Online Business Intelligence Degrees

How to Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business Intelligence Online

Organizations constantly search for innovative decision-making strategies, creating demand for professionals who understand technologies that collect, integrate, and analyze business data. Highly qualified candidates can boost an organization's ability to understand consumer trends regarding supply and demand, reduce and manage risk, generate a better return on investments, increase efficiency, and establish a competitive advantage in the field.

Distance learners earning a bachelor's in business intelligence gain access to flexible program options and enter a growing field after graduation. In fact, the Business Higher Education Forum and PricewaterhouseCoopers 2017 global report projects 2.72 million job opportunities for data science and analytics professionals by 2020.

How Much Can You Make in a Business Intelligence Career?

Prospective students should consider the returns on their educational investments by exploring job opportunities and earning potential. An online bachelor's degree in business intelligence leads to lucrative career options; that said, students should note that degrees do not guarantee employment.

To qualify for the best business intelligence roles, candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree. Demand for professionals in this field continues to expand, making it easier for graduates to find employment upon graduation. The list below features occupations for which candidates with an online bachelor's degree in business intelligence qualify.

While a bachelor's in business intelligence leads to multiple career options, students should note that actual earning potential varies for multiple reasons. For instance, some states offer higher wages due to their economic climate or the number of organizations that hire for positions in the field. Also, experienced or highly competent candidates may receive higher wages for performance. The list below contains potential job titles and average salaries:

What Courses Can Be Taken for an Online Business Intelligence Degree?

A bachelor's in business intelligence must contain fundamental coursework like applied probability and statistics, critical thinking and logic, and ethics in technology. But online business intelligence schools independently develop their curricula, and classes vary by program. For instance, elective options help students customize their degrees, and not all universities offer the same options. Here are a few common course options:

• Network and Security Foundations: This course introduces learners to computer networks and communication protocols. Students learn about things like LAN, WAN, VPN, and CAN networks. This course also covers topologies, layered abstractions, and physical devices.
• Business Data Warehouses and Dimensional Modeling: This course explores stored procedures and data warehouse architectures. Topics include SQL, warehouse requirements, design, and analysis. Students also learn how to build information-enabled professional models.
• Fundamental Techniques for Business Data Analytics: Students learn how to clean, process, and crunch data, using programming tools and scripting for business applications. Other topics include extraction, loading enterprise data, and transformation for business applications.
• Business Data Mining: Business data mining examines predictive analytics, machine learning, logistic regression, and decision tree methods. Students also learn about lift factors and ROC curves. This course utilizes case studies for practical learning experiences.
• Business Database Systems Development: Business database systems development teaches learners about data warehousing systems development and management. Other topics include data modeling, data integrity, SQL, operational data stores, and data security.

How to Choose the Best Online Business Intelligence Program

Aspiring students can select from multiple online business intelligence school options. However, not every school offers an elite experience. When narrowing your options, consider the school's reputation, regional or national accreditation, and programmatic accreditation. Selecting an online school also requires students to consider personal needs, such as overall cost, student-faculty ratio, and in-person requirements. Additionally, schools often include distinctive courses, so check for courses related to your interests.

Q. What is the difference between a business intelligence bachelor's and a business analytics bachelor's?

A. Business intelligence analyzes the past and present to meet current business needs, while business analytics uses past data to project future trends. Business intelligence tools can also vary from those used by business analysts. However, the fields are closely related, and many companies combine positions or departments to cover both topics under a single job title or category.

Q. Which accrediting bodies should I look for when choosing a school?

A. Students should consider regional accrediting bodies if they plan to transfer to another university, as credits from nationally accredited schools often don't transfer. Additionally, students should choose programs with individual accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.

Q. How do internships or field experiences function with online business intelligence schools?

A. A bachelor's in business intelligence often requires students to gain practical experience hours through internships as a capstone course. These experiences allow students to apply their knowledge and build meaningful professional relationships that could lead to employment. Some programs may place students while others require students to seek their own internships, but most online programs allow students to do their internships locally.

Q. How does an online bachelor's degree in business intelligence help me reach my career goals?

A. Careers in this field often require a bachelor's degree. Online business intelligence schools design their curricula for students who know little about this field. Programs begin with foundational knowledge and skills. In the latter half of the program, students gain advanced knowledge and skills that employers expect from their employees.

Q. How can I determine if a school ranks well among business intelligence programs?

A. Some schools hold awards or acknowledgment from noteworthy organizations, and students can look up this information on the school website. Students may also want to check credentials of faculty members teaching major coursework to see their levels of experience in the field. Additionally, learners can research statistical and enrollment data for their programs.

Q. Should I only consider four-year programs, or can I attend a community college first?

A. Many students attend community college first because it can lower the overall cost of earning a business intelligence bachelor's degree online. Community colleges that offer associate degrees in business intelligence often partner with local four-year institutions so learners can transfer credits. Students must examine transfer requirements for schools that do not hold an existing agreement.

Q. What concentrations do online business intelligence schools offer?

A. Earning a business intelligence bachelor's degree online means students can choose programs that offer concentrations in their unique interest areas. Specialization options include operations management, accounting, international business, and eCommerce. Students with an affinity for a particular industry, like healthcare administration, may want to consider earning a double degree.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Business Intelligence Programs

An online bachelor's degree in business intelligence requires a significant financial investment. Federal Student Aid strives to make education more accessible through paid work-study opportunities and grants that do not require repayment. Students may also qualify for loans that offer a six-month grace period after graduation before repayment begins. Students should also consider scholarships, which do not require repayment and serve specific student populations.