Analytics Demand Spurs New Programs at Capitol

It's a field where employer demand is high and opportunities are burgeoning, industry representatives say. Private businesses and the public sector both have a pressing need for individuals with analytics expertise.

“As everybody knows, there’s a huge shortage of analytical talent out there and some estimates are that millions of students will be needed," said SAS analytical consultant Andre’ de Waal during a visit to Capitol on Friday (November 3).

De Waal and other representatives of SAS, an industry leader in analytics software and services, gave presentations to Capitol students and also met with the faculty to offer input into new analytics programs that are being offered at Capitol starting in Fall 2018.

A master's program in cyber analytics will educate professionals in harnessing the power of data to stop malicious hackers and cybercriminals in their tracks. Also at the graduate level, Capitol is unveiling a technical MBA in business analytics.

Meanwhile, undergraduate students at Capitol can now major in business analytics and become experts in data-driven decision-making, an increasingly pivotal skill set in today's business environment.

Qualified professionals in the field are in short supply and companies ranging from industry giants to emerging startups areo technology pioneers are looking for students with these specializations, De Waal explained. SAS, he said, sees a mutually beneficial relationship in assisting unversities like Capitol with developing analytics programs.

“We have the technology and the tools. So we’d like to make our tools and technology available to universities so that you can be exposed to the tools and analytics, so that when [students] get to the workforce they are ready to succeed without the companies having to go for further training," De Waal said.

Preparing students for the workforce through hands-on training and collaborative learning has long been a cornerstone of Capitol Technology University’s approach to technology education. Capitol was also one of the first institutions of higher education to offer an academic degree program in cybersecurity, making the university a natural fit for the emerging cyber analytics field.

In 2010, it launched the nation's first cybersecurity doctoral program. Capitol’s program is a DHS and NSA-designated Center of Excellence in cybersecurity education.

With the volume and sophistication of cyber attacks on the increase, many see analytics as a way to keep ahead of potential adversaries. “It opens up the possibility of predicting malicious behavior before it happens,” Sarah Alspaw, Director of Career Development and Student Success, said. “As many companies and organizations have learned, pre-empting an attack is far less costly than cleaning up after one."

To learn more about our upcoming programs in business and cyber analytics, contact the admissions department at admissions@captechu.edu or phone 800-950-1992