The Business Analytics and Intelligence program is part of the Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research in the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst BGSU College of Business.

- BBachelors Available
- Bachelor'sBachelors Available
Business Analytics and Intelligence
In a world drowning in data, those who can help organizations gain intelligence from that data will be rewarded. From gathering data to storing and organizing it, analyzing data and communicating your findings, the BGSU business analytics and intelligence specialization provides in-demand skills.
BGSU's Schmidthorst College of Business is one of the few AACSB-accredited institutions in Ohio to offer an undergraduate and a graduate specialization in business analytics and intelligence.
Students can investigate artificial intelligence methods, predictive analytics and data mining to tackle complex problems and guide data-driven business decisions.
Turning a world full of data into a data-driven world
Big data systems tell stories to those who can see them, and those stories hold the key to solving problems as diverse as our society. Students in the business analytics and intelligence program develop sought-after skills to collect and analyze data.
They learn how to interpret data through a mixture of statistical analysis and information systems and then learn how to communicate their findings effectively.
In addition to the core curriculum, students can customize their classes to reflect their specific career goals and interests such as artificial intelligence methods, supply chain management, social media processes and analytics and more.
Stand Out in courses like
- Predictive and Descriptive Analytics
- Regression Analysis
- Data Mining in Business Analytics
- Organizational Theory and Behavior
- Ethics and Social Responsibility in Business
- Integrated Operations and Supply Chain Management
Curriculum
During junior and senior years at the Ohio campus, bachelor of science in business administration students with a business analytics and intelligence specialization study regression analysis, data mining in business analytics, predictive and descriptive analytics, business intelligence and database management.
Students also complete core business courses such as business finance, global strategy, prescriptive analytics and the legal environment of business to round out their skills. All are approached with a mix of theory and applied practice to scenarios and case studies that are often with live clients through the BGSU Center for Business Analytics.
Students in the BGSU business analytics program also complete courses in business communication, accounting and business concepts and introduction to information systems.
“Our graduates are working at some of the most successful companies around the world. The average starting salary for business analytics graduates is among the highest in Ohio and higher than the national average. The majority of our students have full-time employment at graduation.”
Raymond Braun, Dean of the Schmidthorst College of Business.
Career
The explosion in data collected and housed in the Big Data repositories of businesses, governments and universities has created a new industry in mining it for insight and intelligence to make better and smarter decisions.
With professional growth much higher than the national average predicted through 2028, high starting salaries and a wide range of industries to work in, the career of a business analytics professional is bright.
Bowling Green State University prepares graduates to meet the increasing demand by giving them a sound problem-solving and analytic base, advanced communication skills and broad business insight. They are suited for work as consultants and policy analysts and management analysts in strategy, marketing and sales. Careers in insurance, banking and research are open to analytics and intelligence graduates.
GO FAR in your career
- Business analytics and optimization
- Market research analyst
- Business case modeling
- Decision science analyst
- Data architect
- Financial analyst
The Business Analytics and Intelligence program is part of the Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research in the Schmidthorst College of Business.
Case Study: Graduate thesis lands election job
How many polling machines does your voting district need? Where should they go to minimize long lines and unhappy voters?
Austin Armstrong asked himself this question as a part of his Master of Science in applied statistics degree with a business analytics specialization. The thesis Armstrong wrote for his degree landed him a full-time job within the Office of the Ohio Secretary of State’s Elections Division.
His thesis work analyzed the allocation of equipment to polling locations. The research utilized simulation and machine learning algorithms to allocate electronic poll books to minimize wait times. In preparing his thesis, Austin spent countless hours researching the voting process, including making phone inquiries to the Secretary of State’s Office and various county Board of Elections.
In January 2020, Austin began working as an elections data administrator on a part-time basis and transitioned into the position full time after graduation. Some of his main duties and responsibilities have involved identifying opportunities for process improvement, recommending system modifications and developing data governance policies pertaining to elections. In addition, Austin utilizes statistical tools to interpret data sets, analyzing results and identifying trends and patterns for analytics efforts.
“I believe my intensive coursework here at Bowling Green, prior work experience and my unique set of knowledge gained through my thesis research made me a strong candidate for this position,” Armstrong said.
Consulting Services with the Center for Business Analytics
The Schmidthorst College of Business Center for Business Analytics provides analytics consulting services to companies. Led by faculty but with regular student involvement, it helps companies develop ideas, methodologies, innovations, solutions and practical implementations to produce tangible results through analytics. The center also provides frequent real-life cases for students to tackle.
The center has worked with companies from a variety of sectors, such as manufacturing and healthcare. Recent collaborations for product quality and process improvement projects include: Owens Corning, General Motors, Marathon Petroleum Co., Owen Illinois, First Solar, St. Vincent Hospital and The Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
The Center for Business Analytics has also worked with Equipment Data Associates to develop trend analysis and forecasting models for heavy equipment purchases and rentals throughout the country. The center’s highly-qualified faculty and students stand ready to help companies with short- and long-term analytics projects to improve business processes and decision making.
Schmidthorst College of Business Admissions
New freshman and new transfer students may apply for entrance to the college with their application for University admission. Math and composite ACT scores (or equivalent SAT scores) are used in the selection process.
Admission to BGSU does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program (BSBA). Students initially enroll in the Schmidthorst College of Business as pre-business students. Full admission to the BSBA program requires completion of calculus and a set of introductory business courses with a satisfactory grade point average.
To be admitted to the accounting program and enroll in any upper-division accounting courses, the Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems requires successful completion of 51 semester hours with an overall grade point average of 2.6 or better considering all colleges and universities attended, and successful completion of Accounting 2210 and 2220 with a grade of C or better.
“Machine learning, and increasingly deep learning, are beginning to unlock real value across business functions and in most industries, extending the power of analytics, particularly in organizations with solid digital foundations.”
- McKinsey Analytics
“We see a growing requirement for talent in the analytics space. Data, the use of data and the interrogation and processing of data will change the world.”
- Dr. Chris Skinner, vice president of strategic marketing at Owens Corning
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Business Administration are expected to be able to:
Goal 1: Students graduating with a BSBA degree will demonstrate competency in business knowledge and its application
Outcomes: Students will -
- Demonstrate understanding of fundamental knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, business statistics, operations & supply chain management, business law, organizational behavior, marketing, information technology, management science, and global strategy.
- Demonstrate proficiency in using business-related software applications.
- Demonstrate competency in integrating knowledge across business disciplines.
Goal 2: Students graduating with a BSBA degree will demonstrate competency in applying appropriate problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills.
Outcome: Students will -
- Identify a business problem, develop and critically evaluate alternative solutions, and make appropriate recommendations.
- Assess the outcomes of a course of action and make appropriate adjustments.
Goal 3: Students graduating with a BSBA degree will demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills
Outcomes: Students will -
- Effectively write a business document.
- Make effective oral presentations in both individual and team settings.
- Demonstrate the understanding and application of teamwork.
Goal 4: Students graduating with a BSBA degree will recognize the ethical aspects of business.
Outcomes: Students will -
- Recognize the context of the ethical situation (economic, legal or cultural).
- Define the ethical responsibilities of business organizations.
- Describe the ramifications of unethical behavior.
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
The Business Administration program is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is in good standing.
The Business Administration program, Accounting specialization, is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is in good standing.
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.
Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Business Administration program does not lead to professional licensure.
Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Business Administration program, Accounting specialization, leads to professional licensure.
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
The Business Administration program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.
- Accounting
- Applied Economics
- Business Analytics and Intelligence
- Economics
- Finance
- Individualized business
- Information systems
- Information systems, auditing, and control
- Insurance
- International business
- Management
- Marketing
- Sales and Services Marketing
- Supply chain management
* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.
Updated: 01/19/2023 01:47PM