Management, Decisions and Data Analytics

The first study year is characterized by offerings of disciplinary education that builds on and expands upon the students’ entrance qualifications. Students select introductory modules for a total of 45 CP from the CHOICE area. The Academic Advising Coordinator offers curriculum counseling to all Bachelor students independently of their major, while Academic Advisors, in their capacity as contact persons from the faculty, support students individually in deciding on their major study program.

To pursue Management, Decisions and Data Analytics as a major, students take the following mandatory CHOICE modules (45 CP)

• CHOICE Module: Introduction to International Business (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Finance and Accounting (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Essentials of Cognitive Psychology (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Essentials of Social Psychology (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Data Science (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Data Structures and Processing (7.5 CP)

The combination of modules from all three pillars of the MDDA program allows students to develop a holistic understanding of the complex nature of data-driven businesses right from the start of their studies.

In their second year, students take a total of 45 CP from a selection of in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. Building on the introductory CHOICE modules and applying the methods and skills students have already acquired so far, these modules aim to expand the students’ critical understanding of the key theories, principles, and methods in their major for the current state of knowledge and best practice.

To pursue MDDA as a major, all 45 CP from the following mandatory CORE modules need to be acquired:

• CORE Module: Digital Transformation and Information Economy (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Design Thinking, E-Business & E-Services (2.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Entrepreneurship and Innovation (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Social Cognition (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Organizational Psychology and Communication (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Judgment & Decision (5 CP)
• CORE Module: Data Analytics and Modeling (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Applied Machine Learning (7.5 CP)

During their third year, students prepare and make decisions for their career after graduation. To explore available choices fitting individual interests, and to gain professional experience, students take a mandatory summer internship.

The fifth semester also opens a mobility window for a diverse range of study abroad options. Finally, the sixth semester is dedicated to fostering the students' research experience by involving them in a Bachelor thesis project.

To pursue MDDA as a major, at least 15 CP from the following mandatory elective Specialization modules need to be taken:

• Specialization: Data Analytics (me, 5 CP)
• Specialization: Contemporary Topics in Marketing (me, 5 CP)
• Specialization: Advanced Econometrics (me, 5 CP)
• Specialization: Financial Data Analytics (me, 5 CP)
• Specialization: Blockchain Technology and Applications (me, 5 CP)

As a core element of Constructor University’s employability approach students are required to engage in a mandatory two-month internship of 15 CP that will usually be completed during the summer between the second and third year of study. This gives students the opportunity to gain first-hand practical experience in a professional environment, apply their knowledge and understanding to a professional context, reflect on the relevance of their major in employment and society, reflect on their own role in employment and society, and find professional orientation. As an alternative to the full-time internship, students interested in setting up their own company can apply for a start-up option to focus on the development of their business plan.

The CONSTRUCTOR Track is another important feature of Constructor University's educational model. The Constructor Track runs orthogonal to the disciplinary CHOICE, CORE, and CAREER modules across all study years and is an integral part of all undergraduate study programs. It provides an intellectual tool kit for lifelong learning and encourages the use of diverse methodologies to approach cross-disciplinary problems. The CONSTRUCTOR track contains Methods, New Skills and German Language and Humanities modules.

Methods Modules

Methods such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods area in their curriculum. The modules that are specifically assigned to each study program equip students with transferable academic skills. They convey and practice specific methods that are indispensable for each student's chosen study program. Students are required to take a minimum of 20 CP in the Methods area. The size of all Methods modules is 5 CP.

To pursue MDDA as a major, the following Methods modules (20 CP) must be taken as mandatory modules:

• Methods Module: Applied Calculus (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Applied Statistics with R (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Digital Marketing Fundamentals and SEO (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Econometrics (m, 5 CP)

New Skills Modules

This part of the curriculum constitutes an intellectual and conceptual tool kit that cultivates the capacity for a particular set of intellectual dispositions including curiosity, imagination, critical thought, and transferability. It nurtures a range of individual and societal capacities, such as self-reflection, argumentation, and communication. Finally, it introduces students to the normative aspects of inquiry and research, including the norms governing sourcing, sharing, withholding materials and research results as well as others governing the responsibilities of expertise as well as the professional point of view.

All students are required to take 20 CP of New Skills modules in their second year and third year of studies. Students choose New Skills modules from the following portfolio:

• New Skills Module: Logic* (me, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation* (me, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication* (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Models, Matrices and Theories of Complex Systems (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Complex Problem Solving (me, 5 CP).
• New Skills Module: Agency, Leadership and Accountability (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Community Impact Project (me, 5 CP).

Some of these modules (marked by *) will be offered with two different perspectives from which the students can only choose one for the fulfillment of graduation requirements of their degree program. The module perspectives are independent modules which examine the topic from different points of view. Please see the module description in chapter 7 for more details such as scheduling, content, and assessment.

German Language and Humanities Modules

Students are required to take 5 CP of German language or Humanities modules. German language abilities foster students' intercultural awareness and enhance their employability in their host country. They are also beneficial for securing mandatory internships (between the 2nd and 3rd year) in German companies and academic institutions. Constructor University supports its students in acquiring basic as well as advanced German skills in the first year of the Constructor Track. Non-native speakers of German are encouraged to take 2 German modules (2.5 CP each) but are not obliged to do so. Native speakers and other students who are not taking advantage of this offer take alternative modules in Humanities in each of the first two semesters:

• Humanities Module: Introduction to Philosophical Ethics (me, 2.5 CP)
• Humanities Module: Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (me, 2.5 CP)
• Humanities Module: Introduction to Visual Culture (me, 2.5 CP)