Specialization details
This Specialization explores the powerful analytical tools to describe situations, spot opportunities and solve problems. Dive into descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to learn how to manage, forecast, test, and optimize data in decision/policy-making.
Students in this Specialization often take co-op positions as data analysts, marketing researchers, and investment portfolio analysts.
Course requirements
Specialized courses
To obtain the Business Analytics Specialization, you must complete these courses:
| One* of the Following Courses (0.5 Course Credits) | Four of the Following Courses (2.0 Course Credits) |
|---|---|
| AFM 345 - Business Applications of Social Media Analytics | AFM 323/STAT 374 - Quantitative Foundations for Finance |
| AFM 346 - Applications of Predictive Analytics in Accounting and Finance | AFM 341 - Accounting Information Systems |
| AFM 347 - Cybersecurity | |
| AFM 423/ACTSC 423 - Topics in Financial Econometrics | |
| AFM 444 - Business Analytics Project Management | |
| AFM 445 - Information Technology Assurance and Audit Analytics | |
| AFM 446 - Performance Management and Tax Analytics | |
| AFM 447 - Governance and Ethical Issues with Data and Emerging Technologies | |
| AFM 448 - Data Analytics and Emerging Technologies Consulting Group |
*Students may complete both AFM 345 and AFM 346 and would then be required to complete only three additional courses (1.50 course credits) to complete the Business Analytics Specialization.
Mandatory AFM courses
In addition, you must complete the upper-year courses required for all AFM students. Note that AFM 344 is the recommended course selection for this specialization, but you may choose one of the other options listed.
Pairing specializations
The Business Analytics Specialization is typically best-suited to be paired with another Specialization, however it can work well if you are interested in using your remaining electives to explore other areas of academic interest at uWaterloo. The aim of the Business Analytics specialization is not to teach you how to be a full-time programmer, rather it’s to make you ‘brilliant at the basics, develop your fluency in the ‘language of business analytics’, and equip you with a deep understanding of what’s possible with the use of these powerful tools.
If you are interested in a leadership role in the private or public sector, pairing this Specialization with the Professional Accountant Specialization and then setting your sites on industry, professional services or government could be very worthwhile and rewarding. Corporations are not only using analytical tools to optimize operations, manage risk, identify market opportunities, manage client relationships, hire and retain the best staff, and manage capital. These tools and capabilities are also transforming organizations’ very existence, inspiring new business models, and equipping governments with the means for new public services. In the public accounting sector, opportunities are available for assurance professionals who are data savvy, and even taxation practices are seeking people with solid data analytics skills. This Specialization will also be appealing to you if you are interested in the financial services sector as well, either in the management of the institutions or in client-facing roles in asset management or securities trading where analytics is having transformational impact.
Extracurriculars
If you want to get involved in co/extra-curricular activities associated with the Business Analytics Specialization, below are some examples:
Connect with alumni
The alumni profiles shown below are examples of SAF graduates employed in roles that involve knowledge and skills associated with the curriculum of the common pairings of the Career Specializations referenced.