An MSBA could allow you to succeed in a data-driven environment.
A Master’s degree in Business Analytics is an excellent option for someone who loves data analysis and leads analytics-driven projects in a company.
Masters in Business Analytics are becoming increasingly popular in a digitally transformed world. These programs offer a deep dive into data interpretation and visualization, storytelling, and how to use analytics to stay ahead of your competition in a highly competitive business environment.
What do you learn with a Master’s degree in Business Analytics?
The Master’s program in Business Analytics combines theory and practice.
As a result, you’ll need to be able to do more than analyze data in the business world.
The STEM-designated Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) at the University of California Riverside School of Business blends theory with practice so students can apply their data-driven skills in real-world situations.
Subramanian Balachander (Bala), professor of marketing at UCR, says that students can learn how to use real-life business problems to help them identify the correct data to solve a problem.
Students enrolled in the UCR MSBA program learn programming languages such as R, Python, and SQL. In addition, business Analytics for Management, Statistical Data Mining, and Statistics for Business Analytics are core modules.
Two Capstone in Business Analytics projects is available. These allow students to test their knowledge and work on data-based problems such as forecasting future demand, using social media analytics for business opportunities, or optimizing freight transport using shipment data.
Florian Sterr, a UCR Master’s student in Business Analytics, said that the capstone course gave him the chance to work on real-life projects and introduced a wide range of tools used in business analytics across companies.
The UCR master’s in business analytics can be taken part-time or full-time. There is a strong emphasis on business analytics for management so that students can manage data-driven projects.
Students pursuing the degree must also take either a Statistics Track or a Business Track, depending on their undergraduate degree.
Modules in Discrete Data Analysis and Statistical Computing are required for students from business or other STEM-related undergraduate programs.
Students with statistics undergraduate degrees should study Cost and Management Accounting, Financial Management, Marketing Management, and Operations Management for Competitive Advantage.
Specializations for Master’s Degrees in Business Analytics
A master’s degree in analytics can help you find a job in a particular industry.
Three career options are available with the UC Riverside MSBA degree in Finance, Marketing, and Operations.
The Finance Career Path might be for you if you are interested in a career as an investor or incorporate risk management. The Marketing Career Path may be for you if you are interested in becoming a consumer behavior expert. Finally, if you are passionate about sustainable supply chain management, the Operations Career Path might be for you.
Yukta Amin, a UCR MS student in Business Analytics, says that she is interested in pursuing a career as a market analyst. She chose the marketing track because it offers modules in Market Assessment and Internet Marketing.
She says, “I love math but I also love creativity–I wanted to combine both of them so marketing analytics suits my perfectly.”
The UC Riverside Master’s program in Business Analytics finance tracks allows students to take modules in Fixed Income and Corporate Risk Management and Investments and Portfolio Management and Empirical Methods of Finance.
The Operations Track offers modules in Spreadsheet Modeling for Decision Making, Simulation for Business, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management.
What can you do with a master’s degree in business analytics?
First, you should choose a school and region that offers access to vital employers’ networks when selecting a master’s in business analytics.
Southern California is the ideal location for the STEM-designated Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of California, Riverside. Riverside is located between San Diego and Los Angeles and is home to many tech companies and innovative startups.
California also has the highest population among all US states.
Yukta says, “It really helps me that there are more employees here, which means more technology and more companies hiring here.”
The Master’s degree in Business Analytics at UCR is for students with quantitative solid aptitude who enjoy solving data-based challenges. Students bring, on average, 21 months of experience to the group.
This degree opens up opportunities for high-ranking positions such as chief technology officer, project manager, analyst, data scientist, or analytics consultant.
Florian, a finance professional, says that he decided to study for a Master’s degree in Business Analytics to improve his future career and be better prepared for the job market.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the average starting salary for MSBA students is $75k.
Data scientists can expect to make a median salary of $130k.
Bala says, “The MSBA program assists students in gaining the critical skill sets required to provide critical insight to companies as business analysts professionals.”
Data is going to become even more important in a technologically driven world. Master’s in Business Analytics grads can provide companies with statistical expertise and managerial knowledge.
