Upon completion of the undergraduate Business degree, students learn key "soft" skills outside of their specific major. These skills include written and oral communication skills, written and oral presentation skills, project management skills, and quantitative literacy skills. These soft skills can position SIUe students above the rest as they begin their career paths.
The School of Business places quantitative literacy skills into four groups: Math & Statistics, Excel, Data Analysis & Modeling, and Business Calculations & Models. A table presenting a list of these skills in each group is presented below.
| Math & Statistics | Excel | Data Analysis & Modeling | Business Calculations & Models | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Skills | average/mean | absolute/relative/mixed referencing | number sense | (not necessarily basic or advanced) |
| standard deviation | cell formatting | basic analysis | growth rates / margins | |
| discrete/random | column/row sorting | basic presentation of results | net present value (NPV) / internal rate of return (IRR) | |
| normal distribution | formulas and functions | inputs and assumptions | financial ratios / profitability | |
| percentages | charts and graphs | sensitivity analysis | feasibility / cost-benefit / break-even | |
| ratios | understanding chart types | financial statement / pro-forma | ||
| z-test | named cells or ranges | market share / investment analysis | ||
| solving for missing variables | capital budgeting | |||
| rounding errors / significant digits | SWOT | |||
| Advanced Skills | correlation | conditional formatting | unstructured problem w/data | |
| regression | complex functions, nested functions | data presentation | ||
| anova | import various file formats | written interpretation | ||
| v/h lookup | oral presentation | |||
| filters | identify/diagnose a problem | |||
| pivot tables | propose a solution | |||
| goal seek | decision making | |||
| what if analysis | forecasting | |||
| scenario manager | ||||
| solver |
