Professors, Raghu Santanam (Information Systems) and Mohan Gopalakrishnan (Supply Chain Management) of W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University join us today to discuss their master of science program in business analytics.
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Arizona State University is a public metropolitan research university on five campuses across the Phoenix metropolitan area, and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona. ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the U.S.
1. Can you tell us about the business analytics program offered at Arizona State University?*
The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BA) program at the W. P. Carey School enables students to be at the forefront of big data. Students gain the critical skills and knowledge they need to advance on the analytic career ladder. The program is designed for recent college graduates with a strong quantitative background. Previous work experience is not required. Delivered by the highly ranked W. P. Carey Departments of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, the MS-BA program builds on students’ quantitative skills. Combining the latest developments in industry with a strong foundation in research and cross-disciplinary application, the MS-BA will deepen the quantitative and analytical skills of the students, and helps them discover how to derive value from data and modeling, lead data-driven analyses, and create a business advantage across markets and industries.
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 acceptance into the program, which is a requirement of both domestic and international students.
3. How long does a typical business analytics program take at Arizona State University? What is the maximum and minimum time of completion?*
Our MS-BA program is a nine-month lock-step program. The vast majority of students complete the program within this timeframe.
4. What do you think makes Arizona State University analytics program stand out from other programs offered by similar schools in your region?*
The cross-disciplinary approach enables students to position themselves for careers in a variety of industries. The applied projects requirement in the program ensures that students get a deep experiential learning opportunity to apply their skills in a real organizational context. The program is streamlined to make sure students return to the job market within nine months. The program also offers students additional workshops before and during the program to enhance their industry-relevant skillsets.
5. How important would you say accreditation is when choosing a business analytics program?*
Accreditation ensures and signals the quality of the program. The programs at the W. P. Carey School at ASU have been accredited by the AACSB. The continuous accreditation of these programs reflects the investments made by the school in delivering quality educational experiences for our students. The MS-BA program is one of the highest-ranked analytics programs in the country. The departments involved in the program are highly ranked in their respective disciplines for research productivity.
6. What are the advantages of earning a business analytics degree in general and where are you seeing employer demand with this degree?*
The high-level knowledge and experience that business school master’s programs deliver could be just the thing to ramp up a student’s career. The business and information technology fields are brimming with opportunities for career advancement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 75,000 new jobs by 2026 in these fields. Demand for analytics professionals is coming from all industries. As more organizations digitize their value chains and invest in emerging technologies such as IoT and robotics, there is going to be continuing demand for quantitatively skilled business professionals.
7. Does the Arizona State University offer job placement for students who graduate with a business analytics degree?*
The W. P. Carey School of Business offers world-class career support through the Career Management and Employer Engagement Center. Students have a dedicated career coach who helps them with their MS-BA career search post-graduation.
8. What type of financial aid packages are available for students in business analytics? Are there any fellowships, grants, and scholarships available?*
There are few merit-based scholarships available to competitive candidates. These are typically in the amount of a few thousand dollars.
9. Do you have any advice for students enrolling in a business analytics program at Arizona State University?*
Students who thrive in solving business problems and are not afraid to delve into data-intensive projects that require programming and database skills will find that the MS-BA program provides them with the necessary credentials to jump into a career that eventually can help them move up the ladder to become data scientists. To be more competitive, students should invest time in strengthening their statistics knowledge and learn Python and/or R.
10. What do you enjoy most about your position at Arizona State University?*
The most enjoyable experiences of academia is the ability and opportunity to shape the careers of students who enroll in our programs; to be able to drive curriculum changes and initiate programs that cater to the needs of our industry stakeholders is an intellectually rewarding experience; working with professors who are highly regarded and respected throughout the world for their contributions to advancing business knowledge is an added bonus.
For more information on the business analytics programs offered at Arizona State University, visit them online.
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That concludes our interview!
