110 Analysis of Business Data (currently offered in Summer)
MGS 4140 Business Modeling (currently offered in Fall)
MGS 4120 Optimal Resource Allocation (currently offered in Spring)
These courses can be taken in any order.
Business Analysis (corporate term Business Analytics) is a set of tools, techniques, and methodologies that support the translation of data assets into "actionable" (useful for decision-making) information.
What does a business analyst do? She/he is uniquely suited for accounting analysis, marketing analysis, financial analysis, operations and systems analysis, production/manufacturing analysis or applications in other functional and strategic areas. The business analysis major equips one with sophisticated statistical/data mining, management science, modeling and operations research skills. These skills combined with functional expertise can lead to powerful specializations.
Get a better insight into career possibilities
Search popular job-search engines for jobs in Business Analysis like http://jobsearch.monster.com/. More specific job descriptions are available at http://www.analyticrecruiting.com/ .
Research US Department of Labor’s predictions for such careers http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos019.htm.
Your Business Analysis degree will qualify you as a marketing analyst, financial analyst, operations analyst, business analyst or a planning analyst. These areas are currently in great demand and you have well positioned to create greater value for your employers.
Course Descriptions
MGS 4020 - BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Introduction to Business Intelligence. (Formerly DSC 4020). Prerequisite: Mgs 3100. CSP: 1, 2, 4, 6. Requires a 2.5 GSU GPA. This course focuses on the features, uses, and design strategies for IT-enabled managerial decision support. Model-based, and knowledge-based application for business intelligence and corporate decision-making are emphasized. Implementation issues in the context of emerging business environments are also addressed. Application areas include financial analysis, marketing research, and project management.
MGS 4110 - ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS DATA
Analysis of Business Data. (Formerly DSC 4100). Prerequisite: Math 1070 or consent of instructor. CSP: 1, 6. Requires a 2.5 GSU GPA. The aim of this course is to provide the student with the background to run a statistical project from the data collection stage through analysis and interpretation of the results. The course is divided into three major parts. The first part of the course discusses data collection methods including the various common sampling designs and questionnaire development. In the second part, students are introduced to the high-level statistical packages. 3.000 Credit Hours
MGS 4140 - BUSINESS MODELING
Business Modeling.
(Formerly DSC 4240). Prerequisite: Mgs 3100. CSP:
1, 2, 3, 6. Requires a 2.5 GSU GPA. This course covers the development,
implementation, and utilization of business models for managerial decision-
making. Various techniques for analytical modeling, such as forecasting,
optimization, simulation, decision analysis, and classification, are
discussed. Students gain mastery in developing complex financial models
implemented in decision support systems that covers
applications in stra- tegic,
planning, financial management, operations/project management, and marketing
research. These topics are cover- ed in the context
of the emerging information technology architecture.
MGS 4120 - OPTIMAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Optimal Resource Allocation. (Formerly DSC 4120). Prerequisite: Mgs 3100. CSP: 1, 3, 4, 7. Requires a 2.5 GSU GPA. This course focuses on optimization modeling and sensitivity analysis to help managers craft well-formed, well-justified decisions. Students design optimization models for realistic cases, implement them using spreadsheets, and write the results in the form of a nontechnical recommendation to management backed up by clearly organized technical appendices.