Business Analytics, M.S.

I. Brief Description

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) prepares students to launch a career exploring and analyzing data to identify, understand and answer questions that are critical to organizations.  The degree program integrates knowledge and skills in data management, quantitative methods, organizational decision making, and information communication in order to address significant questions. The program is designed to meet the growing need for data science professionals, giving graduates the skills necessary to help organizations harness and understand the power of information. Students completing the program will develop analytical skills and the expertise to solve complex problems from multiple perspectives. Business analytics professionals are critical in helping guide organizations in solving 21st-century business challenges.

II. Contact Information

Kal N. Joshi, Graduate Program Director
knj@unr.edu

III. Admission Requirements

Admission to the Business Analytics, M.S. program requires:

• a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution,
• a 2.75 GPA in the last two years of undergraduate study,
• general computer literacy, and
• English language proficiency. 

Prerequisite courses include an undergraduate course:

• in Statistics,
• in computer programming, and
• introduction to Information Systems (including MS Office, especially Excel), 
• introduction to R and Python. 

Admitted students lacking these prerequisite courses can obtain the needed competencies via a non-credit “Bootcamp.”

IV. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Business Analytics, M.S. program will be able to:

• collect, transform and store large, diverse data sets within a high data velocity environment.
• formulate appropriate research questions that are capable of being addressed with analytical methods.
• communicate the results of analytical activities clearly and concisely through visual methods.
• identify, describe and analyze the security risks as well as the ethical and legal issues involved with collecting, storing, and using data.

V. Program Requirements (30 units)

This online program runs over fall, spring, and summer semesters each year. Students can complete the program in five semesters. 

• BAN 701 - Business Analysis Methods (3 units)
• BAN 702 - Data Transformation and SQL (3 units)
• BAN 703 - Information Visualization & Communication (3 units)
• BAN 704 - Applied Data Science (3 units)
• BAN 705 - Enterprise Processes & Analytics (3 units)
• BAN 706 - Predictive Modeling & Data Mining (3 units)
• BAN 707 - Big Data (3 units)
• BAN 708 - Data Security, Risk Management & Ethics (3 units)
• BAN 709 - Leadership Strategies (3 units)
• BAN 710 - Business Analytics Project (3 units)