Master of Science in Business Analytics

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop in-demand skills for application and problem-solving in a variety of organizational settings. The program is a unique interdisciplinary course of study that offers students, who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in any field, the advantage of learning how to synthesize data utilizing a range of industry-relevant tools. Students will be able to visually communicate insights based on data to improve decision making and problem solving. Graduates may pursue emerging career opportunities in private, government, and non-profit sectors.

Program Mission Statement

The Master of Science in Business Analytics program equips students with the skills to manage and analyze data, and impactfully communicate outcomes visually and orally to discover trends, guide decision-making, and influence business practices. The curriculum provides a foundation of methodologies and analytical tools, as well as practical and applied expertise needed in the real world.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
  • Software Solutions: Apply software to perform data analysis.
  • Data Analytics: Analyze various types of data to discover insights and trends, and report information for strategic decision-making.
  • Decision-Making: Implement processes to evaluate data to make effective decisions that align with and support business strategy.
  • Strategic Communication: Synthesize informational insights and findings to communicate using written, oral, and visual methods.
  • Project Management: Create a framework for overseeing a project with a data analytical perspective from initiation to completion
Requirements for Admission

The prospective graduate student in the MSBA program must demonstrate his or her readiness to succeed in graduate-level academic coursework by satisfactorily fulfilling one of the following admission options. All graduate admissions options listed below require an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Option One

A 3.0 grade point average (GPA) calculated over the most recent 30 graded semester (45 quarter) credits completed in either a baccalaureate or post baccalaureate program, including credits earned toward a credential. All credits used for GPA calculation must be from a regionally accredited institution.

Option Two

A GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 calculated over the most recent graded 30 semester (45 quarter) credits completed in either a baccalaureate or post baccalaureate program, including credits earned toward a credential. All credits used for GPA calculation must be from a regionally accredited institution. A satisfactory score on an accepted graduate admissions exam is required.

  1.  Graduate Record Exam (GRE): achieve the required minimum scores on two out of three of the subsections of the GRE. (Minimum score for Quantitative: 141, minimum score for Verbal: 150, minimum score for Analytic Writing: 4.5)
  2. Miller Analogies Test (MAT): achieve a minimum scaled score of 400
  3. Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): fulfill the formula GMAT + (GPA X 200) > 1000.

Option Three

An earned master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.

Option Four

Submission of a portfolio of evidence that shows adequate preparation for graduate studies. The portfolio will contain: writing samples that show graduate level communications and analytical skills; a detailed resume showing professional development and achievements; awards; professional recognition; letters of reference from persons who can attest to the applicant’s ability to do graduate level work; and a letter of explanation detailing the reasons the student believes he or she is a good candidate for graduate study in the field of Business Analytics.

Transfer of Coursework

Maximum of 9 semester credits may be accepted in transfer. (See the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.)

The MSBA program will accept transfer of military coursework which meets the following requirements:

  1. Course requested for transfer must include an official transcript or copy of an ACE evaluation which verifies graduate-level work;
  2. Coursework must be letter graded or provide verification of completion at a grade of “B” or higher;
  3. Coursework must be comparable to program requirements (if marginal comparability, a written statement of rationale must be provided); and
  4. Military coursework will be accepted in transfer as fulfilling elective requirements only.

In addition to University policies concerning transfer of coursework, University of Massachusetts Global may accept one of the following:

  1. Transfer of twelve elective credits to the MSBA upon receipt of appropriate official documentation of successful completion of the University of California, Irvine Extension Project Management Certificate provided that all required certificate courses were completed with a grade of “B" within the last seven years.

  2. Transfer of twelve elective credits to the MSBA Degree for eligible Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired and prior military service members for completion of military coursework comparable to OLCU 641 Leadership in Military Communication Leadership in Military Communication, OLCU 643 Military Operations Leadership Military Operations Leadership, HRCU 618 Career Management Career Management, and HRCU 605 Talent Management Talent Management. Qualifications and provisions of this twelve credit transfer opportunity include:

a.  The service member must qualify for admission to the MSBA degree program. (See Graduate Admission section of this catalog).

b.  Active Duty, active reserve, retired and prior service military members in the following ranks are eligible: Commissioned Officer (any rank), Senior NCO (E7 or above) or CW2 or above.

c.  Commissioned Officers must be graduates of a commissioning program (OCS or equivalent, ROTC, Military Academy) and an officer basic career course. Senior NCOs must be E7 or above and graduates of a career NCO Advanced Course. Warrant Officers must be CW2 or above and graduates of a Warrant Officer Candidate School and a Warrant Officer career course.

d. The seven-year rule for completion of all coursework toward the MSBA degree applies, including transfer credit for military schooling. (See Seven-Year Limitation in Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.)

e.  Recipients of the twelve-credit transfer must complete all remaining coursework for the MSBA degree at University of Massachusetts Global in accordance with academic policy.

f.  Students, including service members, may enroll only in the MSBA Program.  Student using VA benefits should contact their advisor regarding how enrolling in a fully online program may affect their benefits.

Specific Requirements for the Degree

The MSBA program consists of two segments. The first segment is the MSBA Core consisting of 24 credits. The second segment of the MSBA program consists of 12 credits of electives.

Core Courses
Core Requirements
BUSU 670Data Foundations3
BUSU 661Data Analytics Toolkit3
BUSU 662Programming and Experimental Methods3
BUSU 663Database Solutions3
BUSU 664Business Analytics Applications and Communications3
BUSU 671Data Visualization and Presentation3
BUSU 672Project Planning and Data Modeling3
BUSU 673Project Implementation and Analysis3
Core Requirements Subtotal24
Electives12
Total Credits36

MSBA Electives

MSBA students may select an individualized set of electives from the graduate courses listed in the following discipline areas: Accounting, Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Public Administration, Healthcare Administration, Geographic Information Systems, Human Resources, International Business, Organizational Leadership, Marketing, and Computer Science. Successful completion of the University of California, Irvine Extension Project Management Certificate, as described in the Transfer Credit Policy, may substitute for the described MSBA electives.