By Tawny Turner

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS –  JUNE 13, 2024 – UTRGV has received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to launch a bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration with a specialization in Business Analytics.

THECB is an organization that serves to develop and implement innovative higher education services throughout the state of Texas.

The recently approved Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Analytics, which will be available Aug. 1, 2024, is designed to provide students with essential skills to develop strategic business insights and enhance decision-making processes across different industries.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is cited in the UTRGV program proposal, job growth in a variety of fields is projected to be significant by 2031, including: 

• 108,400 new management analyst jobs.
• 24,200 new operations research analyst jobs.
• 40,500 new data scientist jobs.

The projected growth – which indicates an increase from 11% to 36% in business analytics positions – motivated the university to develop the degree program.

IMPACT OF NEW DEGREE

Dr. Giorgio Gotti, dean of the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said the degree program not only will have a positive impact on UTRGV and its students, but also on the Rio Grande Valley.

“Offering an approved BBA. in Business Analytics reflects positively on the university’s reputation and academic standing,” he said. “A specialized program can attract students interested in data science and analytics who otherwise would go elsewhere.” 

And he emphasized that THECB approval ensures the program meets rigorous academic standards, enhancing education quality, credibility and employability for UTRGV students. 

The degree aligns with industry needs, he said, enhancing the region’s workforce and fostering regional economic growth.

“Graduates contribute to the local workforce, potentially attracting businesses seeking data-driven professionals to drive innovation and economic growth in the region,” Gotti said. “This approval from the THECB ensures that the curriculum aligns with industry demands and fosters collaboration with businesses.”

PROGRAM FOCUS

The BBA undergraduate program complements current degrees offered within the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and utilizes current coursework with the addition of three new courses. 

The new curriculum empowers students with the ability to extract valuable insights from vast datasets to drive strategic decision-making, and covers:

• Statistical analysis.
• Descriptive analytics.
• Business intelligence.
• Data mining.
• Machine learning.
• And predictive modeling.

Program graduates will be prepared to enter a field of business analytics, or to continue their education in the field.

In February 2024, The University of Texas System approved the new degree program proposal. 

To learn more about the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship and its degree program offerings, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/cobe/index.htm.