Mining Real-Life Value of an Online Master of Science in Business Analytics Degree

In spring 2022, the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati (UC) welcomed a new Master of Science (MS) in Business Analytics program to provide our online students with expertise in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.

UC designed the MS program’s curriculum to cover a blend of business concepts, data analysis techniques, and technological skills to build proficiency in using data to drive business strategies. Core coursework includes a focus on data wrangling, simulation modeling methods, probability models, data management, data visualizations, and other in-demand areas.

Program electives allow students access to courses that include intelligent data analysis, data warehousing, game theory, portfolio management, and web development with .Net. The 100%-online program also incorporates hands-on projects, case studies, and real-world applications to ensure students gain relevant, practical experience.

The online Master of Science in Business Analytics program from UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business is nationally recognized with a proven track record in placing students at successful, high-profile companies.

What Can You Expect After Graduation?

After completing UC’s top-rated business analytics master’s program online, you can explore a variety of career paths, including data or business analyst, data scientist, marketing analyst, supply chain analyst, and other analytics-focused roles.

Industries needing business analytics expertise run the gamut — from finance to healthcare, e-commerce, consulting and technology — and the skills and expertise students acquire can be applied across various sectors where data-driven decision-making is critical.

Many of UC’s graduates work as data scientists and business analysts at world-leading companies, large corporations and startups from coast to coast.

Predictive Analytics Today named UC the #1 MS Data Science school in the country, and Quacquarelli Symonds ranked UC 18th globally and 7th nationally among US public universities.

Day in the Life of a UC Grad Working in Business Analytics

We recently heard from one of our graduates, Ankush Morey, who works remotely as a Senior Data Scientist for NBC Universal (NBCU) in New York.

Ankush describes his daily focus as leading production and delivery of viewership forecasts for NBCU’s digital content. His data scientist role requires coding and model forecasting and utilizing machine learning applications. He says, “My responsibilities include enhancing existing models and building and maintaining data pipelines on big data environments.”

Ankush uses various tools to meet the needs of business stakeholders who must make critical, data-informed decisions. Data visualization tools, such as Tableau and Retool, help Ankush create scalable production dashboards for extracting key insights and story-telling, and communicating results to NBCU. He says some statistical methods and machine learning models include Linear Regression, Random Forest, Clustering, and ARIMA to build predictions and forecasts in R and Python.

Leveraging Amazon Web Services and Databricks using PySpark, Ankush relies on SQL, Snowflake, and Microsoft Excel for quick analysis, statistical tests, and data requests to respond to ad hoc requests from senior leadership.

When Ankush thinks about how his master’s degree from UC played a part in procuring his job at NBCY, he says:

“The courses like Statistical Modeling, Linear Regression, IDA, and Forecasting are foundational and build strong technical acumen necessary for roles like mine and for data analysts. Most industries deal with a huge amount of data, and they use big data environments for data management and pipelining. UC’s big data and similar courses directly relate to real-world business problems and implementation.”

Along with impactful interactions with several UC professors and a career coach who assisted Ankush with his job search, he says that being a part of the Center for Business Analytics, UC’s academic research area focused on the application of analytics and data science in the business context, allowed him to apply his educational experiences to his NBCU responsibilities.

Ankush advises those thinking about the data analytics master’s program, saying, “Be open to change and stay positive for a journey that will provide opportunities to discover yourself.”

The demand for data scientists is skyrocketing. Companies need people to decipher, analyze, and present data in clear ways that result in smart business decision-making. Companies like Amazon, P&G, Fifth Third, and Tesla are willing to pay top-dollar to their data scientists.

Three Ways UC’s Business Analytics Degree Stands Out

Our MS in Business Analytics program is structured to meet the needs of today’s data-focused professionals like Ankush who work in analytics (or hope to someday) with:

• Student-centered Education. UC fuels our students’ success, enabling them to develop problem-solving capabilities to enhance our world, energize their professional careers and foster lifelong learning.
• Thought Leader-Driven Education. We nurture impactful thought leadership, creating knowledge that pushes academic fields forward, inspires learning, and informs practice.
• Powerful Partnerships. UC provides a vibrant hub for expertise, talent, and learning, forging valued partnerships that ensure our alums, employers, and institution thrive.

Online education offers a variety of networking opportunities for UC students. The data analytics master’s program provides endless opportunities to connect with fellow students, UC instructors, and other industry professionals, leading to valuable contacts, mentorship, and potential job opportunities.

Take the Next Step to Learn More, Earn More

UC’s highly regarded  business analytics master’s degree helps you stand out in a competitive, dynamic job market. Your graduate-level education demonstrates a commitment to gaining invaluable expertise and signals to employers you have the skills to make a meaningful impact in their organizations.

UC graduates often earn higher salaries than those with only a bachelor’s degree, with an average starting salary is $106,000 — and our job placement rate is 96%. (Source: University Career Services)

Are you interested in taking your career in a new direction? Are you ready to elevate your data skills? Then connect online today with a UC Enrollment Services advisor. To speak with someone right away, call  (833) 556-7877 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday.