Online Master’s in
Business Analytics
Online Master’s in
Business Analytics
Online Master’s in
Business Analytics

Earn Your Degree in as Few as 18 MonthsEarn Your Degree in as Few as 18 MonthsEarn Your Degree in as Few as 18 Months

Drive Actionable Business Decisions With Data

Earn a Master of Science in Business Analytics online from Syracuse University’s AACSB-accredited Martin J. Whitman School of Management—while continuing to work full time and advance their careers. The program helps data-driven thinkers develop or sharpen their abilities to interpret complex data and guide their organizations in making more educated, actionable decisions. Graduates of the online program have accepted roles at organizations such as Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Marine Corps, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Why a Master’s in Business Analytics From Syracuse University?

Employers in nearly every industry need professionals who can analyze big data to make informed decisions—the demand for management analysts and similar occupations is expected to grow 14 percent between 2020 and 2030.1 With a master’s in business analytics, students hone their decision-making skills and learn to use analytic tools to drive positive outcomes for businesses.

Through a digital learning environment that includes interactive online classes, rich media coursework and social connections with peers and faculty, the online business analytics program brings Syracuse University’s diverse professional network to students around the world. Students become part of a widespread community that includes more than 30,000 alumni from the Whitman School alone and more than a quarter of a million alumni from the University.

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M.S. in Business Analytics Curriculum

The online M.S. in Business Analytics program takes an action-oriented approach to preparing students to become skilled data analysts. In this 36-credit curriculum, students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the applications of analytics with the flexibility to take courses from the Whitman School of Management, the School of Information Studies and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

During the program, students will complete core courses, analytics application courses and analytics depth core courses across the three schools listed above. The blending of these course types provides students with a holistic skill set and allows them to focus on a wide range of topics including accounting and financial analytics, data analysis, data science, principles of management science and information visualization.

18

Complete in as Few as 18 Months

36

Total Credits

Learning Outcomes

By the time students complete the business analytics master’s program, they will be able to:

  • collect and organize data;
  • identify patterns in data via visualization, statistical analysis and data mining;
  • develop alternative strategies based on the data; and
  • develop a plan of action to implement the business decisions derived from the analyses.

Earn Two Master’s Degrees From Syracuse University for Fewer Credits

Students are now able to earn two master’s degrees from the Whitman School or other schools at Syracuse University for fewer credits. Once enrolled in the master’s in business analytics and for up to one year after graduating, students may take advantage of this opportunity and apply for a second online program. This opportunity for students to develop skills in an additional area of interest can help set them apart in the job market and expose them to a wider variety of career opportunities.

To be eligible, students must meet the core requirements of the MBA and plan the rest of their coursework to take advantage of shared courses. At Whitman, students can pursue one of the following degree combinations:

M.S. in Business Analytics (36 credits) and MBA (54 credits) for as few as 72 credits

M.S. in Business Analytics (36 credits) and M.S. in Entrepreneurship (30 credits) for as few as 54 credits

M.S. in Business Analytics (36 credits) and M.S. in Professional Accounting (30–48 credits) for as few as 54–72 credits

Residencies

At Syracuse Business, master’s students are welcome to attend a residency as a part of their degree program when the topics are relevant. These three-day residencies are designed similarly to business conferences, encompassing experiential learning, insightful talks from prominent speakers, and interactive panels. They also provide invaluable networking opportunities, allowing students to meet their peers and professors face-to-face. Residencies are held either on campus, in the U.S., or abroad.

Learn more about our residencies.

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Gain the business analytics skills you need to help your organization
make more educated and actionable decisions.

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Business Analytics Admissions

The online business analytics program offers four start dates per year. Applicants who apply by the priority deadlines will pay a reduced fee of $45, receive an admissions decision sooner and have more time to plan for the future.

The final deadline for the July 2024 cohort is May 9, 2024.

Application Requirements

Syracuse University seeks motivated applicants who want to acquire the specialized analytics skills to create positive outcomes for businesses. View the application requirements for the online M.S. in Business Analytics program.

GMAT Waiver Policy

Applicants may be eligible for a GMAT waiver if they have at least one year of professional work experience and either an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above, or a master’s in any field. Request information now to see whether you qualify.

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Business Analytics Career Services and Networking

Students and alumni receive a variety of career services and access to networking opportunities to help them move forward in their careers. These resources include:

Career Coaching and Resources

Our career staff provides one-on-one coaching, resume review and interview preparation. Students also have 24/7 access to a self-directed career-development course.

Global Networking Opportunities

Students and alumni have opportunities to connect with Syracuse University’s worldwide network of students, faculty and alumni for career assistance and mentoring.

Start Your Application Today

If you’re ready to start gaining the analytical skills and professional
network to advance, begin your application now.

Online Business Analytics Faculty

Students in the online master’s in business analytics program benefit from the scholarly expertise and practical experience that Whitman School faculty bring to the online classroom. Meet some of the professors who teach for the online master’s in business analytics.

Don Harter

Associate Professor of MIS
Director, M.S. in Business Analytics Program

Prior to teaching, Professor Harter spent more than 15 years in the industry with BDM International, serving most recently as senior vice president and general manager of systems integration.

Teaches: Business Analytics

Andrew Weinberger

Adjunct Faculty

Having previously worked in IT and tax return preparation, Professor Weinberger is now an audit consultant at Nassau Re, where he evaluates and improves the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.

Teaches: Accounting Analytics

Shaam Ramamurthy

Adjunct Faculty

Professor Ramamurthy is the cofounder of Wilson Consulting Private Limited and specializes in data visualization, visual analytics solutions, visual storytelling through data, data extraction and transforming data into actionable information.

Teaches: Business Analytics, Marketing Analytics

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The Business Analytics Experience

The Whitman School offers both a Master of Science in Business Analytics program and a Master of Business Administration program with a specialization in business analytics. In both degree programs, students develop core technical and interpersonal business skills, and application requirements are the same. However, the two programs prepare students with different skill sets to achieve distinct career outcomes.

Master’s in Business Analytics

Curriculum:
Students focus on how to apply data analysis in multiple fields, such as marketing, finance and accounting.

Career path:
After completing the program, graduates usually pursue more analytics-focused roles, such as data analyst or analytics manager.

Time to complete:
Typically, this program can be completed in as few as 18 months because there are fewer required general business courses.

MBA With Specialization

Curriculum:
Students build general management knowledge in marketing, finance, supply chain and accounting and focus their electives in business analytics.

Career path:
The program prepares graduates to become managers and leaders with a deep understanding of analytical tools they can apply to better understand their business.

Time to complete:
The program can be completed in as few as two years.

In addition to comparing the master’s in business analytics to an MBA with a specialization, you can also explore how the degree compares to a master’s in data science by visiting our degree comparison page.

A Supportive Online Experience

Since 2016, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management has delivered the online M.S. in Business Analytics program with the goal of empowering business students to make a difference at their organization. That’s why our online students have access to the same support services and resources as on-campus students—all through a flexible online platform.

Live Online Classes
Students and faculty meet each week in face-to-face classes held via webcam. Classes are kept small to fuel lively discussion about analytics trends. After joining live, all classes are accessible for later review.

Immersive Platform
Students complete weekly assignments at their own pace on our online platform and innovative one-click dashboard. Enjoy features such as dark mode, searchable video transcripts, adjustable video speed and streaming capability that lets you cast your coursework right onto your TV.

Prepare to Become a Data-Literate
Manager

The master’s in business analytics program is designed to help
experienced managers apply data analysis techniques to make
strategic business decisions.

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The Demand for Business Analytics Experts

In a 2019 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) survey, employers were asked about the job functions they were looking to fill with business school graduates, and analytics was among the top three in the United States.2

GMAC also asked about employers’ hiring needs beyond traditional master’s programs. They reported that graduates of data analytics master’s programs are the top talent sought by employers in the consulting, finance and accounting, and health care industries.

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The Skills Employers Need

Data Analysis and Decision Making

The online master’s in business analytics program helps professionals accurately analyze large amounts of data, which they can apply to a relevant business problem. They can then recommend solutions and a plan of action to help meet organizational goals.

The Application of Analytics to Various Fields

Through our M.S. in Business Analytics program, students will take specialized application courses in which they will learn to interpret business intelligence from the fields of accounting, finance, marketing and management.

Interpretation and Communication

The program curriculum helps students not only interpret information they gather from data sets but also make that information useful to stakeholders. They will be able to present information clearly to diverse groups of professionals.

Visit our careers page to discover the kinds of careers in business analytics that you can pursue by earning your M.S. in Business Analytics.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Successful businesses prioritize efficiency and data insights, and that’s where analysts come in. The demand for management analysts and similar occupations is projected to grow 14 percent between 2020 and 2030.3 As a business analyst, you will work to identify financial risks, strengthen business processes and more.

  • Both programs at the Whitman School of Management progress students’ careers in their chosen fields, but each equips professionals with a different set of skills. Students in our online MBA develop leadership skills and master evolving business trends. Students in our online MS in Business Analytics learn to use analytic tools to drive positive business outcomes and gain strong, data-driven decision-making skills.

  • Business analysts, many of whom are graduates of our online master’s in business analytics, use structured statistical data to interpret trends and patterns specific to businesses. Their analysis helps businesses plan better for the future. Data scientists, on the other hand, use structured and unstructured data, as well as code, to study trends across many industries such as e-commerce, machine learning and finance. See a detailed comparison of the two fields here.

  • An MS in Business Analytics is a degree for data-driven thinkers, who want to interpret complex data sets and turn their findings into action plans for businesses and organizations. Business analysts collect and organize data; identify patterns in data via visualization, statistical analysis and data mining; and develop alternative strategies based on their findings.

  • You do not need business experience. To apply to our online MS in Business Analytics, you need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university and a minimum of one year of full-time professional work experience. See a full overview of application requirements here.

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Take the next step toward gaining the specialized data analytics skills needed by today’s employers.

1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts: Job Outlook. (Retrieved April 2022)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), Corporate Recruiters Survey Report 2019. (Retrieved June 2020)
GMAC survey results are representative of alumni from a variety of program types, including full-time, executive, part-time and online MBA programs.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3 The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts: Job Outlook. (Retrieved April 2022)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference