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Certificate in Analytics

As part of our experiential, career-focused education, Nichols College offers the Certificate in Analytics. This program is designed to allow students with an interest in analytics to pursue their chosen undergraduate academic program at the same time as earning the certificate.
 
Analytics is all about getting value out of data. With this program, you’ll learn how to collect it, analyze it, and transform it into something actionable. Students will have the opportunity to complete projects and coursework with industry veterans, including from Google Analytics Academy. Students can complete the program regardless of their major, giving you a great competitive advantage in one of today’s fastest growing job markets.

Courses & Requirements

The certificate requires 12 credits of coursework, consisting of four three-credit courses. Depending on the student’s concentration, up to two courses may double-count toward their academic program as well as toward the certificate program. Students are strongly encouraged to take ITM 209 as a prerequisite for these courses.
 
The coursework covers the technology that powers analytics and an Advanced Business Analytics class where students learn how to turn data into decisions. The remaining two courses can be selected from analytics courses in a variety of disciplines.

Required Courses

Analytics is the process of getting value out of data. It explains how seemingly mundane data points, when combined, can provide insights into habits, processes, and patterns. We live in a world overflowing with data, and only recently has technology reached the point where anyone can conduct this type of analysis without the aid of supercomputers or consulting firms.

This course covers “D2D”, or Data to Decisions. Specifically, this means we will learn what to collect, how to collect it, and how to transform it into actionable information. It is also focused on solving real business problems, which is the most practical application for Nichols business students.

This course will introduce modern techniques of computational statistics for practical analysis of data utilizing the R programming language. Data analysis and interpretation will be emphasized, rather than statistical theory. Real world data sets will be used to illustrate statistical principles.

Electives

This course will cover the historical foundations of terrorism. Students will learn ideologies, organizational structures, and methods of operations. Class discussions will provide an overview of the problem of terrorism, and explore public and private sector terrorism. Students will discuss and understand the concepts of domestic terrorism and its implications as well as political and social ramifications.
This capstone course will examine state-of-the-art (best practice) methodologies, strategies and approaches relevant to the acquisition of skills, competencies and conceptual (big picture) expertise necessary for successful and effective security management as well as research emerging in the field of criminal justice. This course will emphasize qualitative and quantitative (analytical) approaches relevant to the accurate forecasting, identification, and assessment of security-related issues, and concerns in multi-national environments using problem-based learning as the primary instructional strategy.

Offered Spring 2018
This course will cover some of the non-technical aspects of cybersecurity. Students will be able to trace historical developments of cybersecurity as well as become familiar with cybersecurity theory. Students will also learn about cybersecurity law and policy, namely national and international laws and policies that guide cybersecurity and cyberspace. Some of the topics will include cybercrime, intellectual property, Internet fraud, cyberwarfare and homeland security (e.g. Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources, NRF, NIMS, etc.) as well as about organizations and entities involved in the formulation of such laws and policies. Students will also examine cybercrime laws and investigations through use of real-life case scenarios and examples. A focus will be placed on the ethics of Internet hacking as well as operations security from an enemy/hacker’s viewpoint, which is necessary to develop and apply countermeasures accordingly. At the end of the semester, students will be able to identify and describe key, non-technical aspects of cybersecurity as well as develop reflective and critical skills for thinking about creative solutions to most pressing issues in cybersecurity.

Analysis of long-term corporate financial decisions, including capital budgeting, cost of capital, leverage, dividend policy, debt and equity financing, working capital management, and business combinations.

ITM 202 prepares students to analyze data and solve real-life business problems, using spreadsheets, databases, and other technology tools. This course introduces students to the problem solving, decision-making, and presentation skills they will need to be successful both at the College and in a business environment. Using intermediate/advanced functions in Excel and beginner/intermediate functions in Microsoft Access, students will complete exercises and case studies to solve problems in a variety of business disciplines that include accounting, finance, marketing, management, and information systems.

This course provides an introduction to regression including: simple linear regression, multiple regression, model building, and variable screening methods.
A study of the application of research techniques in market analysis. Student teams design, conduct, and present a research project, including problem definition, questionnaire design, data collection, data analysis, documentation, and recommendation.
The purpose of this course is to develop knowledge of when to apply the correct statistical techniques. Emphasis is placed on the ?real world? applications of statistical methods through projects. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, multivariate, parametric, and nonparametric techniques. This course makes extensive use of SPSS software. This course is a core requirement for all psychology majors and satisfies the department information literacy requirement.
The application of legal principles is considered in relation to professional and amateur sports. Emphasis is placed on tort liabilities and risk management. Specific topics include negligence, duty of care, intentional torts, crowd management, contracts and constitutional law. Actual court cases relating to these principles are examined.
This course is designed to introduce the student to the management issues faced by administrators within collegiate and high school athletics departments. Students will develop an understanding of issues such as governance, scheduling, NCAA and conference compliance, gender equity and Title IX, conference membership issues, departmental structure, and organizational goals in athletics, legal issues, and operating procedures.
An investigation of the functions of sport (arts and entertainment) managers in the design, operation, and financing of facilities. Students will examine the issues pertaining to management of public and private arenas, stadiums, theaters and multipurpose facilities. Management of temporary facilities for special events will also be considered.
This course is designed to introduce the students to the role of effective communication in the sport industry. The nature and function of communication will be examined in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on interpersonal communications, public relations, mass media relations, public speaking, and innovative technology.
This course is designed to provide a hands-on, practical involvement in a major sport event. Students will be assigned to committees for which they will plan, organize, publicize and manage all aspects of event operations during the semester. A required component of the course will include a commitment to work with the actual event.
This course is designed to offer hands-on, practical experience in creating and implementing a sponsorship and sales plan. Groups will create marketing surveys, develop sponsorship proposals, identify and contact potential buyers, conduct negotiation and sales, learn activation techniques, and evaluate sponsor packages.
This course emphasizes coaching concepts and strategies necessary to the coaching profession and crucial in the development of quality coaches and sport educators. Planning, preparation, demonstration, explanation, evaluation, and feedback are important skills for coaching and in building a successful athletic program. This course will teach students to analyze, research, and evaluate the careers of sport educators and coaches. Students will examine different aspects of coaching and teaching including philosophies and techniques. It will provide the student with a basic understanding of coaching on all levels: youth, elementary, high school, college and professional. Additional emphasis will be placed on recruiting, tryouts, pre and post-season development, conditioning, practice planning, scouting, game management, motivation, and ethics.
This course is offered on an occasional basis and addresses topics and themes of special interest not covered in the standard course offerings in sport management.
The sport management seminar is designed to provide an overview of the current and critical issues faced by sport organizations. Emphasis will be placed on the issues confronting sport managers as they operate businesses while also presenting the students with an understanding of the basic tenets of sport policy and governance. The course will use case studies to explore and analyze current issues and concepts from earlier course work in the field. A senior thesis, focusing on the student?s area of interest, will be required. Students will be introduced to research methodologies and encouraged to apply statistical analysis to their work. Students will be guided through the process of designing individual works, conducting tests/measurements, and analysis and interpretation of results. The seminar is designed and recognized as a writing intensive course.