Building an Online Business Analytics Graduate Program

This paper describes the process of designing an online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA). The program was created to provide students with the analytical skills, tools, and techniques required to understand data sets, both large and small, from sources internal and external to an organization. This understanding of data can then be used to support business decision making and create a measurable improvement in business performance. The program differentiates itself from offerings at other schools by integrating experiential learning into each of its courses, and its curriculum is firmly grounded in business. It places an emphasis on the use and interpretation of data, not on programming or mathematics, and underscores the benefits of visualization during the data analysis process and as a communications tool for supporting decisions. An overview of the program curriculum and courses is provided, as well as the reasons behind the choices that were made.