BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Meeting today’s need for professionals with data science knowledge and the knack to identify and solve key business problems, two schools at Indiana University will deliver a STEM-designated joint undergraduate degree that prepares students for success across major and emergent industries.
Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural class of the Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence & Data Science, which will equip students with the skills they need to identify and solve business problems using data-driven approaches. It combines the strategic breadth offered at the Kelley School of Business with the quantitative depth of a data‑science major at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
The demand for data scientists is growing and ubiquitous across domains. Organizations need business data scientists who have the domain knowledge to identify key business problems and the computational and data skills to solve them.
Kelley Dean Pat Hopkins
This degree leverages strengths from the Kelley and Luddy schools to offer a streamlined and focused degree program that equips students with the skills to understand and apply computational technologies to identify and solve complex business problems.
Graduates will work with large and small businesses around the world that are at the forefront of business applications of data science, using the skills they acquire in the program to address a broad range of business needs including explaining causes, predicting future outcomes and trends, and increasing process efficiency.
“This degree represents the future of business education—where deep analytical expertise meets strategic insight—and it reflects Kelley’s commitment to preparing students not just for today’s roles, but for the evolving demands of tomorrow’s economy,” said Pat Hopkins, Kelley’s dean and the James R. Hodge Chair of Excellence. “By combining the strengths of our world-class faculty with Luddy’s excellence in data science, we’re offering students an unparalleled interdisciplinary experience that enhances their career prospects and reinforces Kelley’s reputation as a leader in innovative, high-impact business education.”
Luddy Dean Joanna Millunchick
“At the Luddy School, we believe the most powerful solutions come out of the intersection of disciplines. By pairing our strength in data science with Kelley’s excellence in business education, we’re equipping students with the tools to shape the future of how data drives decisions,” said Joanna Millunchick, dean of the Luddy School.
The Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Science is selective, with a focus on using quantitative methods to analyze and address business problems. Coursework includes a focused core of business, math, and data science courses and elective courses that cover topics including crypto assets, behavioral finance, artificial intelligence and data visualization.
The program begins next fall, with initial graduates expected in 2030.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that require skills and knowledge related to the new degree’s curriculum are expected to grow by nearly 15 percent annually through 2033. Positions as data scientist and business intelligence developer are among the fastest growing occupations according to the BLS.
It is not a surprise that the new degree is being welcomed by employers, including from companies that already actively recruit students from the two schools.
“My company, along with most other technology and tech-enabled service providers, continues to need more new hires with the proper background, education, and training in various business intelligence applications and baseline data science knowledge,” said Derek A. Bang, founder and CEO of Kodiak Solutions. “The joint degree of Business Intelligence and Data Science is unlike anything we are currently seeing at the other major academic institutions where we recruit.”
“Technology is transforming how we work, and the skills needed to effectively evaluate data are increasingly important to the delivery of services to our clients,” added Beth Forman, partner- audit & assurance, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “Critical to this transformation is recruiting professionals who are capable of using advanced data analytics tools and interpreting the results.”
Students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Science program should follow the steps outlined on Kelley Admissions webpage. This involves applying to IU through the common application, where they should indicate their intention to major in Business Intelligence and Data Science. Afterward, prospective students need to complete the direct admission application through the IU Portal by February 15, with priority given to those who complete it by November 15.
Some classes will be presented in Luddy Hall, a state-of-the-art facility that is named for donor and information technology pioneer Fred Luddy and his family.