Business Analytics

Business Analytics introduces students to the quantitative methods they will need to thrive in the modern business world. Business Analytics is concerned with using business data to develop new insights and understanding. This involves being able to extract and summarise information from the rich data sets readily available in today's business environment; to analyse this data in a way that leads to useful models of both the operations and the environment of a business; and to respond appropriately as managers to quantitative information and quantitative models, and as such be able to make better business decisions.

As well as being useful in their own right, these skills in business analytics also enhance the effectiveness in the workplace of graduates majoring in other business disciplines. A range of electives is offered to allow students to select topics in business statistics, in machine learning, in operations management and in decision sciences.

Options for studying Business Analytics

Students not enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce or related combined Bachelor of Commerce degrees can complete either a Business Analytics major or minor as a Table S (shared pool) option for their degree.

Commerce students can only complete a Business Analytics major or minor as a Table A option for their degree.

Pathways through the major and minor

The requirements for a major/minor in Business Analytics are spread out over three years of the degree (four years if students are completing a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree).

(i) Business Analytics major

To achieve a major in Business Analytics, students must complete 48 credit points comprising:

• 12 credit points in 1000-level core units of study;
• 18 credit points in 2000-level core units of study;
• 6 credit points in 3000-level core units of study; and
• 12 credit points in 3000-level selective units of study.

A sample pathway for the Business Analytics major (over three years of a degree) is listed below.

Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the following table.

** Capstone unit for the major – completed in the final semester of study for that major. This unit of study must be completed at the University of Sydney Business School.

For details of the core and selective units of study required for the major or minor please refer to the Business Analytics section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.

(i) Business Analytics minor

To achieve a minor in Business Analytics, students must complete 36 credit points comprising:

• 12 credit points in 1000-level core units of study;
• 18 credit points in 2000-level core units of study; and
• 6 credit points in 3000-level selective units of study.

A sample pathway for the Business Analytics minor (over three years of a degree) is listed below.

Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the following table.

Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence to that displayed in the table above.

For details of the core and selective units of study required for the major or minor please refer to the Business Analytics section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.

Bachelor of Advanced Studies with Honours in Business Analytics

Honours in Business Analytics commences in semester one; there is no mid-year intake.

Students enrolled in a degree combined with the Bachelor of Advanced studies who complete a major in Business Analytics with a weighted average mark of 70% (within the first three years of their degree) may be eligible to complete honours in Business Analytics as their fourth year of study in this combined degree program. Students will need to have completed any requirements of their degree not satisfied with the completion of honours (including both majors, all core units, all Open Learning Environment units, and any elective units as necessary to ensure they meet degree requirements) by the end of their third year of study to proceed to honours in their fourth year of study. The available units of study for Honours in Business Analytics are listed in Table A Honours units of study in the Business School Handbook.

For details of the requirements for admission, completion and the criteria for the awarding of honours, please refer to the Degree and Faculty resolutions.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the Business Analytics major students will be able to:

Further information

For further information regarding study in business analytics at the University of Sydney, please refer to the Discipline of Business Analytics.