Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Department of Analytics and Information Systems

http://www.wku.edu/ais

Ray Blankenship, Chair
Grise Hall 201
(270) 745-3509

Faculty

Professor

John K. Atkinson EdD (Adult, Higher, and Community Education, Information & Communication Sciences), Ball State University, 2007

Ray J. Blankenship PhD (Business Administration- Management Information Systems), University of Mississippi, 1994

Mark D. Ciampa PhD (Tech Mgt (Digital Comm Systems)), Indiana State University, 2008

Sean R. Marston PhD (Business Administration, Information Systems and Operation), University of Florida, 2010

Lily P. Zhuhadar PhD (Computer Science and Engineering), University of Louisville, 2009

Associate Professor

Thaddeus R. Crews PhD (Computer Science), Vanderbilt University, 1995

Business Data Analytics Courses

BDAN 513    Contemporary Business Analytics    3 Hours

This course examines contemporary concepts and methods used to analyze business problems and scenarios. Course topics will include the administration of data analytics, and will utilize a variety of analytic techniques and visualization tools to improve the decision process and enhance business value.

Equivalent(s): BA 513

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023; winter 2024; spring 2024; summer 2024; fall 2024

BDAN 515    Data Management    3 Hours

This course examines the development, administration, and utilization of large databases and database management systems. Coverage includes: on-premise and cloud-based data warehousing, best practices for Data ETL (extraction, transformation, and loading) to ensure data integrity and quality, and managing the data acquisition, data conditioning, and data storage processes.

Prerequisite(s): BDAN 513 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; summer 2024; fall 2024

BDAN 517    Predictive Analytics    3 Hours

A study of supervised and unsupervised data mining models including the most common data analytics approaches or techniques to address business questions. Topics include data reduction, regression, classification, principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and the usage of CRISP-DM conceptual model. Emphasis is on the understanding of the capability (and limitation) of each model using data real business case studies.

Prerequisite(s): BDAN 513 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

BDAN 519    Visualization and Decision Making    3 Hours

A study of data visualization for businesses by adopting the best practices in examining complex, heterogeneous big data sets, including the use of advanced techniques to conduct thorough and insightful analysis. To this end, incorporating solutions to real business problems by including the development of dashboards and metrics for decision making that support the businesses.

Prerequisite(s): BDAN 513 (may be taken concurrently) or BA 513

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; summer 2024; fall 2024

BDAN 596A    GFCB Grad Certificate Assessment - Business Data Analytics    0 Hours

This course tracks the student skills attainment summary and artifacts for the Data Analytics graduate certificate.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2024

Cybersecurity Data Analytics Courses

CYSA 520    Principles of Cybersecurity for Data Analytics    3 Hours

A study of cybersecurity to support the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability as it applies to data analytics. Topics include evaluating system configurations, performing threat analysis, designing risk mitigation techniques, and understanding applicable policies, laws, and regulations.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

CYSA 522    Cybersecurity Risk and Compliance    3 Hours

This course examines risk management and compliance using cyber analytics from an information assurance and cybersecurity perspective. Additionally it will explore the impact the design and integration of cybersecurity policies and procedures within the organization. Topics covered include: risk management; risk assessments; threat, vulnerability and exploit analysis; risk prioritization; risk mitigation; business impact analysis disaster recovery planning; incident response and recovery; compliance and regulation at a state, federal, and international level; and audits.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024; summer 2024

CYSA 524    Cybersecurity Orchestration Using Data Analytics    3 Hours

A study of proactively defending and continuously improving the security of the enterprise with emphasis on using data analytics. Topics include leveraging intelligence and threat detection techniques, analyzing and interpret data, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, determining preventative measures, and effectively responding to and recovering from incidents.

Prerequisite(s): BDAN 513 (may be taken concurrently) or BA 513 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

CYSA 596A    GFCB Graduate Certificate Assessment - Cybersecurity Data Analytics    0 Hours

This course tracks the student skills attainment summary and artifacts for the graduate certificate in Cybersecurity Data Analytics.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2024

CYSA 599    Cybersecurity Data Analytics Portfolio    0 Hours

This course tracks the student skills attainment summary and artifacts for the MS Cybersecurity Data Analytics program and the graduate certificate in Cybersecurity Data Analytics.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2024