Since its founding, UHD has sought to offer degrees that meet the needs of the marketplace. Two new programs in Business Intelligence at the Marilyn Davies College of Business (MDCOB) are being developed with just those needs in mind: a Business Intelligence concentration in the MBA and a graduate certificate in Business Intelligence, pending SACSCOC approval.

Why Business Intelligence?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job market for business intelligence analysts is expected to grow by 23% from 2021 to 2031. Required in many different fields, from health care to education to finance to law enforcement, Business Intelligence Analysts straddle the worlds of business and information technology, having a firm grasp of each, and are able to mine and analyze data to recommend growth strategies for a company. 

“The Houston metropolitan area has a very diverse population with many working professionals and is a major business and industrial hub,” said Dr. Isaac Elking, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at MDCOB. “These programs will prepare students for careers in the greater Houston area, equipping them with 21st-century skills that can have a broader impact on the society.”

Curricula for the two graduate options are outlined below. Interested in pursuing the Business Intelligence concentration? For more information, you may:

Business Intelligence Concentration in the MBA

The MBA degree is divided into two distinct sets of courses: the MBA core, consisting of 20 credit hours of typical business topics, and a concentration selected by the student (five to six courses within a discipline of focus). When both the concentration courses and the MBA core courses are completed, the student will have earned an MBA degree with a concentration in that designated discipline.  
 

Graduate Certificate in Business Intelligence (GCBI)

The new 16-hour MDCOB Graduate Certificate in Business Intelligence (GCBI) is designed for business professionals to increase their understanding of business intelligence and analytic technologies, develop data management skills, extend the ability to effectively communicate data analysis, and manage data-intensive business applications. The courses will be offered online, and face-to-face or hybrid options may also be offered.

The curriculum offers five graduate level courses taken in eight-week modules over the span of 12 months (16 hours total). The Graduate Colloquium can be taken anytime along with other courses during the 12 months.