Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

Utah State University

Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Management Information Systems Department

I NSTRUCTOR , GA, & C OURSE I NFORM ATION :

Instructor: Polly Conrad | polly.conrad@usu.edu | 435.797.2898 | EBB 707

Graduate Assistant: Abhishek Shukla | shukla.abhishek891@gmail.com
Class: HH 124 | MTWHF at 10:40 a.m. | http://canvas.usu.edu

I NTRODUCTION :

Business data analytics provides an introduction to business intelligence and analytics,

which include the use of data, statistical and quantitative analysis, exploratory and
predictive models, and evidence-based methods to inform business decisions and actions.

The identification of data, variables, and relevant business questions – and the iteration of
these throughout the decision-making process – to provide value to organizations is
highlighted throughout the semester. The application of select data mining techniques to
business decision-making situations is illustrated. Students actively participate in the
delivery of this course through assignments, portfolio development, and projects.

This is a blended, three-credit course meeting during the second seven-week summer
session. Blended courses consist of synchronous (face-to-face and/or interactive video
conferencing, IVC) and asynchronous (online) instructional methods. See the tentative
course schedule below to identify which dates you will receive synchronous instruction
(and are, therefore, attending class in the classroom). The most updated schedule is on the
Canvas home page. Introduction to Management Information Systems, MIS 2100, is a
prerequisite. Business Statistics, STAT 2300, is strongly recommended.

C OURSE A PPROACH :

MIS 3300 takes a combination approach that includes textbook readings, faculty
presentations, videos, tutorials, and projects. The course is delivered in a series of
modules, which demonstrate the applicability of business analytics to several business
disciplines while introducing various tools and techniques. The textbook readings and
Canvas modules will help to convey the main body of knowledge for this class and include a
variety of terms, concepts, and issues related to business analytics. Practice exercises and
homework assignments are used to provide specific business examples illustrating the
content analyzed in the course readings.

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

All course material, including the course schedule, supplemental materials, assignments,
grades, etc., will be posted to Canvas (http://canvas.usu.edu), USU’s learning management
system. You should have automatic access to the course on Canvas if you have registered
for the course. It is very important that you access Canvas early and regularly in the
semester, since you will be responsible for any course material, change, or notification that
is posted there. All assignments will be submitted to Canvas. Due dates for each assignment
will appear on the Canvas course calendar and assignments page. Assignments must be
submitted on or before the due date to receive credit. Late assignments will
not be accepted unless there is an extenuating circumstance.

R EQUIRED T EXTS AND M ATERIALS :

Required Data Science for Business by F. Provost and T. Fawcett (available in

Book: print or as a free e-Book through the USU library Safari e-Books
collection at http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/book
/databases/business-intelligence/9781449374273)

ISBN: 978-1449361327

Required Data Mining for the Masses by M. North (available as a free PDF online
Book: at http://docs.rapidminer.com/downloads/DataMiningForTheMasses
.pdf )

ISBN: 978-0615684376

Software:* Microsoft Excel, including PowerBI add-ins

Microsoft Power BI Desktop
RapidMiner
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
R Studio

*Instructions for accessing/installing software is provided on Canvas

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

G RADING :

Final grades will be determined as follows:

Exams 45%
Analytics Portfolio Assignments 35%
Preparation Quizzes 10%
Participation & Professionalism 10%

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
>94 >90 >87 >84 >80 >77 >74 >70 >67 >64 <60
% % % % % % % % % % %

Acumen courses in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business (HSB) are designed to provide
students with fundamental business knowledge and skills necessary for students to
succeed in their upper-division classes and in their future careers. The faculty of the HSB is
united in its desire that concepts taught in acumen courses are rigorous and provide a
broad understanding of the functional disciplines of business. To help ensure rigor, general
business literacy, and differentiation of student achievement, grades in the Huntsman
acumen courses are normally distributed with a class average between 2.7 and 3.0 on the
4.0 GPA scale.

E XAM S :

Two exams will be given: a midterm and a final. The purpose of the exams is to test your
understanding of key concepts from the readings as well as those presented via lectures
(online modules and in class). Because the exams are orientated toward conceptual
understanding of the material, they will consist primarily of questions that are in multiple
choice and/or short answer format. It is crucial that you read your textbook to
perform well on the exams, as some material may not be covered during class.

The goal of the exams is not to have you simply memorize terms so you can regurgitate the
readings but rather to internalize the material on a meaningful and (at least somewhat)
permanent level. No other resource besides a one-page cheat sheet may be used on the
exams, including friends, phones, Canvas pages or class resources, calculators, or the
Internet.

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

A NALYTICS P ORTFOLIO A SSIGNM ENTS :

The course will require a series of assignments that allow you to demonstrate your ability
to conduct various types of business data analysis and interpret the results. The goal by
the end of the semester is for you to have an ‘analytics portfolio’ consisting of data analysis
exemplars that you can use for your own reference as well as to communicate your abilities
to potential employers. These look great on résumés and are excellent to talk about during
interviews!

The assignments vary in size and scope and will focus on various techniques and business
domains. Some assignments will be completed as individuals, and some will be completed
as teams as directed by the instructor. Regardless, all assignments must meet the
following:
1. Submitted ON TIME (see Canvas for due dates) – NO LATE WORK IS
ACCEPTED!
2. Completed by you and you alone (or your team alone, in the case of a team
assignments) – You are welcome to ask other students for assistance and engage in
discussions about the problems; but at the end, the work you turn in must be your
own.
3. Completed professionally – See professionalism section below.

P REPARATION Q UIZZES :

Preparation quizzes will be given on a semi-random basis. The purpose of these quizzes is
to help you maintain your commitment to being prepared (see professionalism section
below) by having completed the assigned readings. Although they will not go to the depth
that exam questions will cover, the quizzes will also help you prepare for the exams. All
quizzes are timed, so you will not have time to look up answers. Quizzes are to be
completed on your own.

P ARTICIPATION & P ROFESSIONALISM :

Throughout the semester there will be a series of participation activities and exercises
(both online and face-to-face/IVC instructional days). The purpose of these activities is to
allow you to actively engage with the class material and with each other, and to give you
practice with the techniques and methods we will learn so that you are better prepared to
complete the homework assignments.

These exercises will not be graded for content, but rather for participation. Some of these
activities will be completed outside of class and others will be completed in class only
without prior announcement; thus, it is very important that you attend class on
synchronous instructional days and that you actively engage with the material.

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

Professionalism implies positive and active participation in class discussions and an

appropriate attitude for learning. I request that you always demonstrate professionalism
in this course, in your work, as well as in your conduct. As a three-credit hour class, I
expect you to spend a minimum of six hours outside of and in addition to class time to read
the supporting materials and prepare assignments. I expect that you will demonstrate
professionalism in your work by doing the following:

1. Submit your work on time. No late work is accepted.

2. Display integrity by doing your own work. Never plagiarize the work of
others.
3. Submit college-level work. Your writing should consist of complete sentences
and should be free from spelling and grammatical errors. It should
demonstrate that you understand the material and that you can thoughtfully
and insightfully justify your answers.

I expect that you will demonstrate professionalism in your conduct by doing the following:

1. Come to class on synchronous instructional days (see course schedule below),

arrive on time, and stay in class for the duration of the class period.
2. Participate in class discussions and exercises.
• Keep your microphone muted to decrease background noise for students
at other regional campuses.
• Always unmute your microphone when asking a question so that all
students from all regional campuses can hear your question.
• Always let the instructor know if you can’t hear or see something!
3. Do not engage in activities that show disrespect to me or to your fellow
students, including using any electronic device for non-class purposes during
class.

C OM FORTABLE L EARNING E NVIRONM ENT :

USU, the MIS Department, and your instructor are all committed to maintaining an
inoffensive, non-threatening learning environment for every student. Class members
(including the instructor) are thus to treat each other politely both in word and deed.
Offensive humor and aggressive personal advances are specifically forbidden. If you feel
uncomfortable with a personal interaction in class, see your instructor for help in solving
the problem. The MIS Department head, the dean of the Huntsman School of Business, and
USU's Affirmative Action Office are also willing to help as needed.

C LASSROOM C IVILITY :

All Distance Education courses are governed by the USU policy on Classroom Civility
(http://www.usu.edu/policies/pdf/Classroom-Incivility.pdf). In addition, to ensure a

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

productive learning environment for all class members, distance education students should
abide by the following guidelines for classroom behavior:
• Only enrolled students and assigned facilitators should be in the room during class
time.
• Computers, either personal or campus owned, should be used only for official course
business during class.
• Cell phones and personal electronic devices should be silenced and used only in the
case of an emergency.
• The success of the course is the shared responsibility of the instructor and all students,
and at all times students should conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the
core values of the university.
• Disruptive classroom behavior and non-course related activity will not be tolerated.
• Students are encouraged to ask the instructor questions; other conversations are not
allowed during class.
• Students are expected to attend all synchronous class sessions, arrive on time, and stay
for the duration of class. Please do not enter or exit the classroom unless it is an
emergency.
• The site facilitator is authorized to maintain the proper classroom environment.
He or she may ask you to leave if you are distracting fellow students.

C HEATING :

There is no tolerance whatsoever for cheating in this class. Anyone caught cheating in any
way will at best receive a failing grade for the assignment and/or course and at worst will
be kicked out of the university. What is cheating? Cheating may include (but is not limited
to) the following: plagiarizing the work of other students or material from the textbook,
Web, or other sources; utilizing more resources than allowed while completing exams
(including other students, books, the Web, or other materials); and, finally, turning in the
work of another student (present or past) as your own work.

Faculty members in the HSB have high standards and expectations with regard to academic
integrity. You are expected to complete your own work on all assignments and exams.
While instructors may determine the extent to which they address instances of academic
dishonesty in their classrooms, any form of cheating will result in submission of
documentation to the university.
This process is designed to protect both faculty and student interests in cases of academic
dishonesty. Reporting the dishonest behavior does not necessarily imply that the HSB or
university will impose additional measures; this will be determined based on repeat
offenses or other significant, extenuating circumstances. When cheating is not recorded,
the HSB and the university have no way to identify repeat offenders. Furthermore, by
formally documenting instances of academic dishonesty, instructors hold students
accountable for their actions and create opportunities for students to learn from ethical
lapses.

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

O THER C OURSE P OLICIES :

Please visit http://www.usu.edu/provost/faculty/teaching/syllabus_resources.cfm for

these additional course policies:
• Academic Freedom and Professional Responsibilities
• Academic Integrity – “The Honor System”
• Course Fees
• Grievance Process
• Plagiarism
• Sexual Harassment
• Students with Disabilities
• Withdrawal Policy and Incomplete Grade Policy

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

H UNTSM AN S CHOOL V ISION :

Huntsman Pillar Emphasis Discussion

Ethical There is little discussion of leadership in this course.
Low
Leadership
The global vision in this course involves helping
students see the use of business analytics worldwide
Global Vision Medium
in many different business scenarios and disciplines.

The use of business analytics in any type of business

Entrepreneurship Medium including small and startup businesses is discussed.

Most of this course is designed to help students

understand the complex nature of big data and the
Analytical Rigor High
possibilities available when those data are leveraged.

IDEA C ENTER L EARNING O BJECTIVES :

IDEA Center Learning Objectives MIS 3300 Learning Objectives

Objective 1 (Essential): Gaining Gaining factual knowledge regarding data

factual knowledge (terminology, acquisition, data cleansing, and various aspects
classifications, methods, trends) of data analytics and visualization

Objective 2 (Essential): Learning Learning the principles of data analytics and its
fundamental principles, underlying methods and algorithms
generalizations, or theories

Objective 3 (Important): Learning Learning to apply the methods of data

to apply course material (to improve collection and data analytics to solve business
thinking, problem solving, and and related problems in support of business
decisions) decision-making

Objective 4 (Important): Developing the skills necessary to use related

Developing specific skills, software tools to perform data collection,
competencies, and points of view cleansing, and analytics
needed by professionals in the field
most closely related to this course

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.
 Syllabus | Big Data Analytics | MIS 3300

T ENTATIVE C OURSE S CHEDULE : 7- W EEK B LENDED

A LW AYS ATTEND CLASS IN PERSON /IVC ON T UESDAY OF EACH W EEK !
Week Date Instruction Module Topic(s)
Type
Week 1 June 27 Asynchronous Introduction to Course; Data & Data
Jun. 28 Synchronous Science; Relational Databases & SQL; and
Jun. 29 Asynchronous Data Cleansing & Preparation
Jun. 30 Asynchronous
Jul. 1 Asynchronous
Week 2 Jul. 5 Synchronous Building a Data Model in Power BI; Data
Jul. 6 Asynchronous Summarization & Visualization; and
Jul. 7 Asynchronous Descriptive Statistics & Correlation
Jul. 8 Asynchronous
Week 3 Jul. 11 Asynchronous Association Analysis and Cluster Analysis
Jul. 12 Synchronous
Jul. 13 Asynchronous
Jul. 14 Asynchronous
Jul. 15 Asynchronous
Week 4 Jul. 18 Asynchronous Midterm Exam Review; Midterm Exam;
Jul. 19 Synchronous Ethics in Data Mining; and Linear
Jul. 20 Asynchronous Regression
Jul. 21 Asynchronous
Jul. 22 Asynchronous
Week 5 Jul. 26 Synchronous Principles of Classification; Decision Trees;
Jul. 27 Asynchronous and Linear Classifiers
Jul. 28 Asynchronous
Jul. 29 Asynchronous
Week 6 Aug. 1 Asynchronous Neural Networks and R
Aug. 2 Synchronous
Aug. 3 Asynchronous
Aug. 4 Asynchronous
Aug. 5 Asynchronous
Week 7 Aug. 8 Asynchronous Extra Credit Project; Final Exam Review;
Aug. 9 Synchronous and Final Exam
Aug. 10 Asynchronous
Aug. 11 Asynchronous
Aug. 12 Asynchronous

Course content, including assignments and due dates, is subject to change during the semester.