By Iker Lyric
The importance of data analytics in business is too hard to ignore. As risks and uncertainties continue to saturate the current business landscape, leaders have turned to analytics to minimize risks and thrive amidst economic challenges.
Using data analytics, business leaders can harness their data to uncover new opportunities. This, in turn, helps them achieve more efficient operations, educated business decisions, and higher returns on investments.
With data becoming the primary currency of modern business, the demand for data-based jobs is also increasing. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting a strong growth for data-based jobs as the data analytics market is expected to grow up to 28% through 2026.
In addition, the lack of competition for these jobs makes data analytics a lucrative career path. Like it or not, data analytics is a fairly new concept, and the supply of professionals in this field is extremely low.
This means that you can command huge salaries and excellent perks even at entry level if you can do the job well. As a matter of fact, a data analytics professional has an average salary of $78,210, excluding perks and bonuses.
How to get started in data analytics?
Before you get all excited with those dollar signs and plan your next vacation, let me first tell you that getting into the data analytics industry requires a lot of work.
Most employers keep jobs open five days longer than the average for all other jobs. This means that they are taking their time to find the right candidates.
And can you blame them? Data analytics can make or break businesses. Having the right professional is essential to correctly assessing their organizational data.
So, you might be wondering what it takes to become the right candidate. The reality is the answer to that will always be subjective. However, having a degree in data analytics is a good start.
Now, how do you get a degree? How do you even find the time to do so, when you have a day job?
Enter online data analytics degrees. Thanks to the digital revolution, you can now get a data analytics degree online in as quick as one year from any accredited university.
These online data analytics degree programs often combine multiple components of mathematics, information technology, and business using data mining, simulation and optimization.
Depending on the institution you chose, an online data analytics program will use real-world organizational examples to help you gain an in-depth understanding of big data and analytics architecture. This way, you can do the following:
- Implement data analytics standards and policies to meet organizational security needs.
- Develop analytical requirements and communicate solutions to technical and non-technical departments and audiences.
- Utilize qualitative and quantitative data analytics methods to respond to numerous business challenges.
- Use industry tools properly to collect, interpret and visualize data techniques most appropriate for a specific challenge.
- Combine ethical problems surrounding data-informed decision-making.
- Apply business intelligence solutions using innovative computer software platforms and data mining techniques.
How to earn an online data analytics degree?
If you do not have any online education experience, you are probably wondering how the process goes. Keep scrolling to find out.
Choose an accredited online university
The first step to earning your online data analytics degree is to narrow down your options. Evaluate your personal and professional goals and check out accreditation organizations to determine the right educational institution for you.
Independently accredited organizations establish a set of metrics to determine the quality of a higher education institution and its programs. These organizations also ensure that online universities follow specific educational standards.
Choosing an accredited online university like Walsh will provide you with access to a comprehensive curriculum, a knowledgeable faculty, and innovative technologies that deliver smooth education.
Start the enrollment process
The enrollment process will differ from one academic institution to another. But, they usually share a few essential steps.
These include filling out and submitting your application, speaking with an enrollment specialist, and meeting any other admission requirements.
Speaking of admission requirements, among the documents you need to have are the following:
- Official transcripts of records from all educational institutions attended
- Curriculum vitae
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Complete course requirements
Similar to earning a degree on campus, completing an online data analytics program also requires you to meet necessary academic requirements. Time to completion will differ depending on the program type or your chosen pace.
For a top academic institution such as Walsh University, you can complete an online learning program in as little as a year.
Regarding course requirements, a sample list of courses you will take while enrolled in an online MBA in data analytics program include the following:
- Database strategies
This course tackles the principles of database management. It is designed to prepare you to understand how data can be used for effective decision-making. You will encounter topics such as database manipulation, data integrity, database security and privacy issues.
- Quality and performance management
In this course, you will learn quality management and its ability to define and support organizational culture. You will learn how to apply various continuous improvement techniques, performance improvement systems, and multiple comparative analyses of influential quality theorists.
- Analytics for business intelligence
This course will tackle advanced business intelligence concepts and a comprehensive review of business analytics. You will learn methodologies in understanding predictive analytics to facilitate decisions and actions.
Upon completion of your online data analytics program, you can explore a wide range of career options throughout public, private and nonprofit industries, including:
- Management analyst
- Data scientist
- Operations analyst
- Business analyst
- Data analyst
- Data engineer
- Data analytics consultant
- IT systems analyst
Ready to earn your online data analytics degree at Walsh University
If you plan to continue your education and seek opportunities in the data analytics industry, you can do so at Walsh University. At Walsh, you become part of a robust community that offers networking opportunities even after you graduate. Get started today.
