Online Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics Degree

According to a 2016 report by the McKinsey Global Institute, the volume of data doubles every three years. As data-driven business models change the face of industry, developing the ability to capitalize upon this valuable resource is compulsory.

In a recent analysis, PwC determined that 67 percent of job openings requiring data science and analytics competencies are for “analytics-enabled” roles, such as chief executive officer, chief data officer, director of IT, human resources manager, financial manager, and marketing manager. While the jobs are there, there is a shortage of analytics-enabled personnel who combine expertise in their industry with the ability to understand and leverage big data to engage in predictive analytics or make data-informed business decisions.

To help close this skills gap, Boston University’s Metropolitan College offers an online Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics Management degree program. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a variety of analytical models and decision-support tools, which they can apply to interlinked data-inputs and large data sets in the areas of marketing, operations, product and technology innovations, financial services, and others. Boston University’s applied business analytics curriculum covers advanced software tools and functions, such as descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive modeling; text and data mining; visual analytics; and business simulations. Graduates of the program will be able to analyze data-driven business processes, select appropriate analytical methods to monitor and identify performance issues, prescribe possible outcomes, and propose optimal data-based solutions.

Students who complete the master’s degree in Applied Business Analytics will be able to demonstrate:

  • The knowledge and skills necessary to better utilize available information in operational, tactical, and strategic decision-making in organizations.
  • Experience with various powerful emerging technologies and techniques for increasing the value of both in-house and third-party data sets.
  • An understanding of how organizations are using interlinked data-inputs, analytics models, and decision-support tools to better understand their operations, customers, and markets.
  • Expertise in web analytics and metrics, and the ability to procure and process unstructured text, and delve into hidden patterns within data sets.
  • The ability to facilitate knowledge discovery using data-mining and visualization techniques over vast amounts of data.

Awards & Accreditations


AACSB accreditedAccredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Why Choose BU’s Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics?

  • The Applied Business Analytics program offers the flexibility of online or on-campus study formats, ensuring that students can earn their degree the way that suits them the best.
  • US News & World Report Best Online Programs - Graduate Business 2023In 2023, Metropolitan College’s online master’s degrees in management were ranked #9 among the Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Boston University is an accredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  • Learning from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, students benefit from our unique combination of dynamic academic curriculum, the latest educational technologies, flexible delivery modes, advanced pedagogy, and professional contacts within the business analytics industry.
  • Intelligent Approved - Best Master's in Business Analytics BadgeBU MET’s MS in Applied Business Analytics is ranked #5 (and Best in Northeast) among Best Online Master’s in Business Analytics Degree Programs for 2022 by Intelligent.com.

Meet Dr. Vladimir Zlatev, one of the faculty members you’ll work with in the Applied Business Analytics program.

Career Outlook

Management Analysts

14% increase in jobs through 2026

$82,450 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Analysts

11% increase in jobs through 2026

$84,300 median annual pay in 2017

Market Research Analysts

23% increase in jobs through 2026

$63,230 median annual pay in 2017

Mathematicians and Statisticians

33% increase in jobs through 2026

$84,760 median annual pay in 2017

Operations Research Analysts

27% increase in jobs through 2026

$81,390 median annual pay in 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017-18 Edition


By 2018, the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions.

McKinsey & Company
Big data: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Competition, and Productivity, 2011

By 2020, it is predicted that there will be 2.7 million job postings for data science and analytics roles.
PwC
What’s next for the 2017 data science and analytics job market?

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money Matters

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.

Curriculum

The online Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics consists of 10 required courses (40 credits).*

Students who already hold the Graduate Certificate in Applied Business Analytics may waive the four specialization courses.

*Degree requirements may vary for those students transferring credits from previous coursework at Boston University or receiving course waivers due to professional designations.

Faculty

Vladimir Zlatev

Vladimir Zlatev

Associate Professor of the Practice of Administrative Sciences
PhD, MS, BS, Dresden University of Technology

Krystie Dickson

Krystie Dickson

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences
MS, Boston University
MS, The Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, University of the West Indies
BS, University of the West Indies

Benjamin P. Harris

Benjamin P. Harris

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
PhD, MS, BS, Northeastern University


Getting Started

To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.