Sep 29, 2014 04:01 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

St. Mary's University has become the first San Antonio institution to offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Data Analytics.

In the new major offered through Bill Greehey School of Business, students would complete the basic 120-hour Accounting major and an additional 30 hours in data analytics and information systems courses and electives. Students can earn the degree in four to five years.

"Courses in this major will diversify job opportunities for our students," said Dean Tanuja Singh in a statement. "We are thrilled to be able to offer it in the Bill Greehey School of Business, where we can further emphasize accounting ethics, privacy and security elements in this emerging field. This is another example of our MARKET-responsive approach that incorporates industry trends and values-driven education."

The major focusing on Data Analytics aims to meet the growing demand of data mangers. In the next four years, the United States is estimated to require 1.5 million analysts capable of converting big data into information for effective decision-making.

"The amount of data in our world has been exploding, and analyzing large data sets - so-called big data - will become a key basis of competition, underpinning new waves of productivity growth, innovation, and consumer surplus," said the McKinsey Global Institute, an international management consulting firm.

According to PayScale, the average salary for entry-level data analytics jobs is $48,000 at industries including services, healthcare, insurance, retail, manufacturing and government.

"A major with this mesh of coursework will undoubtedly provide students a variety of career options and a unique skill set," said Jose Placencia, a 2010 St. Mary's graduate who is now a Business Office Consultant/Technologist with the Northside Independent School District. "Whether a student is looking to pursue the CPA designation, a career as an IT Consultant, or both, students will be well equipped."

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit