Wake Technical Community College
“Wake Tech”
• Largest community college in NC
• 70,000+ students a year attending
Wake Tech Campuses
AAS Business Analytics:
DOLTAA TAACCCT Round 2 Grantee
• TAACCCT (Trade Adjustment Assistance
Community College and Career Training)
Program
• Partnership between the Department of Labor
and the Department of Education
• Received award October 2012; offered our
first course January 2013
• Focus: employability in analytics fields
Why Wake Tech?
• Cost-effective
• Flexible schedules
• Access to industry software and tools of the
trade
• Industry certification preparation
• Access to all College resources
What is Business/Data Analytics?
• 30,000 ft definition: using data to draw
conclusions- making inferences from available
information
• Other related terms: big data, data mining,
business intelligence (BI), data science, data
economy, high velocity data, live data, the
internet of things (IoT), visual analytics, data
intelligence
Common Skills & Competencies
• Lack of consensus in the industry about a
common set of skills and competencies.
Generally fall under three main groups:
– Analytical/quantitative;
– Technical; and
– ‘Soft’ skills
Analytical/Quantitative Skills
• Range across a basic quantitative
understanding and knowledge of statistics to
machine learning and modeling (descriptive,
predictive, prescriptive).
• Data literacy
• Critical thinking and reasoning
• Intellectual curiousity
Technical Skills
• Computer skills ranging from spreadsheets,
GUI point-and-click tools, to programming
languages (SAS, Python, SQL, etc).
• Comfortable working with structured and
unstructured data
• Generate reports and appropriate visuals
Soft Skills
• Communicate the problem, the process, and
the final results orally and in written format
appropriate to the receiving audience
• Collaboration
• Life long learning
• Driven, persistent, and likes to solve problems
• Strong ethical base and professional integrity
• Business acumen
Program
• AAS in Business Analytics (64 credit hours)
• Certificates (12-15 credit hours)
– Business Intelligence
– Business Analyst
– Marketing Analytics
– Logistics Analytics
– Finance Analytics
AAS Program Outcomes
• Statistical and Analytic Theory, Best Practices, and
Analysis
• Data Mining and Warehouse
• Predictive Modeling
• Project and Operations Management
• Analytics Tools and Techniques
• Gen Ed Competencies (Written Communication,
Critical Thinking, Quantitative Literacy)
• Employability or Soft Skills
AAS Business Analytics: 9 Core
Courses
BAS 120: Introduction to Analytics
• Explain the analytical process and the role of the analyst.
• Utilize applied descriptive statistics to make basic business decisions.
• Utilize exploratory data analysis to make basic business decisions.
BAS 121: Data Visualization
• Utilize concepts and methods in the graphical representation of data
• Utilize concepts and methods in the exploration and reporting of data
• Conduct basic linear regression methods
• Apply data visualization concepts to communicate insights about data.
AAS Business Analytics: 9 Core
Courses
BAS 150 Introduction to Analytical Programming
• Utilize statistical programming tools to conduct
descriptive analytics.
BAS 220 Applied Analytical Programming
• Process data utilizing appropriate pre-processing
practices
• Apply linear and logistic regression using programming
tools
• Generate reports that support business decisionmaking
AAS Business Analytics: 9 Core
Courses
BAS 221 Introduction to Predictive Analytics
• Build and validate predictive models for classification tasks.
• Build and validate predictive models for regression tasks.
BAS 230 Applied Predictive Modeling
• Apply classification models to guide decisions.
• Apply regression models to guide decisions.
AAS Business Analytics: 9 Core
Courses
BAS 250 Analytical Tools and Methods
• Analyze complex data, including semi-structured
and unstructured data, using analytical tools and
methods.
BAS 270 Advanced Analytical Tools and Methods
• Apply analytical methods and best practices in a
simulated business setting.
AAS Business Analytics: Technology
Used
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Alteryx
Tableau
SAS Programming
SAS Enterprise
SQL
Python
Other Educational Opportunities
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Some 4-year programs
Several graduate level programs
Continuing education and vendor training
Certification training (vendor related)
Free MOOC based programs
Open-source community & Self-learning
What makes us different
• First Associate in Applied Science in Business
Analytics in the nation.
• Flexible course offerings: 100% online and hybrid
(online/seated). Day and evening class meetings.
• Fast track certificates and classes.
• In demand skills with several high demand
software and programming packages.
• Lab facilities available equipped with software,
virtual access to software, and weekly open lab
sessions hosted by instructors.
Potential Careers
• No one job description as there is no consensus or standardization
in the industry
• Better approach is to review competencies in job descriptions
• Possible titles include:
– *Analyst (data, business, business intelligence, predictive, sales,
marketing, etc.)
– Solution Manager
– Project Manager
– Data Analytics Specialist
– Competitive Intelligence Strategist
• Salary range 30-80k+ depending upon past educational and industry
experience.
How to Enroll
• Apply to the College online as a curriculum
student (follow the link “Become a Student”)
• Open enrollment, developmental math and
English prerequisites for first BAS course.
“This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department
of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by
the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S.
Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties,
or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information,
including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to,
accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy,
continued availability, or ownership.”
Except where otherwise stated, this work by Wake Technical Community College
Building Capacity in Business Analytics, a Department of Labor, TAACCCT funded
project, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/