Decision Sciences

Career potential

Decision sciences is a discipline that integrates functional business fields with analytical concepts and modeling, process improvement, and computer-based quantitative tools to make critical decisions; thus enhancing complex decision making processes and decision support.

A background in decision sciences, along with a strong foundation in business administration, will equip you with skills that you may apply to many different areas in business. Businesses employ people with training in decision sciences for marketing research and advertising; cost, investment or financial analysis; human resource management; supply chain, manufacturing, marketing or international management; logistics; managerial accounting analysis; and management consulting. There is a demand for business professionals with analytical abilities who can relate them to business.

Graduates of the University of North Texas' program have received job offers from large and small firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and throughout the southwestern United States. Recent involvement of the College of Business Administration with universities in Mexico will provide ever-expanding educational and job opportunities for students in the international arena.

The decision sciences program is suited for individuals interested in the growing job market for analysts as well as movement into higher level managerial positions. In decision sciences, you will learn decision modeling, process improvement, six sigma analyses, simulation, statistics, knowledge management and business intelligence, while utilizing the latest technology for business analysis, such as SAS, Minitab and business process management tools. In areas where technology is evolving rapidly, you will learn to combine information technology and applied decision analysis in unique ways to address business and governmental issues.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers. The staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.

Majoring in decision sciences

The bachelor of business administration degree with a professional field in decision sciences will provide a base of knowledge to help you manage issues in today's business environment. You will gain an understanding of accounting, manufacturing, finance, management, supply chain management, marketing and information technology.

The degree is intended for students who want a broad business knowledge and want to develop applied skills in decision sciences. We encourage students to pursue a minor in a functional area of business. These minor areas include finance, real estate, operations and supply chain management, information systems, human resources or marketing. Students in the program must take a minimum of 127 semester hours of pre-business, business foundation and professional course work.

Students in decision sciences must have at least a 2.7 GPA in all courses completed at UNT and have a transfer GPA of at least 2.7.

Getting hands-on experience

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your major through UNT's Cooperative Education and Internships office. You may earn academic credit and money and gain valuable work experience. Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation.

More than 1,800 employers work with the office to provide excellent learning opportunities, many of which become permanent full-time positions upon graduation. The office also assists with placing you in internships, which last for one full semester or summer.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science – economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

A staff advisor in the College of Business Administration Advising Office will help you each semester to select courses necessary to earn your degree. Your professors also can give you career advice. The advising office is in the Business Administration Building, Room 123.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.