Business Analytics and Statistics

https://haslam.utk.edu/business-analytics-statistics

Michael R. Galbreth, Department Head
Julie Ferrara, Assistant Department Head and Director of Corporate Partnerships

Professors
Bozdogan, H. (Toby and Brenda McKenzie Professor in Business), PhD – Illinois
Galbreth, M.R., (Pilot Corporation Chair of Excellence), PhD – Vanderbilt
Mee, R.W. (William and Sarah Clark Professor in Business), PhD – Iowa State
Willems, S.P. (Haslam Chair in Supply Chain Analytics), PhD – Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Joint Professors
Maroulas, V., PhD – North Carolina
Ostrouchov, G., PhD – Iowa State

Associate Professors
Bichescu, B., PhD – Cincinnati
Bowers, M.R. (Beaman Professor), PhD – Clemson
Hilafu, H., PhD – Georgia
Letizia, P., PhD – Pennsylvania State
Zaretzki, R. (Heath Faculty Fellow), PhD – Cornell
Zheng, W., PhD – Illinois
Zhou, W. (Melton Faculty Fellow), PhD – Rutgers

Assistant Professors
Ballings, M., PhD – Ghent
Demirkaya, E., PhD – Southern California
Jia, Z., PhD – Pennsylvania State
Liu, C., PhD – Rutgers
Liu, Y., PhD – Iowa

Distinguished Lecturer
Cwiek, C.M. (Distinguished Lecturer), MS – Tennessee

Lecturers
Bryan, N. – Tennessee
Ferrara, J.D., MS – Tennessee
Gill, J. – Tennessee
Higgins, T.A., MS – Tennessee
Pannell, T.A., PhD – Tennessee

Senior Lecturers
Petrie, A., PhD – Rensselaer Polytechnic
Stevens, B.J. (Senior Lecturer), MS – Tennessee

Adjunct Faculty
Baucum, M., PhD – Tennessee
Eckles, J., EdD – Memphis
Groer, C., PhD – Maryland
Williams, J., MS – Tennessee

Emeriti Faculty
Gilbert, K.C., PhD – Tennessee
Guess, F.M., PhD – Florida State
Leitnaker, M.G., PhD – Kentucky
Leon, R.V., PhD – Florida State
Noon, C.E., PhD – Michigan
Srinivasan, M.M., PhD – Northwestern
Younger, M.S., PhD – Virginia Polytechnic Institute

An important application of statistics is business analytics, which is the use of data analysis and modeling to help businesses achieve better performance. For example, in order to know how to improve business performance, a retailer may need to objectively compare the performance of several different retail outlets. An online marketer may need to set up experiments to test the effectiveness of different website layouts. An insurance company may need to analyze its claims to identify those most likely to be fraudulent. A grocery chain may wish to analyze its customer records to determine how to use coupons to increase the loyalty of its customers and to increase the amount each customer spends.

Statistics is used in many other fields as well, – e.g., economics, finance, market research, e-commerce, engineering, manufacturing, transportation, education, medicine, psychology, agriculture, and computer and social sciences.

There are two basic types of statisticians – applied and theoretical. The focus of the undergraduate program is on applied statistics. Applied statisticians help to improve processes and solve real-world problems. They may forecast economic or population growth, evaluate results of a new marketing program or the effectiveness of a new drug, identify quality control issues in manufacturing, or design experiments to help engineers and scientists determine the best design for a jet airplane.

Prospective statisticians must have a strong aptitude for mathematics, a solid computing background, and an earnest curiosity to explore the practical application of statistics. The skills students will learn as a business analytics major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will enable them to understand and convey the scope and power of statistical thinking and will result in significant contributions toward solutions to a variety of important jobs. Well-paying jobs are available at the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and doctoral levels.