SMU Business Analytics Ranking: 23
Business analytics is an exploding field with more opportunity than ever for those who educate themselves in it. The idea of combining data analysis with business management and leadership skills is a relatively new one, but has opened up whole vistas of opportunity for people who have the right knowledge base and experience.
Sponsored School(s)
If you’re interested in becoming a business analytics experts, you might be interested in the master’s program at Southern Methodist University. The MSBA (Master of Science in Business Analytics) has a lot going for it, so read on to learn more.
How Long Is the SMU Business Analytics Program?
The program is a 33 credit-hour degree, which you can earn on a full-time or part-time basis. As the site explains, “The Full-Time program is two semesters (four, 7-week Modules) which starts in August and completed in May the following year. The Part-Time program is 4 semesters (seven, 7-week Modules), which starts in August and completed in December the following year.” Those who opt to take part-time coursework can take many of those courses in the evening to accommodate busy work and family schedules.
What Will You Learn?
“Business Analytics goes beyond the traditional data, BI and reporting environments and focuses on how to better analyze your business using information to gain insight to the business,” explains the program page. “The broad and intensive curriculum across a range of management disciplines and functions explores the latest methods of translating data into relevant information for decision-makers.” To that end, the program teaches coursework such as:
- Data management and business intelligence
- Data warehousing
- Consumer behavior analysis
- Analysis of web site data and marketing data
- Predictive analytics
- Statistics and mathematics
- Programming
- Management and leadership
- Database design for businesses
The program culminates in a capstone project. The MSBA Hands-On Intern/Capstone Project offers “hands-on experience with companies in the analytics area,” during which “you and a team of peers following the Process Analytics specialization will design, build and test an analytics system for a real company.” Depending on the schedule desired, “students can either work on an internship with a company from January until May in the analytics area or enroll in a semester-long Capstone project.”
What Opportunities Does the Program Offer?
The capstone is one of the biggest opportunities offered by the school. When students get to work with real companies, they get to see how business analytics plays out in corporate environments. They enjoy the mentorship of professionals in the field, solve real-world challenges and form relationships that will help them network more effectively for the rest of their careers.
Moreover, each SMU student gets mentoring from “movers and shakers in the booming Dallas business community.” The executive mentoring program matches up students and leaders on a one-to-one basis, so you get insights from people who have made it to the tops of their fields.
How Can You Pay for School?
School is not cheap, but because the program is short, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty paying for it. Talk to the admissions office about scholarships for which you might be eligible, and be sure to do a search on the national level as well. If you still need financing, you can fill out a FAFSA for federal aid.
Why SMU?
Southern Methodist University has a good rate of return on student investment. It’s graduates have more than a 95 percent success rate in getting hired within 6 months of graduation. If you’re worried about getting another degree that doesn’t pay for itself, that’s unlikely to be your fate.
A bonus for those who are of the Christian faith is that the university is a religious one. You can enjoy classes with people who have likeminded beliefs, and avail yourself of the many faith-oriented campus services and activities. No need to worry if you’re not religious; the equal opportunity courses and admissions office don’t discriminate.
Want to learn more about life and learning at Southern Methodist University? We invite you to get in touch to ask questions or explore the website further.