Business Analytics, M.S.

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Program Overview

The objective of the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program is to provide students with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to analyze data and make effective business decisions. Students will be educated in all areas related to business analytics and big data analysis including, but not limited to, data management, visualization, data-mining, machine learning, and integration strategies for analyzing large, structured and unstructured datasets. The program includes a summer capstone project built around student teams with faculty advisors, which will develop business analytics solutions for problems hosted by live business clients. The capstone experience has been designed so students can develop their problem-framing, teamwork, project management, and communication skills for managing business analytics projects in an organization.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will possess the business foundation necessary to apply business analytic concepts in organizational settings.
Graduates will be able to create and manage analytics ready data.
Graduates will demonstrate statistical and programming skills required to analyze data.
Graduates will be able to select and apply appropriate data modeling tools to provide insight for the analysis of business situations.
Graduates will be able to clearly explain information and insight gained from analytic models in a business context.

Major Requirements

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is a face-to-face program that starts in the Fall semester and finishes in August. The program can be completed in one year full-time or in two years part-time. The program requires a minimum of 30 semester hours. All academic requirements must be completed in residence. The MSBA has been designed for people with a statistics/quantitative background, such as engineering, science, computer science, economics, and/or business. Business work experience is not required for this program. Students with an undergraduate business background may waive up to 6 semester hours associated with the two required business foundation core courses.

The specific degree requirements include:

18 to 24 semester hours of core BSAN graduate courses, depending on student’s business background
Completion of 4 BSAN courses associated with the Capstone Project Experience (6 semester hours)
A minimum of 6 semester hours in BSAN analytics course electives beyond core classes. Electives are offered to support more depth in three possible pathways in the areas of either marketing analytics, healthcare analytics, or general data analytics.

Admissions Criteria for the Master of Science in Business Analytics Program

Online Application: https://graduate.lmu.edu/apply
Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution
Undergraduate grade point average over 3.0
Completion of a college statistics course in last six years with a grade of B or better
$50 non-refundable application fee
Official GMAT or GRE score
Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
International applicants should submit TOEFL or IELTS scores (waived for applicants who have completed a degree in the United States)
Personal statement
Resume
Two letters of recommendation

4+1 Master of Science in Business Analytics Program

Background

The 4+1 Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) Program is designed for undergraduate LMU students who wish to complete the M.S. in Business Analytics degree one year after completing the bachelor’s degree. Students admitted to the 4+1 MSBA program will take up to two MSBA courses (6 semester hours) in their senior year (included in undergraduate tuition) that will count toward both the bachelor’s degree and the MSBA degree. Accepted students should contact the Graduate Business Programs office for advice for scheduling classes in the senior year and the fifth year.

Admissions Criteria for the 4+1 Master of Science in Management Program

Undergraduate LMU majors may apply to the Accelerated (4+1) Bachelor’s/MS in Business Analytics Program after they reach junior standing and have completed 75 semester hours or more of undergraduate coursework with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 for courses taken to date. Applicants must complete an undergraduate statistics course, earning a B or higher, before taking courses in the MSBA. The application will include:

Personal statement (1-2 pages)
Current resume
Two academic and/or professional recommendations
A minimum GPA of 3.2 to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement (students with a GPA below 3.2 may apply if they submit GMAT or GRE results)