Course Overview
This hands-on course follows on from COMP 1630, COMP 2362 (or COMP 2364) and MATH 1060. It introduces data analytics fundamentals to students who have previously acquired skills in Excel spreadsheets, database systems, Structured Query Language (SQL) programming and statistics. Starting with an overview of the business cycle for data mining, students learn how to translate a business problem into a data mining problem. Through a number of problems and case studies, students will build, assess, and deploy different models to gain insights into the data by testing probable hypotheses using primarily SQL and Excel. Discussions include the fundamentals of using the R Language for data analytics. Labs and exercises include: using advanced analytics with SQL, advanced Excel and R Studio to clean data and perform analysis. Participants will gain experience with data exploration, testing hypothesis, and predictive analytics. This is a required course in the Applied Data Analytics Certificate, ADAC from BCIT Computing. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to identify the process of data analysis, the roles of data analytics practitioners and how to create analytics models. Students will be prepared to move on to MATH 3060 Advanced Statistical Techniques for Data Analytics and COMP 4254 Advanced Topics in Data Analytics.
Credits
3.0
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$731.57
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify analytics stakeholders and roles.
- Identify the steps in data analysis process.
- Translate business problems into data analytic problems.
- Describe data refinement and data mining.
- Identify data issues.
- Troubleshoot data, prepare and clean data for data mining and analysis.
- Optimize SQL for efficient query execution.
- Recognize SQL antipatterns and apply corrective measures.
- Create data analytic models.
- Perform data exploration, testing hypothesis and predictive analytics with SQL and advanced Excel functions.
- Use R language and R Studio software for Data Analytics tasks.
- Create meaningful reporting to uncover insights and trends to support business decision making.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2017
Related Programs
Data Analytics Fundamentals (COMP 2854) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Applied Data Analytics
Certificate Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of COMP 2854 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 45939
Dates
Sep 09 - Nov 25 Loading
- CRN 45939
- $731.57 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 09 - Nov 25 | Wed | 18:30 - 21:30 | Burnaby SE12 Rm. 327 |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Alexander Volkov
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Please email cstflex@bcit.ca for Departmental approval. Include your Student number (A0#) and COMP__ and preferred CRN __ and Program Declaration____. Course is 36 hours on campus. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 9-12+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class time and 6-9+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC with microphone and video camera. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows. Class in session September 30 (Truth & Reconciliation) and November 11 (Remembrance Day).
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.