The online Business Technology and Analytics (BTA) concentration at Portland State University prepares students to meet the urgent demand for professionals with expertise at the intersection of business and technology, addressing the gap identified by Gartner Group where only 30% of employees have the necessary digital skills. As the only public institution in Portland offering this specialized, affordable area of study, PSU provides a STEM-designated curriculum that is informed by Silicon Forest business leaders and encompasses real-world education in analytics, databases, security, application development, and systems design. This coursework infuses theoretical, practical, and ethical principles, teaching students how to harness data for business benefit while maintaining respect for privacy and security, and developing the necessary skepticism to question data and findings, ensuring graduates have the know-how to lead in a data-driven world.
The AI Advantage in BTA
Through our integrated AI in Business Microcredential, undergraduate students gain essential, hands-on experience using AI tools for data analysis, strategic decision-making, and ethical problem-solving, all within your existing coursework and major pathway.
The Result? You leave with the practical knowledge, technical skills, and credential employers demand, giving you a competitive edge in any industry you choose. No extra courses. No extra fees. Just future-ready education.
- Artificial Intelligence for business. The Business Technology and Analytics program features artificial intelligence training across its curriculum. The upper-division courses prepare future business leaders to utilize artificial intelligence in data analytics and beyond.
- A supportive network of local leaders. Portland is full of companies at the leading edge of the Silicon Forest, from established global brands to a host of exciting startups. Professionals from these companies mentor PSU students, partner with instructors on capstone projects, serve on insightful panels and host tables at career fairs.
- Prestigious faculty invested in your success. Our seasoned instructors bring a wealth of applicable knowledge to every class. Highly-published and widely recognized experts — including one with a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics — populate our faculty, giving you the opportunity to learn from people working on industry-defining research.
- A launching pad for a thriving career. With a 70% average placement rate for students with a business technology and analytics education, employers are excited to work with our graduates. We’ll give you the skills and tools; you’ll build the connections and business community that will provide opportunities in a future-proof career.
- Nationally recognized education. The School of Business holds dual accreditation in business and accounting from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction awarded to only 1% of the world’s business schools. A degree from PSU gives you education with real-world application and name recognition among employers.
- Diverse student groups and community. Deepen your professional and personal development with opportunities outside the classroom, including student groups and associations in a variety of fields, mentorship programs, and academic programs including study abroad. As the most diverse campuses in Oregon, PSU offers ways to connect and learn that you won’t find elsewhere in the state.
Business Technology and Analytics Degree Highlights
- Option to earn while you learn. Targeted 6- to 12-month employment at a company located in the tech center of Oregon will help you become the hybrid business and tech professional needed in today’s workforce.
- User-friendly online platform promotes collaboration and interaction, so you'll belong to a learning community while maintaining the flexibility to take courses on your own schedule
- Hands-on learning from a school that spent four consecutive years on U.S. News & World Report’s “Most Innovative Universities” list.
- Curriculum that builds both theoretical and practical knowledge in decision-making, business communication, and sustainability.
- Proficiency in foundational analytics languages VBA and SQL, skills that are increasingly prevalent in regional job postings.
- Opportunities to build experience working with large data sets, extracting meaningful information, and making decisions that improve business performance.
- Community and connection, including the Business Analytics Club, a student-led organization offering leadership development, peer support, and networking.
Data analytics is a field constantly in flux. As a PSU graduate, you’ll be well-positioned to take the reins and balance the technical and business realms of an organization. You’ll meet a vital gap in the market in a variety of industries. Potential roles include:
- Project manager
- Business systems analyst
- IT consultant
- Data information analyst
- IT analyst
- Computer system analyst
- IT auditor
- Management analyst
- Computer and IS manager
CURRICULUM
Download the Business Technology and Analytics Sequence Sheet for additional details about prerequisites, requirements, credits, and suggested sequences.
ACCREDITATION & RANKINGS
Portland State University is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
One of less than 200 business schools worldwide — top 1% — to be accredited in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is the elite business school accreditation known internationally.
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