Study Applied Business Analytics Management Online at Boston University

Dr. Canan Gunes Corlu of Boston University We spoke with Dr. Canan Gunes Corlu to learn more about Boston University’s online MS in Applied Business Analytics Management. Read on to find out what students should know going in, how BU helps new students adjust to the program, and how students will learn to tackle real-world challenges.

Dr. Canan Gunes Corlu is an assistant professor of Administrative Sciences at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET). She also serves as the faculty coordinator for the Applied Business Analytics program. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in operations management from Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, and her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Koc University in Istanbul, Turkey. She has both face-to-face and online teaching experience, and at MET she teaches courses in operations management, supply chain management, and enterprise risk analytics. Her main research interest is in the design and analysis of stochastic simulations with applications in inventory management. Her research has appeared in a variety of publications, including the two leading journals in the field – Operations Research and Surveys in Operations Research and Management Science.

What types of skills should students develop prior to entering the program?

We do not expect students to come to the Applied Business Analytics program with a particular skill set.

We ensure that each student is set on a path for success in his/her analytics classes through the help of a pre-analytics laboratory. This non-credit hands-on laboratory is open to the public and provides students with the fundamental knowledge of probability, statistics, and decision-support tools necessary for them to succeed in the program. There are two versions of the laboratory: a self-paced version and an instructor-led version. In the self-paced version, students refresh their knowledge in the corresponding academic areas before they take their first course in the program. The instructor-led version is delivered online by an instructor over seven weeks with exercises, tests, and discussions.

How does the program’s emphasis on management prepare students for real-world challenges?

Throughout the program, students are introduced to different functional business areas such as marketing, management, operations, and finance, and they will have an opportunity to work on several practical problems that arise in different corporations. Our Applied Business Analytics program provides a comprehensive coverage of business analytics concepts, techniques, and state-of-the-art tools used in the process of data-driven decision-making in the real-world of business.

What are the benefits of BU MET’s Applied Business Analytics program?

The biggest benefits we offer are flexibility and access. Our courses use the latest digital learning concepts, such as video conferencing, live lectures and seminars, proctored assessments, access to proprietary software applications within virtual labs, and cloud servers. Also, our courses are offered in three delivery formats – online, on-campus, and blended – so students can select the format that best fits their schedule and learning style. We are also among the few programs to use committed course facilitators who help shepherd online students to success in their studies. Our programs are developed by professional faculty members with strong academic backgrounds and industry experience.

Why was it important to incorporate security-related courses into the curriculum, such as IT Security, Cybercrime, and Terrorism?

Big data is changing the world we live in. Many companies are employing big data by analyzing it and developing insights that will help them maintain bigger sales and lower costs. Big data, if well-protected, can provide these benefits to companies; however, it is important to note that malicious users also have access to this data. Therefore, protecting the data and software systems has critical importance and is indeed a priority for many companies. At BU MET, as part of the Applied Analytics program, students can take courses around the topics of IT security, cybercrime, and terrorism that will give them a basic understanding of security-related issues surrounding data and software.

What advice would you give students unsure about pursuing a graduate degree?

BU MET’s flexible delivery formats help students maintain the work-life balance. Most of our students are working professionals with families and are seeking to advance their careers. With the help of our online courses, which are no different from the on-campus courses in terms of content, these students can earn their degrees in the comfort of their homes, while receiving top-notch support from course facilitators.

Those who want to maintain an edge in an increasingly competitive market can really benefit from lifelong educational opportunities that develop critical expertise, new and in-demand skills, and professional leadership qualities. That is what BU MET excels at providing.