This is the first version of the 2023-24 General Catalog. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

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.

Core Courses15
Experience Course/Project3
Electives12
Total Hours30

Some courses have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for that course.

Core Courses

All of these:
BAIS:6040Data Programming in Python3
BAIS:6050Data Management and Visual Analytics3
BAIS:6070Data Science3
BAIS:9110Advanced Analytics3
One of these:
BAIS:9100Data and Decisions3
MBA:8150Data and Decisions3

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.

This course:
BAIS:6120Analytics Experience3

Electives

Elective coursework allows students to deepen or broaden their skills.

12 s.h. from these:
BAIS:6060Data Analysis with R3
BAIS:6100Text Analytics3
BAIS:6105Social Analytics3
BAIS:6110Big Data Management and Analytics3
BAIS:6130Applied Optimization3
BAIS:6140Information Visualization3
BAIS:6150Financial Analytics3
BAIS:6180Healthcare Analytics3
BAIS:6190Forecasting3
BAIS:6210Data Leadership and Management3
BAIS:6230People Analytics3
BAIS:6280Cybersecurity3
BAIS:9010Contemporary Topics in Analytics1-3
BAIS:9130Lean Process Improvement3
BAIS:9140Agile Project Management3
6 s.h. of the total 12 s.h. in electives may be taken from these:
BAIS:9300Innovations in Technology3
ACCT:9020Strategic Cost Analysis3
ACCT:9040Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting3
ENTR:9100Entrepreneurship and Innovation3
ENTR:9200Entrepreneurial Finance3
ENTR:9300Design Thinking3
ENTR:9450Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation3
ENTR:9500Managing the Growth Business3
ENTR:9700Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting3
FIN:9130Corporate Risk Management and Insurance3
FIN:9140Enterprise Risk Management3
FIN:9150Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation3
FIN:9200Portfolio Management3
FIN:9230Real Estate Finance and Investments3
FIN:9240International Finance3
FIN:9300Corporate Investment and Financing Decisions3
FIN:9310Corporate Financial Strategy3
FIN:9350Wealth Management3
MBA:8110Marketing Management3
MBA:8120Management in Organizations3
MBA:8130Business Communication3
MBA:8140Corporate Financial Reporting3
MBA:8160Managerial Economics3
MBA:8180Managerial Finance3
MBA:8240Operations and Supply Chain3
MBA:8300Foundations in Strategy3
MBA:8500Seminar in International Business3
MGMT:9090Influence and Constructive Persuasion3
MGMT:9091Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability3
MGMT:9092Effective Managerial Communication3
MGMT:9110Dynamics of Negotiations3
MGMT:9120Leadership and Personal Development3
MGMT:9130Strategic Management of Change3
MGMT:9185Project Management3
MGMT:9210Law and Ethics3
MGMT:9220Maximizing Team Performance3
MGMT:9230Managing and Preventing Conflict3
MGMT:9240Inclusive Leadership3
MGMT:9250Managing Employee Performance3
MGMT:9260Strategic Employee Development3
MGMT:9270Human Resource Management3
MGMT:9290Global Business Management3
MKTG:9015Social Media Marketing3
MKTG:9120Customer Relationship Management3
MKTG:9150Brand Management3
MKTG:9155Digital Marketing Insights, Strategies, and Applications3
MKTG:9170Business to Business Marketing3
MKTG:9190International Marketing3
MKTG:9300Applied Marketing Research3
MKTG:9320Strategic Brand Positioning3
MKTG:9330Product and Portfolio Strategy3
MKTG:9340Customer Analysis3
MKTG:9350Marketing Communication and Promotions3

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.