Reading Time: 3 minutesAndrea Flynn, Associate Professor and Academic Director for the MSBA Program at the University of San Diego, joins us today to discuss their Masters in Business Analytics program.
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1. Can you tell us about the business analytics program offered at the University of San Diego? *
Our 10-month, full-time, STEM-certified program is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education in business analytics that includes rigorous training in technical analytics skills (using tools such as Python, Tableau, and SQL) and soft-skills including teamwork and communication. The program is designed to expose students to the application of data science in a variety of business disciplines including accounting, finance, marketing, and operations and supply chain management, as well as not-for-profit sectors including government and education. In addition to classroom-based learning, the program features three client-facing projects including an international consulting project, a data for social good project, and a 3-month capstone project.
2. Is the GMAT & GRE required for acceptance into the program? Do international students have the same requirement? *
Yes – the GMAT or GRE is required for all applicants
3. How long does a typical business analytics program take at the University of San Diego? What is the maximum and minimum time of completion? *
This is a 10-month, full-time program that begins in August and finishes in May each year.
4. What do you think makes the University of San Diego business analytics program stand out from other programs offered by similar schools in your region? *
We place a very heavy emphasis on experiential, project-based learning through a total of three separate and unique client-facing projects including an international consulting project, a data for social good project, and a 3-month capstone project. Few programs offer multiple experiences like this. Our program is unique in that students have an international project experience, developing an understanding of working in diverse cultures. Our data for social good class gives students opportunities to see how analytics can be used to solve pressing questions for society. USD’s focus on social justice and ethical leadership, through our heritage as a Catholic university, makes this particularly relevant for our program.
5. How important would you say accreditation is when choosing a business analytics program? *
We believe that accreditation is extremely important as it serves as external validation of the educational standards of the program both to prospective students and companies and organizations who hire graduates of our program.
6. What are the advantages of earning a business analytics degree in general and where are you seeing employer demand with this degree? *
We’re seeing employer demand across industries and business disciplines, especially in areas like accounting, marketing, and operations and supply chain. A master’s degree in business analytics gives students fundamental skills for analyst roles in these areas. It is an excellent degree for someone with an educational background in business administration who wants to develop deeper data analytics training and for someone with a technical background in engineering, math, or sciences who wants to learn how to apply analytics approaches to solving business problems.
7. Does the University of San Diego offer job placement for students who graduate with a business analytics degree? *
No. However, our Graduate Business Career Services team works closely with our MSBA program and one-on-one with students throughout the program and after graduation to help students find jobs that are a great fit for their career goals.
8. What type of financial aid packages are available for students in business analytics? Are there any fellowships, grants, and scholarships available? *
Yes. We offer a variety of merit-based scholarships.
9. Do you have any advice for students enrolling in a business analytics program at your University of San Diego? *
Focus on your academic training but also take advantage of this time to develop yourself professionally outside the classroom. Beyond your classwork, take advantage of opportunities to attend networking events, conferences, and presentations by industry experts to learn as much as you can about the field and build your professional network. Also, use this time to learn about yourself and what you’re passionate about – this will help you discover where you can be most successful in applying the business analytics training you’ll build through your classes.
10. What do you enjoy most about your position at the University of San Diego? *
The thing I enjoy most about my role with our MSBA program is being connected with this rapidly growing, ever-changing area at the interface between business and data science. It is exciting to see how companies in different industries are applying data analytics to address diverse business and societal problems and to help prepare our students with the technical and problem-solving skills to work in these organizations.
For more information on the business analytics programs offered at the University of San Diego, visit them online.
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That concludes our interview!
