Starting Fall 2021
The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is a quantitatively-focused program, where students are exposed to data-driven business processes and analytical and visualization methods. Graduates will be able to propose optimal data-based solutions because of exposure to the program and a course-embedded business analytics consulting project.
The MSBA program is designed to attract students from any discipline. All students must have completed a college-level statistics course with a grade of a B or better and Microsoft Excel Certification before the start of the program. Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program.
The MSBA program is designed to be 30 credit hours of course work, completed in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time), in a cohort-based model. Students begin classes in fall, take classes in winter and spring, and finish classes in summer. Students will be admitted one time per year, and are required to submit GRE/GMAT scores unless they are eligible for a waiver. Students who do not meet the prerequisites will take these courses in the summer prior to enrollment.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the program are to:
- Understand the different forms of analytics (descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive) and when to apply them to real-world projects.
- Understand how analytics can improve decision-making through a firm’s value chain.
- Obtain hands-on experience with an array of analytical tools and software that are widely used in practice, including R, Python, SQL, and Tableau.
- Effectively tell a story with data to a range of stakeholders.
- Apply knowledge and skills in a real-world consulting project.
Program Course Outline
The academic coursework of the program is sequenced to run from fall through summer and includes nine required core courses and one elective course, for a total of 30 credit hours. The sequence below is based on meeting the program prerequisites prior to the start of fall.
Full-time, One-year Program
Summer 1 (prerequisites only)
MTH 217: Statistics
Microsoft Excel Certification
Fall 1
MSA 680 - Data Exploration, Visualization and Data Management (3 credits)
MSA 682 - Python for Analytics (3 credits)
MSA 681 - Visual Storytelling with Data (3 credits)
MBA 687 - Statistics for Business Analytics (3 credits)
Winter 1
MBA 688 - Predictive Analytics and Data Mining (3 credits)
Spring 1
MSA 683 - Unstructured Data Analytics and Advanced Data Mining (3 credits)
MSA 684 - Machine Learning (3 credits)
MBA 690 - Analytics in Operations Management (3 credits)
MSA Elective/MBA Core or Elective (3 credits)
Summer 2
MSA 685 - Business Analytics Consulting Project (3 credits)
Part-time, Two-year Program
Summer 1 (prerequisites only)
MTH 217: Statistics
Microsoft Excel Certification
Fall 1
MSA 680 - Data Exploration, Visualization and Data Management (3 credits)
MBA 687 - Statistics for Business Analytics (3 credits)
Winter 1
MBA 688 - Predictive Analytics and Data Mining (3 credits)
Spring 1
MBA 690 - Analytics in Operations Management (3 credits)
MSA Elective/MBA Core or Elective (3 credits)
Summer 2
No Classes
Fall 2
MSA 682 - Python for Analytics (3 credits)
MSA 681 - Visual Storytelling with Data (3 credits)
Winter 2
No Classes
Spring 2
MSA 683 - Unstructured Data Analytics and Advanced Data Mining (3 credits)
MSA 684 - Machine Learning (3 credits)
Summer 3
MSA 685 - Business Analytics Consulting Project (3 credits)
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