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Data Analytics

Program Contact

Jim Downey, PhD: Department Chair and Graduate Program Coordinator
Telephone: (501) 450-5327 | Email: jdowney@uca.edu

[1] Objectives

The Graduate Certificate (GC) in Data Analytics is designed to meet the needs of students who work (or will work) with managing, using, and exploiting data in organizations. Effectively managing and using data in any organizational context is complex, and any certificate or degree program by necessity can focus only on specific aspects of such an endeavor. This certificate program introduces students to managing data, describing data, and using data for predictive and prescriptive purposes. It examines the critical thinking and experimental design process involved in data collection and analysis. The program is designed for almost any type of organizational manager, in any discipline, who wishes to more fully understand how to manage and use organizational data.

[2] Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, a student may be admitted to the GC in Data Analytics program by fulfilling the following requirements:

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  2. A score of at least 500 on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or the equivalent GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score. The GMAT/GRE requirement may be waived under certain circumstances. [See Note 1, below.]
  3. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.70, or 3.00 in last 60 credit hours.
  4. A current professional résumé.

Note 1

Students who do not meet the minimum GMAT (GRE) scores or minimum GPA requirements may be admitted on a conditional basis (see Graduate School admission requirements). Applicants to the Data Analytics certificate program are generally required to supply GMAT or GRE scores as part of their application process. This requirement may be waived based on the student’s past record, such as degree(s) earned, passing the CPA exam, and GPA attained in the bachelor’s degree.

Specific guidelines for waiving the GMAT (GRE) are provided in the Graduate Bulletin sections for the MBA or MAcc.

[3] Program Requirements

To earn the GC in Data Analytics, the student must complete twelve (12) hours of graduate-level course work, as specified below. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.

Prerequisite Course (3 credit hours)

QMTH 2330 Business Statistics [ACTS: BUSI2103] or equivalent

Take the following two courses (6 hours)

MIS 5380 Business Intelligence and Data Visualization
MIS 5381 Data Mining and Applied Analytics

Take two of the following five courses (6 hours)

MIS 5320 Critical Thinking and Experimental Design
MIS 5325 Predictive Analytics
MIS 5330 Prescriptive Analytics
MIS 6335 Python for Data Analytics
MIS 6365 Data Warehousing and Data Management

[4] Course Links

Follow this link for MIS course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to the Undergraduate Bulletin for QMTH course descriptions: course link.