Online Master of Business Analytics Degree Available
Iowa State University appears in our ranking of the 15 Most Affordable Master’s in Data Science Online.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Iowa State University 115th in its 2018 edition of Best National Universities. ISU also ranked 70th on the “Best Colleges for Veterans” and 82nd on the “Best Value Schools” lists. Students who enroll at Iowa State University experience a welcoming, personal environment as well as a rich collection of extra-curricular and academic programs that help them to discover their own interests and pursue their personal and future career goals.
The online Master of Business Analytics degree from Iowa State University is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed for employed professionals. The program addresses the challenges of dealing with business intelligence and data analytics in the “big data” environment. The degree was developed to meet the needs of today’s organizations and businesses who may be facing constant technological disruptions and intense global competition.
The Master of Business Analytics is a blended, unique program that draws from several of ISU’s leading educational fields in technology and science, including industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, statistics, computer and electrical engineering, and computer science. The program offers businesses the chance to develop managers who will have mastered analytics in ways that lead to profits for their company through increased performance.
The program provides a foundation in data visualization, segmentation analysis, analytical reporting, knowledge discovery, consumer sentiment analysis, statistical and predictive modeling, project management, and data analytics. In addition, the program includes a customized capstone team project, which gives students the opportunity to gain focused training in areas such as process improvement, text mining, risk management, and fraud detection.
The 21-month program begins over the summer with a one-week, on-campus overview course of business analytics. Students then revisit the campus halfway through their education and again at the end of the program. The rest of the coursework is delivered completely online. Due to limited enrollment, students are encouraged to submit the completed application by June 1.
Students are expected to take 18 credits in required courses. On-campus courses cover topics such as marketing analytics with big data, a business analytics capstone project, and teams, projects, and business analytics leadership. Online required courses include advanced business analytics, applied statistical modeling, and business analytics foundation. In order to earn the degree, a minimum of 12 credits of electives are required, and students may complete this portion of the program completely online. Possible electives topics include applied modern multivariate statistical learning, algorithms for large data sets, applied time series, data analytics and visualization, and applications of machine learning for business intelligence.
In addition to offering a master’s degree in business analytics, Iowa State University also offers a minor and a certificate in data science. These options provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to find their way and succeed in a world driven by data. Enhancing a degree with data science means that a business leader can turn risk into revenues, an engineer can convert GPS data into a self-driven car, journalists can translate data into facts and reliable sources, linguists can automate understanding and learning to improve education for future generations and more.
Students looking to boost their resume with communication and technical skills can do so via the data science program. Here, students learn how to apply data science methods, tools, and concepts to data analysis pipelines. They will gain the ability to communicate, interpret, and visualize data output as well as leverage data analysis to make informed projections and decisions. Students will also explore the economic, societal, legal, and ethical concerns that are involved in applying the concepts of data science.
The data science minor consists of nine credits of core classes that cover applied data modeling and predictive analysis, data acquisition and exploratory data analysis, and an introduction to data science. Students are also required to take nine credits of electives. The certificate consists of the same requirements as the minor as well as an additional three-credit data science capstone course. The certificate is available to both on-campus and online learners, and it is a solid opportunity for students attending Iowa State University who wish to prepare themselves for an enhanced, new, or more rewarding career.
About Iowa State University
Iowa State University is a public space-grant and land-grant flagship research university. Founded in 1858 and located in Ames, Iowa, it is the biggest university in the state. It offers more 83 doctoral degrees, 112 master’s degrees, and more than 100 bachelor’s degrees through eight colleges, including the Graduate College. Iowa State is well-known for being the birthplace of the first electronic digital computer, and it is the only university in the country that has a research laboratory operated by the U.S. Department of Energy physically located on its campus.
Iowa State University Accreditation Details
Iowa State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Iowa State University Application Requirements
In order to be admitted into the online Master of Business Analytics (M.B.S.) degree program, students must apply to the school and be admitted into the degree. Admission is granted only for the summer term, and the program begins the first week of August. Prospective graduate students must submit a completed graduate application, a Statement of Purpose, official transcripts and academic records from all previously attended institution, and letters of recommendation. In addition, students pursuing the online M.B.S. degree must submit a resume, a personal statement, and one to three letters of support from a supervisor or employer.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the online Master of Business Analytics degree is based on a six-credit load per semester. Residents and non-residents are charged $3,606 per semester in tuition as well as a $95.25 technology fee per semester and a $390 delivery fee per course. The total estimated cost of the program, including tuition and fees, is $24,000. The three-credit summer program costs $1,767, and students will also be responsible for a $63.50 technology fee. Iowa State offers a number of financial aid options for graduate students to help cover the cost of tuition, health insurance, housing and living expenses, and fees. These options may include federally-sponsored opportunities, fellowships, assistantships, employment opportunities, and scholarships for select populations. Iowa State University also operates a Veterans Center, where active military members and veterans may learn more about the various benefits and educational opportunities that may be available to them.
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