UNH Manchester to Launch Region's Only On-Campus Undergrad Analytics Degree Program
| MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Âé¶ąapp Manchester will become a big player inĚýĚýeducation this fall when it launches its newĚýĚýprogram—the region's first on-campus, bachelor's degree program in data analytics, and one of just a handful of such programs in the country.
The program will focus on both cutting-edge technical skills and essential "soft" skills—like effective communication and collaboration—that are best taught and learned in on-site programs, not online. "Our program is designed to prepare the next generation of data scientists and analytics professionals," says program coordinator, a senior lecturer in mathematics. "It will incorporate experiential education, professional development, and projects and work experience at a greater level than that typically seen in a bachelor of science program." Another important feature that sets the UNH Manchester program apart: students will use the industry-standard software, SAS, developed by theĚýfor use in advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics. Students will have the opportunity to qualify for SAS certification, greatly enhancing their employment prospects. The goal, Johnson says, is "to prepare students for a seamless transition to the workplace." With data the chief product of the digital era, industries from finance to engineering to health care are wrestling with how to distill and analyze the vast quantities of it available, and hiring analytics professionals to help them do it. Johnson points to research from theĚýĚýindicating that by 2018, the U.S. will face a shortage of between 140,000 to 190,000 people with the technical skills necessary to work effectively with data. That need is especially critical at the bachelor's degree level, according to theĚý, which documented a 32 percent increase in demand for college graduates with data analytics skills from 2010 to 2013. The need for analytics professionals with various levels of education was confirmed by a series of focus groups that UNH faculty conducted with executives from across New England, as well as business leaders in Manchester. Executives also cited the need for professional skills such as critical thinking, the ability to present information effectively, and to work well in groups. Following foundational courses in computer science, mathematics, and business, analytics majors will take a sequence of five data analytics courses, all of which will incorporate the kind of team-based projects found in business settings—particularly the capstone course, where students will team up to solve a real-world analytics problem. They will also complete a professional internship, and take a series of specialization courses (for example, in economics or biological sciences) to give them discipline-specific expertise.
However workplaces evolve, says Johnson, "there's only going to be more and more demand for people who can work with computers and data at a high level. This is a cutting-edge field, and our graduates are going to be right there at the forefront." |
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