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MS in Business Analytics

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) prepares students for positions across fields of business. The program begins by providing a foundation in data analysis and programming skills, and then moves into preparation in statistics and machine learning. The program then concludes with a focus on data analysis challenges businesses face across disciplines such as marketing, operations/supply chain, accounting/finance, human resources, and health sector analytics.

Learning Outcomes

The MS in Business Analytics will seek to develop graduates who will:

  • Be able to think critically about and frame data problems in a variety of business contexts and apply appropriate analytical methods to find solutions that achieve stated objectives.
  • Consider opportunities, needs, and constraints of data analytics within the business functions and the strategic importance of decisions made using data.
  • Demonstrate critical-thinking skills, connecting quantitative and qualitative tools, concepts, and context to effectively solve problems and make decisions.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with a variety of data-analytic tools.
  • Communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences in speech, in writing, and graphically.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal, team, collaborative, and leadership skills.
  • Demonstrate ethical reasoning skills and understand professional responsibilities.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in a concentration area, if chosen.

Curriculum

The MS in Business Analytics program is a full-time program which allows students to complete the program in 37.5 units. Depending on each student’s academic plan and career objectives, the program starts in the fall and may be paced to be completed in 12 months over three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer), or in 16 months over three terms with an interspersed summer, which may be used to complete a summer internship. Students may also elect to complete a concentration as part of their program. All students begin the program cohorted with a common set of core courses. Given the intensity of the program, all students must receive the permission of the Faculty Director to take any additional courses outside of the program. Any questions related to curriculum sequence can be discussed with the student’s academic advisor.

Required Prerequisites

All students enrolling in the MSBA program must have completed the equivalent of QST BA 755 Describing, Analyzing, and Using Data (4 units) and QST BA 765 Introduction to Programming for Data Science (4 units) prior to matriculation. Students who have not completed this content through prior coursework as determined through the admissions process will have to complete a required noncredit bootcamp or other approved program/course prior to enrollment.

Required Core (25.5–28.5 units)

  • QST BA 775 Business Analytics Toolbox (4 units)
  • QST BA 780 Introduction to Data Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 810 Supervised Machine Learning (3 units)
  • QST BA 815 Competing with Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 820 Unsupervised and Unstructured Machine Learning (3 units)
  • QST BA 830 Business Experimentation and Causal Methods (3 units)
  • QST BA 840 Data Ethics: Analytics in Social Context (3 units)
  • QST BA 888 Capstone Project (3 units) Required only for students completing the program in a 12-month format.
  • QST BA 890 Analytics Practicum (1 unit)
  • QST ES 710 Teaming (1 unit)
  • QST ES 729 Management Communication (1.5 units)
  • QST BA 891 Analytics Practicum II (0 units)

Electives (9–12 units)

Students completing the program in 12 months must choose 3 electives (9 units). Students completing the program in 16 months must choose 4 electives (12 units). Available and approved electives are subject to change.

  • QST BA 843 or IS 843 Big Data Analytics for Business (3 units)
  • QST BA 860 Digital Marketing Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 865 Advanced Analytics Topics (3 units)
  • QST BA 870 Financial Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 875 Operations and Supply Chain Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 878 Machine Learning and Data Infrastructure in Healthcare (3 units)
  • QST BA 880 People Analytics (3 units)
  • QST BA 882 Deploying Analytics Pipelines (3 units)
  • QST BA 885 Advanced Analytics Topics II (3 units)
  • QST BA 888 Capstone Project (3 units) May be taken as an additional course with program approval only (and based on seat availability) in the 16-month format.
  • QST HM 817 Advances in Digital Health (3 units)
  • QST HM 848 Driving Innovation in the Health Sector (3 units)
  • QST MK 852 Data-Driven Marketing Decisions (3 units)
  • QST MK 856 Consumer Insights (3 units)
  • QST MK 864 Pricing Strategy & Tactics (3 units)
  • CDS DS 690 Directed Study (3 units)
  • SPH BS 803 Statistical Programming for Biostatisticians (3 units)
  • SPH BS 806 Multivariable Analysis for Biostatisticians (3 units)
  • SPH PM 804 Digital Disruption in Health (2 units)

Total units required to earn the MSBA degree is 37.5 units for all students.

Concentrations

Students may pursue an optional concentration as part of their program. To earn a concentration, students must complete at least three courses in the area of concentration. Students should consult with their academic advisor regarding whether a concentration will fit into their desired completion timeline and academic goals. Concentration requirements are listed below.

Data & Methods

  • QST BA 843 or IS 843 Big Data Analytics for Business (3 units)
  • QST BA 865 Advanced Analytics Topics (3 units)
  • QST BA 882 Deploying Analytics Pipelines (3 units)
  • QST BA 885 Advanced Analytics Topics II (3 units)
  • CDS DS 690 Directed Study (3 units)

Healthcare Analytics

  • QST BA 878 Machine Learning and Data Infrastructure in Healthcare (3 units)
  • QST HM 817 Advances in Digital Health (3 units)
  • QST HM 848 Driving Innovation in the Health Sector (3 units)
  • SPH BS 803 Statistical Programming for Biostatisticians (2 units)
  • SPH BS 806 Multivariable Analysis for Biostatisticians (3 units)
  • SPH PM 804 Digital Disruption in Health (2 units)

Marketing Analytics

  • QST BA 860 Digital Marketing Analytics (3 units)
  • QST MK 852 Data-Driven Marketing Decisions (3 units)
  • QST MK 856 Consumer Insights (3 units)
  • QST MK 864 Pricing Strategy & Tactics (3 units)

Degree Completion

To qualify for the MS in Business Analytics, students must:

  • Successfully complete all required courses for a total of 37.5 units.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.70.

Have no “I” grades or no “MG” grades in courses counting toward the degree.

Related Bulletin Pages

Beyond the Bulletin