Business Analytics Foundations

Offered By: Southern New Hampshire University via edX

Course Description

Overview

Business analytics is a fast-growing field that explores the methods of understanding data within an organization to improve decision-making. Expertise in analytics allows organizations to assess the data they have and the data they need to understand the health and future of the business. This program can help you build the foundational skills you need to succeed in business analytics - helping you gain knowledge in descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals and linear regression.

This program provides the foundational skills necessary for a career in business and data analysis, including knowledge of scripting languages and data analysis to solve real-world problems. Learners will finish this program with the ability to automate tasks and apply statistical methods to solve problems with Python.

This program is designed for individuals interested in using data to support business decisions, regardless of prior experience. Whether you’ve worked with data in your current role or are interested in the expanding field of business analytics, this program will provide the foundational skills necessary for your success.

We recommend students complete their Business Analytics Foundations courses in the following sequence:

IT-140x - Starting February 2021
MAT-243x - Starting February 2021

However, those with previous background knowledge or experience are free to complete the courses in whichever order they like.

Syllabus

Courses under this program:
Course 1: Scripting with Python

Explore fundamental programming with hands-on activities that help you build applications using Python.

Course 2: Applied Statistics with Python

Analyze data using statistical methods and technology.

Courses

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16 weeks, 8-10 hours a week, 8-10 hours a week
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The Python programming language is extremely powerful and commonly used to automate time-intensive activities/tasks for users. This makes Python a good skill to have for any job that requires automation to replace data in a file, rename multiple file names, update Excel spreadsheets or mine data from web pages. Python can be used as a steppingstone to enter some of the most exciting industries including data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, software or full-stack development.

Learning the fundamentals of programming concepts with Python includes data types, variables, decision statements, loops, functions and file handling. By developing simple scripts, you can understand how to use common scripting language constructs including lists, literals and regular expressions to build useful applications.

After taking this class, you will be able to:

Write Python scripts with confidence using best practices and coding standards:
- Evaluate control constructs for program flow
- Write simple scripts
- Format scripts following code standards best practices
Solve problems before developing code by designing programs with pseudocode or flowcharts:
- Write pseudocode to support code design
- Draw a flowchart using design tools to support code design
- Develop user interface for input and output
- Develop script syntax based on a problem statement
Develop fully functional programs using a Python interpreter:
- Determine the difference between an interpreter and a compiler
- Run script syntax with an interpreter
- Write script syntax with an interpreter
- Develop scripts in an integrated development environment (IDE)
- Fix script errors
- Validate user inputs in program development
This is the first course in the introductory, undergraduate-level offering that makes up the larger Business Analytics Foundations and Data Management with Python and SQL MicroBachelors programs. We recommend taking them in order, unless you have a background in these areas already and feel comfortable skipping ahead.
1. Scripting with Python - starting February 2021
2. Structured Database Environments with SQL OR Applied Statistics with Python - starting February 2021
NOTE : While this is generally a non-credit-bearing course, you may able to use this class with proper completion for 3 credits (1 course) toward a bachelor's degree at Southern New Hampshire University.

Taught by

David Sze, Gwen Britton, Curtis George and Ben Tasker