BELK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
in Business Analytics
BELK SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS Fast-track your education and career in one application. Does this describe you? You like working with data, numbers, math and technology. You want to connect your passion for data with how decisions are made. You want to make a difference for companies. You want to be a leader in business analytics and be recruited to work at top companies in the field. UNC Charlotte’s Belk Scholars Program in Business Analytics gives you the training, education and professional development to connect data to business outcomes. The Belk Scholars Program in the Belk College of Business allows high-achieving students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years. This fast-track program enables graduates to pursue lucrative, high-demand careers in business analytics.
This innovative program combines cutting-edge technical training in business analytics and big data analytics with core training in business. The combination of technical training and knowledge of the business environment sets Belk Scholars Program graduates apart in seeking rewarding careers in the burgeoning field of big data analytics. Students completing the program earn a B.S. in Business Administration degree majoring in Business Analytics and one of the following master’s degrees: • Master of Science in Mathematical Finance (a program ranked in the top 25 nationally), • Professional Science Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics (a program offered jointly by the Belk College and the College of Computing and Informatics), or • Master of Science in Economics (with a strong reputation and alumni network).
AMANDA PATRICK: TIAA-CREF, Financial Analyst Graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Mathematical Finance
APPLICATION AND SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABILITY The Belk Scholars Program seeks outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate a strong academic background and an interest in pursuing a graduate degree. Applicants must meet the UNC Charlotte admissions requirements. Additional minimum admission requirements for the program are: a) Minimum high school grade point average of 3.5 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale); b) Score of 1900 or above on the three combined sections of the SAT or 29 or above on the ACT composite; c) A personal statement addressing the candidate’s goals and motivations for pursuing the accelerated BSBA undergraduate major in Business Analytics and designated master’s degree; and d) A positive letter of recommendation.
Students accepted to the Belk Scholars Program are eligible to apply for scholarships from the Belk Scholars Program Student Scholarship Fund, made possible by Belk, Inc. The scholarship fund is part of a $5 million gift to the university’s Belk College of Business. This gift is the largest in the history of the Belk College, which was named in honor of the Belk family and organization in 1990.
BELK SCHOLARS PROGRAM in Business Analytics
“I came to the Belk College of Business because of its connection with the Charlotte business community. Charlotte is one of the largest financial centers in the country, allowing for many networking opportunities. Because of this, I was able to get an internship and gain valuable experience in the financial industry.”
JEREMY SCHMITT: Graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in economics degree
“Charlotte is home to the nation’s largest banks. By choosing to earn an advanced degree through the Belk College of Business, I will be in close proximity to these banks and will have more opportunities to get my foot in the door. The College of Business offers various concentrations in economics and the opportunity to take electives in interesting subjects like real estate, finance and business analytics. The Belk College of Business also offers a more analytical and mathematical emphasis compared to the other schools to which I applied.�
WHY APPLY TO THE BELK SCHOLARS PROGRAM? STUDY IN A GROWING AND VIBRANT CITY The Charlotte Metro region population is more than 2.5 million, making Charlotte the largest city within the region. 291 of Fortune’s top 500 companies have placed one or more facilities within the region. The Queen City is home to some of the largest corporations in the world. Five Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Mecklenburg County, and another two are headquartered in the Charlotte metro area. Charlotte is also the 2nd largest financial center in the United States.
GAIN YOUR EDUCATION AT A TOP UNIVERSITY A preeminent urban research university, UNC Charlotte has experienced remarkable growth within the UNC System and continues to grow in size and reputation. UNC Charlotte’s programs, research centers and faculty are a vital intellectual resource. With more than 100,000 living alumni, UNC Charlotte adds more than 4,000 new alumni each year, the majority of whom live and work in Charlotte.
BECOME A LEADER IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS UNC Charlotte has established the Data Science Initiative to respond to the challenges of Big Data and to position the Charlotte region as a leading hub for innovation and economic development. The initiative is a collaboration between many entities, led by the College of Computing and Informatics, the Belk College of Business and the College of Health and Human Services. This collaboration links the business of data with the science of data to create groundbreaking education, training and research programs. Key industry partners are playing an active role, including Bank of America, Belk, Inc., Carolinas Healthcare System, Deloitte, Duke Energy, Ernst & Young, IBM, SAS and Wells Fargo. The Charlotte Chamber has endorsed the DSBA as a key workforce development initiative, and the UNC System Board of Governors has identified data science as one of six “game-changing” areas of research and development within UNC Charlotte.
BE PART OF AN OUTSTANDING BUSINESS SCHOOL The Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research business school. Accredited by AACSB International, the Belk College of Business offers outstanding business education at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, along with executive education. With more than 3,100 undergraduate students, 700 graduate students, 87 faculty members and more than 26,000 alumni, the Belk College of Business is Charlotte’s leader in business education, research, employable talent and professional development.
JOIN AN ELITE SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Belk Scholars Program allows high-achieving students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years. This fast-track program enables graduates to pursue lucrative, high-demand careers in business analytics.
APPLY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR EDUCATION Students accepted to the Belk Scholars Program are eligible to apply for scholarships from the Belk Scholars Program Student Scholarship Fund. At the graduate level, assistantships are also a possible opportunity for students.
GRADUATE AND PUT YOUR SKILLS TO WORK McKinsey and Company estimates that the U.S. faces a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with specialized analytics training and a shortage of 1.5 million managers and analysts with big data analytics skills. The Belk Scholars Program is designed to provide students with the education and skills required to fill lucrative openings in these growing fields. Students will gain advanced training to pursue careers in the growing field of business analytics – the ability to use big data for strategic decision making in business.
Admission Requirements to Bachelor of Science Program The Belk Scholars Program seeks outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate a strong academic background and an interest in pursuing a graduate degree. Applicants must meet the UNC Charlotte admissions requirements. Additional minimum admission requirements for the program are: a) Minimum high school grade point average of 3.5 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale); b) Score of 1900 or above on the three combined sections of the SAT or 29 or above on the ACT composite; c) A personal statement addressing the candidate’s goals and motivations for pursuing the accelerated BSBA undergraduate major in Business Analytics and designated master’s degree; and d) A positive letter of recommendation.
Accelerated Track to Professional Science Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics, Master of Science in Mathematical Finance, or Master of Science in Economics Programs Students may be accepted into the Accelerated Program as high school seniors and undergraduate UNC Charlotte freshman. Admissions requirements include: • Minimum high school GPA ≥ 3.75 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale) • Minimum score of 1900 on SAT • Online application for graduate admission • Statement of Purpose for pursuing the Accelerated Master’s Degree • Three recommendations provided by a high school teacher and from a UNC Charlotte faculty member who taught the applicant in the fall semester of the freshman year Students must maintain a strong academic record at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0. Students accepted into the Accelerated master’s program are subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students.
Early Entry Program to Professional Science Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics, Master of Science in Mathematical Finance, or Master of Science in Economics Programs Students may be accepted into the Early Entry Program at any time after completion of 75 semester hours of undergraduate work applicable to the Business Analytics major. Admission must be approved by the Program Director, and admission is conditional pending the awarding of the undergraduate degree. In order to be accepted into the Professional Science Masters in Data Science and Business Analytics, Master of Science in Mathematical Finance, or Master of Science in Economics graduate programs, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.2 GPA in the major. Additionally, applicants must have taken the appropriate graduate standardized test and received acceptable test scores. Students accepted into the Early Entry Program are subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students. Early Entry students must finish their undergraduate degree before they complete 15 hours of graduate work.
Advising Belk Scholars receive more individualized advising from the Belk College Advising Center, Director of the Belk Scholars Program and from the individual masters’ program Graduate Coordinator. These advisors work together to create a program that meets students’ individual academic needs and helps prepare graduates for career success.
APPLY TODAY. BELKCOLLEGE.UNCC.EDU/BELKSCHOLARS
BUSINESS ANALYTICS
belkcollege.uncc.edu/belkscholars