Master of Science in Business Analytics

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program offers a robust educational experience that teaches advanced analytics methodologies and equips students with the business skills and practical experience to prepare for data science and analytics careers.

Created by the world-renowned faculty of the Leavey School of Business—and expertly curated by an advisory board of industry leaders—our dynamic MSBA curriculum emphasizes the fundamentals of data-driven decision-making and the advanced tools to make sense of a vast amount of data, which delivers the essential principles, practices, and analytical tools to solve modern business challenges and prepares students to be professionals in the fast-paced world of big data and artificial intelligence.

Program requirements encompass courses that may feature students from the MBA and other M.S. programs, led by faculty members identical to those in the MBA program and operating under the same AACSB accreditation. The online program mirrors the on-campus version in learning objectives and content, ensuring uniformity across both platforms.

Admissions

For admission information, refer to Chapter 2.

Program Outline

The MSBA curriculum consists of 42 units across eight core courses (26 units), one experiential learning course (6 units), 10 additional units of electives, and one required case competition. Students should plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours per unit each week on coursework outside of class. For example, a 2-unit course requires about 4 hours of study per week, while a 4-unit course requires about 8 hours.

For additional academic information policies,  refer to Chapter 5.

For additional information on online programs, refer to the Online Programs Section in Chapter 6.  

For course descriptions and prerequisites for core and electives, refer to Chapter 8.

Curriculum Clusters

1. Core Business Analytics Knowledge (4 courses)

These courses provide students with a comprehensive skill set in data analysis, programming, and strategic decision-making to solve complex business problems, preparing them for successful careers in business analytics roles across industries.

  • ISBA 2000        Linear Algebra (2 units)**
  • ISBA 2400        Math for Business & Analytics with R (4 units)
  • ISBA 2401        Data Analytics with Python (4 units)
  • ISBA 2405        Prescriptive Analytics with Python (4 units)
  • MKTG 2505        Data Science in Marketing (4 units)

2. Core Data Management Knowledge (3 courses)

These courses provide students with essential skills in data management, analysis, and visualization, empowering them to extract insights from data, build predictive models, and communicate findings effectively to drive business decisions.

  • ISBA 2402        Database Management Systems - Fundamentals of SQL (2 units)
  • ISBA 2403        Machines Learning w/ Python (4 units)
  • ISBA 2404        Dashboards w/ Tableau (2 units)

3. Experiential Learning (choose one of the following projects) 

MSBA students have two options to fulfill the program's experiential learning requirement: Practicum or Capstone, both of which carry a total of six units. Both experiential learning projects are worth six units in total and are completed in two quarters. Both options necessitate the use of real data and the application of classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. Moreover, they provide a valuable opportunity for direct engagement with leading companies and potential employers. Noteworthy organizations, such as Google, Amazon, Adobe, VMware, Cisco, Intuit, Credit Suisse, Oracle, Nuveen, Franklin Templeton Investments, and others, serve as practicum partners for the program. For further details, refer to Chapter 5.

  • ISBA 2700         Industry Practicum I (2 units)
  • ISBA 2701         Industry Practicum II (4 units)
            or
  • ISBA 2702         Capstone Design I (2 units)
  • ISBA 2703         Capstone Design II (4 units)

Required Workshops for Practicum & Capstone

  • Team Dynamics and Effective Communication (Winter quarter)
  • Presentation (Spring quarter)

**Titles for workshops & term it is offer is subject to change**

4. Electives (10 units)

The program offers a range of electives designed to help students build expertise in specific areas. Please note that not all electives will be available every academic year. Some examples of electives that may be offered include:

  • FNCE 2400        Financial Forecasting & Analysis (4 units)
  • FNCE 2404        Introduction to Time-Series Analysis (2 units)
  • FNCE 2408        Analytics of Finance (2 units)
  • FNCE 2423        Introduction to FinTech (4 units)
  • ISBA 2407        Database Analysis, Design and Management (2 units)
  • ISBA 2411        Natural Language Processing (4 units)
  • ISBA 2412        Data Visualization (2 units)
  • ISBA 2413        Big Data Modeling and Analytics (4 units)
  • ISBA 2414        Deep Learning (4 units)
  • ISBA 2415        Reinforcement Learning (2 units)
  • ISBA 2416        Applied Cloud Computing (2 units)
  • ISBA 2417        Cloud Computing Architectures (4 units)
  • ISBA 2421        Generative AI for the Enterprise (2 units)*
  • ISBA 2423        Foundations of Cybersecurity (4 units)*
  • ISBA 2426        Artificial Intelligence (4 units)*
  • ISBA 2431        Supply Chain Management (4 units)*
  • ISBA 2432        Global Supply Chain Management (2 units)*
  • ISBA 2433        Supply Chain Analytics (2 units)*
  • ISBA 2435        Supply Chain Technology (2 units)*
  • IDIS 3694        How Engineers, Business people, and Lawyers Communicate with Each Other (2 units)*

*Offered in-person only
** Offered online only

International students are required to register for an internship course if they wish to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). For further details and prerequisites, refer to Chapter 5.

  • IDIS 3797        Internship (1 unit)
  • IDIS 3798        Internship II (1 unit)

5. Analytics Showdown Competition

The MSBA program requires students to participate in at least one competition during their studies, with the opportunity to participate in up to two competitions. Within this competition, students will use real-world data from Silicon Valley companies to develop solutions to business challenges, refining their technical skills in R and Python while improving their critical thinking and teamwork. They will then present their solutions to a panel of judges. Students are required to attend an in-person event where the winners will be announced and have the opportunity to meet with sponsors and company representatives.

For additional information, refer to the Online Programs Section in Chapter 6.

GBP Anywhere Program

The GBP Anywhere Program provides MBA and MS students with greater flexibility by allowing them to enroll in elective courses across different Graduate Business Programs, whether in-person or online.  

International students may enroll in one online course per quarter as long as they are registered for a minimum of 6 units of in-person classes. This option is not available during their first quarter of attendance and does not apply to core courses required by the program. In their final quarter, international students must be enrolled in at least one on-campus course and cannot take only online courses. F-1 visa holders are also required to be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units each quarter. For the most current information, or if you have any questions or concerns about online course eligibility, registration requirements, or visa implications, please consult your academic advisor and the International Student Scholars (ISS) office.

Furthermore, MSBA students are granted the opportunity to enroll in one graduate-level course outside of their program, subject to meeting prerequisites, availability of space, and approval from the Faculty Director of the Program. These courses must be at the graduate level and chosen exclusively from within the Leavey School of Business. This option is available only once during the student's academic program, and enrollment is contingent upon approval and availability.

For additional information, refer to the GBP Anywhere Programs Section in Chapter 6.

Career Requirement

To support your career growth and professional advancement, all Online & MS  graduate programs at SCU require students to meet with a career coach at least once as part of the graduation requirements. This engagement is designed to help you foster a relationship with the Graduate Business Career Management Service Team early on in your program, allowing you to take full advantage of the career resources available to you both during and after your time at SCU.

These resources include workshops, career coaching sessions, resume reviews, and career reflections. We want to ensure that you’re well-prepared for your future career and that you have the tools to navigate the job market successfully, both as a student and as an alumni. While you're enrolled, you can complete these requirements at your convenience, but they must be finished by your final quarter to be eligible for graduation.

Students will also be required to submit an updated resume to the Career Team during the practicum project.