Thiel College Announces New Data Analytics Major

GREENVILLE, Pa., Dec. 2, 2019 — The Thiel College’s newest major will be available in the fall of 2020 with its recent approval of a Bachelor of Science in data analytics major in the Department of Mathematics.

Businesses and industries are using data analytics to draw conclusions from large sets of raw data and solve a wide range of complex problems and improve performance. Thiel College graduates will be prepared to enter a job field that according to an article in Forbes Magazine is expected to have an estimated 2.7 million postings in the United States by 2020, and a January report from Indeed.com showed a 29 percent increase in demand for data scientists year over year.

The Harvard Business Review has called data analysis “the sexiest job of the 21st century.” As a group, mathematical science occupations are projected to far outpace the average growth rate for all occupations, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data analysts work in a variety of private and public sector organizations and do jobs similar to actuaries, who work in the insurance industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania are among the top states in the country for actuaries and data research analysts, with the greater Columbus, Cleveland, Erie and Pittsburgh metropolitan regions specifically being top employers.

Thiel College’s program is unique as students will gain the statistical, computational and analytic skills needed for a career in data analytics while also benefitting from the College’s liberal arts background.

“Data science is revolutionizing entire fields. Being fluent in data—mining it, understanding and interpreting it and communicating it—is going to be an essential part of the business world in the decades to come. Our data analytics program is going to launch our graduates into a growing and lucrative career field,” Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Elizabeth Frombgen, Ph.D., said. “Graduates who get their degree from Thiel benefit from the College’s liberal arts education which combines the technical skills necessary to solve problems with the critical thinking skills and creativity that are essential in the modern workplace.”

About Thiel College

Thiel College is a private liberal arts institution founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016 and remains committed to combining tradition with innovation.

Source: Thiel College