The Business Data & Analytics course introduces students to the quantitative methods and tools organizations use to transform data into actionable insights. Using Business Analytics: Data Analysis & Decision Making, 8th Edition by S. Christian Albright and Wayne L. Winston, students will develop skills in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.

The course covers key techniques such as probability, statistical inference, regression, forecasting, optimization, simulation, and data mining, while also emphasizing practical applications through spreadsheet modeling and business intelligence tools like Power Query and Power Pivot. An optional introduction to R provides a pathway for students interested in advanced analytics and programming.

Through hands-on exercises and real-world problem-solving, students will learn how to summarize and visualize data, analyze uncertainty, build predictive models, and optimize decision-making processes. Designed for business and economics students, this course prepares learners to use analytics in strategic, operational, and financial contexts. By the end of the course, students will have the ability to apply analytical reasoning to solve complex business challenges and support evidence-based decision-making across industries.