Master's in Business Analytics Programs

An M.S. in Business Analytics (M.S./B.A.) is intended to help you identify opportunities hidden in big data and apply these findings to real-world business challenges. Data analysts provide organizations with ideas for smarter strategic management, improved financial performance and better operational efficiencies.

It’s a wide-ranging and challenging discipline. Successful graduates may find themselves analyzing everything from consumer behavior and social media to supply-chain and marketing data.

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Featured Schools

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Master of Business Analytics

Gain in-demand analytics skills with an online master's in business analytics. Complete in as few as 12 months.

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Online Master of Science in Analytics

Make sound decisions using data analysis in 12 months with a Master's in Business Analytics online from American University. No GMAT/GRE required to apply.

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Master's in Applied Analytics

Earn your MS in Applied Analytics online from Pepperdine University. GMAT waivers are available for qualified applicants.

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Online Master of Science in Business Analytics

Looking to become a data-savvy leader? Earn your M.S. in Business Analytics online. GMAT waivers available!

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Online Master's in Data Science

Syracuse University's online Master's in Data Science can be completed in as few as 18 months.

* GRE waivers are available.

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Online MS in Data Science program

Earn your MS in Data Science online in as few as 18 months. Bridge courses are available.

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Online Master of Science in Data Science

Earn your M.S. in Data Science online in 20 months from SMU - ranked a Top National University by US News. Bachelor's degree required.

* GRE waivers available for experienced applicants

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Learn MoreSyracuse University

Online Master of Science in Information Management

Specialize in Advanced Data Science and earn the MS in Information Management online from Syracuse University. GRE waivers available!

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Sponsored Online Master's Programs

Courses

M.S./B.A. degrees usually take one to two years to complete. You’ll typically be required to take a variety of core courses in data analytics and business (e.g., financial accounting), as well as electives in a specific field of interest. Many programs include a capstone project or practicum.

Typical courses include:

Business data analytics
Operations research
Project management
Database analysis
Predictive analytics

Check your preferred school for specific admission requirements. Some will expect an undergraduate degree in economics, mathematics, engineering, business, computer science, statistics or a related field.

On a related note, The M.S. in Marketing Analytics (M.S./M.A.) has developed to help marketers manage the explosion of consumer information. Marketers are now expected to make data-driven decisions based on quantitative analysis. Customer-centric approaches have replaced product-focused models. M.S./M.A. programs blend classes on statistics and data analytics with relevant marketing subjects (e.g., customer insight). In addition to the core syllabus, schools usually include a wide variety of electives (e.g., international marketing) and an internship or practicum. Some also offer specific concentrations.

Typical courses include:

Marketing management
Advanced marketing analysis
Customer analysis
Statistical programming
Quantitative methods
Database management
Data mining and visualization
Applied marketing research

New Developments

The big word in business analytics today is prescriptive analytics. While predictive analytics looks at what may happen, prescriptive analytics focuses on why things are happening and recommending appropriate courses of action.

For example, Google has been experimenting with a self-driven car that can anticipate what might be coming round the bend and determine what effect its decisions will have on the ultimate outcome.

The second important trend is consolidation. As data barriers (e.g., siloes) fall away and new sources of data (e.g., sensors) proliferate, analytics is moving to the center of the enterprise. As Timo Elliott notes:

“The next generation of information infrastructures will combine big data, transactional data, analytic data and ‘content’ into a single, coherent set of services that Gartner calls an ‘information capabilities framework.'”

And it is business data analysts who will be responsible for managing this framework.

Want more? Take a look at our in-depth coverage of data science developments in Manufacturing, Gaming and Hospitality and Finance.

Business Analytics in Action

1. World’s Biggest Data Breaches (Developers: David McCandless & Tom Evans)

2. GED VIZ: Visualizing Global Economic Relations (Developer: Jan Arpe)