Data and Decision Analytics Major
Table of Contents
What is a data and decision analytics major?
Every industry runs on data, but data alone isn’t enough.
The people who make the biggest impact know how to ask the right questions, find meaningful insights and turn them into confident decisions. Furman’s Data and Decision Analytics major combines mathematics, statistics, computer science and real-world problem solving to prepare you for a field with well-above-average growth and strong demand.
You’ll graduate ready to analyze complex problems, communicate solutions and make decisions that matter, in healthcare, finance, consulting, technology, manufacturing, sports analytics and beyond.
Take your first steps by contacting admissions or reading more about how to apply.
Why study data and decision analytics at Furman?
Organizations across every industry need graduates who can make sense of data and use it to solve complex challenges. Yet the skills employers value most are often scattered across several disciplines. Furman’s Data and Decision Analytics program brings them together, pairing a strong foundation in mathematics and statistics with close faculty mentorship and hands-on learning.
You’ll learn to:
- Analyze and visualize complex data sets.
- Build statistical and predictive models.
- Measure and model uncertainty, then make sound decisions when the path forward isn’t obvious.
- Communicate insights clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Recognize bias and apply ethical decision-making throughout the analytics process.
Plan a visit to Furman’s beautiful campus or start your application today.
How will you learn?
The best way to learn analytics is to practice it. From your first courses at Furman, you’ll work with real data and authentic challenges. As your skills grow, so do your opportunities.
Research with faculty
Collaborate with faculty mentors on research projects for organizations such as BMW, Michelin, ESPN, and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Students have improved manufacturing process flows, predicted upsets in March Madness, analyzed Premier League performance, planned “what-if” schedules for a conference basketball season, forecast commodity demand to inform production processes, and modeled visitor demand at Walt Disney World.
Study away
Ever sat in a math class and wondered when you’d actually use it? Math and the Mouse is your answer. On this three-week study away program at Walt Disney World, you’ll investigate how one of the world’s most complex operations functions. Working in teams, you’ll develop solutions to open-ended challenges before presenting your findings to Disney professionals.
Internships
Put your classroom knowledge into practice through internships in healthcare, finance, consulting, sports, manufacturing and technology. Furman students have interned with organizations including Bloomberg, J.P. Morgan, Deloitte, the Houston Astros, BMW, IBM, Amazon and Prisma Health. Each fall, the University’s Data Analytics in the Upstate event connects students directly with industry leaders and recruiters.
By graduation, you’ll have a portfolio of projects and experiences that show employers and graduate schools what you can do.
What you’ll study
Your coursework moves from strong quantitative foundations to advanced analytics while giving you the flexibility to customize your degree around your interests and career goals.
Build your foundation
Gain experience with programming, calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics and data visualization, while beginning to explore an applied field that fits your interests.
Advance your analytics skills
Build your core analytics and decision-making skills through Statistical Methods I with R and Operations Research, where you’ll model uncertainty and see how decisions play out in complex, real-world systems.
Customize your degree
Choose five electives from disciplines across Furman, from business and accounting to computer science, data science, theoretical mathematics, economics, and environmental science, tailoring your degree toward the field you want to work in.
Prepare for your career
Two professional seminars connect your coursework with your career goals. Working with Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement, you’ll build your portfolio, present your work, and network with the alumni and industry professionals on the Data and Decision Analytics Advisory Board. The seminars are also where the major’s community comes together to reflect on your growing skills and take up emerging issues and ethics in analytics.
Careers for data and decision analytics majors
Graduates also pursue advanced degrees in analytics, statistics, operations research and related disciplines. The field offers well-above-average job growth, strong earning potential, and skills that stay valuable as industries and technologies change.
Employers and industries
Furman graduates have launched careers with organizations including Deloitte, Bloomberg, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Michelin, BMW, the Toronto Blue Jays, McLaren Racing and The Walt Disney Company. Others have continued their education at institutions such as Duke, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Virginia Tech, NC State and Wake Forest.
Demand for people who can interpret data and act on it keeps growing across nearly every industry. A degree in Data and Decision Analytics prepares you for careers including:
- Data analyst
- Business intelligence analyst
- Financial analyst
- Operations and supply chain analyst
- Risk analyst
- Healthcare analyst
- Sports analytics professional
- Data scientist (additional education may be required for some positions)
Data and Decision Analytics Major FAQ
An interdisciplinary major that combines mathematics, statistics, programming and decision science to help students solve complex real-world problems using data.
Data Science emphasizes computational methods and algorithms. Data and Decision Analytics focuses on using mathematics, statistics and operations research to guide better decisions, learning not only how to analyze data but how to apply those insights in business, healthcare, government and nonprofit organizations. Students interested in pursuing either program can start with taking a common set of courses in probability and statistics, programming in Python, calculus, and linear algebra that build the foundation for both majors. At Furman, the Mathematics Department oversees the Data and Decision Analytics major and the Computer Science Department oversees the Data Science major, so faculty in both departments can be good resources for students to discuss which major best aligns with their interests and future plans as they navigate coursework.
No. You’ll build programming and analytical skills throughout the curriculum with guidance from Furman’s faculty.
Graduates work in consulting, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, logistics, technology, government, sports analytics and many other industries.
Yes. The program pairs well with a variety of different majors. However, potential double majors may have restrictions on courses that can count towards both majors. A student cannot major in Data and Decision Analytics and minor in Data Analytics.
What our students say
Your faculty and mentors
At Furman, you’ll learn from professors who are active scholars and dedicated mentors. They’ll guide your research, connect you with internships and help you prepare for your first job or graduate school.
Furman has hundreds of alumni working in analytics-related fields, so it’s easy to find one who fits your interests. Through the Pathways Program and the professional seminars, you’ll connect with them for mentorship and networking.
Liz Bouzarth
Roy Bower
