The digital revolution empowered by the internet and computer technology in business and individual life during the last several decades has generated unimaginable amounts of data in the form of digital records stored in databases and file servers. The volume, velocity, and variety of these data have produced a new set of problems and challenges for businesses and organizations in their pursuit of competitiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency. These problems and challenges also have created unprecedented opportunities for businesses and organizations to discover, model, understand, and serve their customers and partners in ways never imagined and to supply details never possible before. Businesses and organizations that are able to master this volume of data will have a tremendous competitive advantage over their competition in the marketplace.
As the need for business analytics grows, demand for professionals who understand and are capable of working with and exploring this data has exploded in recent years. This program addresses the growing need to manage and analyze the rapidly increasing amount of data that is available to support business decision-making.
Students in the part-time program take analytics and business elective courses online and may choose to take select business electives offered occasionally in-person through the Iowa M.B.A. in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will exhibit knowledge and skills relevant to data and its applications in business. They will demonstrate competence in the subareas of:
- descriptive analytics;
- predictive analytics; and
- prescriptive analytics.
Graduates will create and communicate solutions to data-related business problems that impact their organizations and communities. They will:
- approach, address, and solve a loosely defined business problem requiring the use, exploration, and analysis of data; and
- communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual forms.
Graduates will understand and explore ethical and privacy issues related to the use of data in the modern world. They will:
- contemplate ethical and privacy issues arising in their own work; and
- express a working knowledge of the major ethical and privacy issues facing the business-analytics profession, supported with examples from current events.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to be effective team members in a diverse and complex world. They will:
- engage in effective team processes; and
- lead and support others to achieve collective goals.
The part-time Master of Science program in business analytics requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be accepted with approval from the program. Students who wish to include the 15 s.h. earned from the Certificate in Business Analytics toward the M.S. degree may do so as long as their coursework is not more than 10 years old from the date of the M.S. degree conferral. A major program grade-point average (GPA) and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required.
The M.S. with a major in business analytics requires the following coursework.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| Experience Course/Project | 3 | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Some courses have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for that course.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| BAIS:6040 | Data Programming in Python | 3 |
| BAIS:6050 | Data Management and Visual Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6070 | Data Science | 3 |
| BAIS:9110 | Advanced Analytics | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:9100 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
If a core course is waived, it must be replaced with an approved analytics elective.
Experience Course/Project
The experience course consists of a group project that solves a semester-long business problem. Students should take this course after they have completed the core courses and one elective course.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| BAIS:6120 | Analytics Experience | 3 |
Electives
Elective coursework allows students to deepen or broaden their skills.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 s.h. from these: | ||
| BAIS:6060 | Data Analysis with R | 3 |
| BAIS:6100 | Text Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6105 | Social Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6110 | Big Data Management and Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6130 | Applied Optimization | 3 |
| BAIS:6140 | Information Visualization | 3 |
| BAIS:6150 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6180 | Healthcare Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6190 | Forecasting | 3 |
| BAIS:6210 | Data Leadership and Management | 3 |
| BAIS:6230 | People Analytics | 3 |
| BAIS:6280 | Cybersecurity | 3 |
| BAIS:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Analytics | 1-3 |
| BAIS:9130 | Lean Process Improvement | 3 |
| BAIS:9140 | Agile Project Management | 3 |
| 6 s.h. of the total 12 s.h. in electives may be taken from these: | ||
| BAIS:9300 | Innovations in Technology | 3 |
| ACCT:9020 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 3 |
| ACCT:9040 | Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting | 3 |
| ENTR:9100 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTR:9200 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| ENTR:9300 | Design Thinking | 3 |
| ENTR:9450 | Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTR:9500 | Managing the Growth Business | 3 |
| ENTR:9700 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| FIN:9130 | Corporate Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| FIN:9140 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| FIN:9150 | Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation | 3 |
| FIN:9200 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN:9230 | Real Estate Finance and Investments | 3 |
| FIN:9240 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions | 3 |
| FIN:9310 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| FIN:9350 | Wealth Management | 3 |
| MBA:8110 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA:8120 | Management in Organizations | 3 |
| MBA:8130 | Business Communication | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8160 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA:8240 | Operations and Supply Chain | 3 |
| MBA:8300 | Foundations in Strategy | 3 |
| MBA:8500 | Seminar in International Business | 3 |
| MGMT:9090 | Influence and Constructive Persuasion | 3 |
| MGMT:9091 | Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | 3 |
| MGMT:9092 | Effective Managerial Communication | 3 |
| MGMT:9110 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |
| MGMT:9120 | Leadership and Personal Development | 3 |
| MGMT:9130 | Strategic Management of Change | 3 |
| MGMT:9185 | Project Management | 3 |
| MGMT:9210 | Law and Ethics | 3 |
| MGMT:9220 | Maximizing Team Performance | 3 |
| MGMT:9230 | Managing and Preventing Conflict | 3 |
| MGMT:9240 | Inclusive Leadership | 3 |
| MGMT:9250 | Managing Employee Performance | 3 |
| MGMT:9260 | Strategic Employee Development | 3 |
| MGMT:9270 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGMT:9290 | Global Business Management | 3 |
| MKTG:9015 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9120 | Customer Relationship Management | 3 |
| MKTG:9150 | Brand Management | 3 |
| MKTG:9155 | Digital Marketing Insights, Strategies, and Applications | 3 |
| MKTG:9170 | Business to Business Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9190 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG:9300 | Applied Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKTG:9320 | Strategic Brand Positioning | 3 |
| MKTG:9330 | Product and Portfolio Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG:9340 | Customer Analysis | 3 |
| MKTG:9350 | Marketing Communication and Promotions | 3 |
M.S./M.B.A. (Professional Program)
The combined Master of Science in business analytics (professional subprogram)/Professional Master of Business Administration Program allows students to pursue two degrees simultaneously, earning both more quickly than they would if the degrees were pursued separately. The Department of Business Analytics collaborates with the Master of Business Administration Program to offer combined M.S./M.B.A. degrees.
Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program. For information about the M.B.A., see the M.B.A. Professional Program in the Master of Business Administration section of the catalog.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and the Master of Science in business analytics (professional subprogram); see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website and the part-time Master of Science in business analytics (professional subprogram) admission guidelines on the Tippie College of Business website.
The Career Services team offers multiple resources to help students reach their career goals. For more information, see Graduate Career Services on the Tippie College of Business website.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Business Analytics (professional), M.S.
This sample plan is currently being updated and will be added at a later date.