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)

In the third year of their studies, students take 15 CP from major-specific or major-related, advanced Specialization modules to consolidate their knowledge and to be exposed to state-of-the-art research in the areas of their interest. This curricular component is offered as a portfolio of modules, from which students can make free selections during their fifth and sixth semester. The default specialization module size is 5 CP, with smaller 2.5 CP modules being possible as justified exceptions.

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

• Specialization: Data Analytics (5 CP)
• Specialization: Contemporary Topics in Marketing (5 CP)    
• Specialization: Advanced Econometrics (5 CP)
• Specialization: Financial Data Analytics (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 parallel to the disciplinary CHOICE, CORE, and CAREER modules across all study years and is an integral part of almost all undergraduate study programs. It reflects a university-wide commitment to help transform late-stage adolescents into confident, competent and responsible young adults by providing an intellectual tool kit to become life-long learners and by giving them the capacity to employ a range of methodologies to approach potential solutions to problems across disciplines. The CONSTRUCTOR Track contains Methods, New Skills and German Language / 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 to equip students with transferable academic skills. They convey and practice specific methods that are indispensable for each students’ chosen study program. Students are required to take 20 CP in the Methods area. The size of all Methods modules is 5 CP.

To pursue BCCB as a major, the following mandatory Methods and Skills (15 CP) need to be taken:

• Methods Module: Mathematical Concepts for the Sciences (m, 5 CP, Semester 1)
• Methods Module: Physics for the Natural Sciences (m, 5 CP, Semester 2)
• Methods Module: Plant Metabolism and Natural Products (m, 5 CP, Semester 4)

For the remaining 5 CP BCCB students can choose between the two Methods modules

• Methods Module: Introduction to Bioinformatics (me, 5 CP, Semester 3)
• Methods Module: Analytical Methods (me, 5 CP, Semester 3)

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 the following modules in their second year:

• New Skills Module: Logic (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation (m, 2.5 CP)

These modules will be offered with two different perspectives of which the students can choose. The module perspectives are independent modules which examine the topic from different point of views. Please see the module description for more details.

In the third year, students take three 5 CP modules that build upon previous modules in the track and are partially constituted by modules that are more closely linked to each student’s disciplinary field of study. The following module is mandatory for all students:

• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication (m, 5 CP)

This module will also be offered with two different perspectives of which the students can choose. In their fifth semester, students may choose between:

• New Skills Module: Linear Model/Matrices (me, 5 CP) and
• New Skills Module: Complex Problem Solving (me, 5 CP).

The sixth semester also contains the choice between two modules, namely:

• New Skills Module: Agency, Leadership, and Accountability (me, 5 CP) and
• New Skills Module: Community Impact Project (me, 5 CP).

Students who study abroad during the fifth semester and are not substituting the mandatory Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication module, are required to take this module during their sixth semester. Students who remain on campus are free to take the Argumentation, Data Visualization, and Communication module in person in either the fifth or sixth semester as they prefer.

German Language and 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 two German modules (me, 2.5 CP each), but are not obliged to do so. Native speakers and other students not taking advantage of this offering 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)