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Southwest Baptist University is launching new degree program opportunities for the Fall 2023 semester, including a new Data Science major and two new Master of Business Administration concentrations in Data Analytics and Marketing.
The SBU Bachelor of Science in Data Science is designed for students interested in careers involving data science, data analytics, data mining, or related scientific data processing jobs. Students will complete courses such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Programming Analytics, Data Visualization, and Data Modelling. In addition, data science majors will be exposed to practical experiences in data science from internship programs offered through partnerships between SBU and leading technology companies in the region.
"Data science is currently one of the top jobs in the technology sector in the United States and worldwide, with the demand for data science and data analytics jobs being much more than colleges and universities can produce," said Dr. Amos Gichamba, Division Head of Computing and Mathematics.
Gichamba stated, "This program was developed in consultation with data scientists in the industry. We are excited to provide a high-demand degree program that will help fulfill the need for competent data scientists, data analysts, and data engineers. This program builds upon our existing computing degrees, which have experienced tremendous success, as shown by our high job placement rates upon graduation."
SBU has been a leader in computing education since 1983. Graduates from computing programs, including computer science, computer information science, cybersecurity, software engineering, and web systems and design, have achieved a 98% historical 90-day job placement rate.
SBU’s MBA program now offers a total of 4 concentrations to choose from, Christian Ministry, Health Administration, Marketing, and Data Analytics. The marketing concentration is aimed at those students interested in a career in marketing. This concentration still provides them with a solid basis for business operations and management but allows them to focus on the consumer and using data to drive strategic marketing decisions.
The new data analytics concentration is designed for students who have an interest in the data behind decisions. This concentration would allow someone to enter the data analytics industry by being equipped to identify, analyze and transform data. Students will also get hands-on experience with data science software and pursue a real-world project for true application and learning.
“We have streamlined our MBA program to offer the necessary foundational courses in our MBA Core to allow for more specialization for our students to pursue a concentration that will benefit them in their chosen career path,” said Dr. Levi Bridge, SBU’s MBA Coordinator. “This allows us to diversify our offerings and remain competitive in the marketplace. Moving to SBU Worldwide will also be more attractive for students with 8-week courses year-round to make it feasible for students working full-time.”
SBU’s online MBA program has been designed to provide students with the foundation and knowledge necessary for professional and occupational advancement. It offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers the most important aspects of modern business.
For more information about the data science degree at SBU, contact Dr. Amos Gichamba, at 417-328-1721 or agichamba@SBUniv.edu. For more information about SBU’s MBA program, contact Levi Bridge at 417-328-1758 or lbridge@SBUniv.edu.
