Master's in Business Data Science and Analytics Curriculum

Master’s in Business Data Science & Analytics Curriculum

Building business intelligence in a data-driven world.

The M.S. in Business Data Science & Analytics program focuses on three core areas:

Training our students to be leaders in data management process and business analytics approaches
Providing our students with experiential project management opportunities using live data sets for analysis and application
Developing students’ expertise in key data management areas such as:
- Data mining
- Marketing technology, website analytics and social network analytics
- Applied statistical approaches
- How to interpret and communicate data analysis

The MS in Business Data Science & Analytics is now 100% online, providing a flexible way for students to earn the degree while working or managing other responsibilities.

The 30 credit program consists of:

21 core credits (comprised of courses that also meet the requirements for stackable graduate certificates in Data Decision-Making and Advanced Business Analytics Applications)
9 elective credits (a third graduate certificate – students choose either Business Essentials for Leaders or Organizational Leadership & Strategy)

Students can choose one of our planned 20-month pathways or work with their advisor to customize an academic plan that meets their needs.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in all graduate courses.

Core Curriculum + Electives

MS-BDSA students will complete 30 credits to earn the degree. The 21-credit core includes coursework that awards two certificates: Advanced Business Analytics Applications and Data Decision-Making. Students will complete an additional 9 credits in a third certificate pathway, choosing either Business Essentials for Leaders or Organizational Leadership and Strategy. Graduates earn a total of four stackable credential: the MS-BDSA degree and three transcribable certificates.

ITM 818 Data Management and Visualization in Analytics

3 Credits

How digitized business processes and data analytics are essential to the performance and competitive advantage of a modern corporation. Different approaches for strategic data management and business analytics. Real-world cases of successes and failures with analytics-based business strategies.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
CSE 801A Introduction to Big Data Analysis

3 Credits

Emerging issues in big data (e.g., collection, warehousing, pre-processing and querying; mining, cluster analysis, association analytics; out-of-core, online, sampling-based, and approximate learning algorithms; model evaluation and applications, etc.).

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ITM 886 Communication Strategies for Analytics

1 Credit

Development of managerial-level business communication skills focusing on oral and written formats. Translation of technical data for communication to non-technical audiences.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ITM 883 Business Analytics Problem Solving

2 credits

Application of statistical techniques including linear regression and logistic regression. Emphasis on selecting appropriate models, interpreting statistical output, and recognizing unreasonable results using current statistical programming tools, such as R and RStudio or comparable platforms.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
PIM 884 Artificial Intelligence Governance

2 Credits

Explores how organizations can adopt artificial intelligence responsibly, balancing innovation with ethical, legal, and societal considerations. Students examine issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency, accountability, and regulatory frameworks, with a focus on business applications. Through case studies and applied exercises, students learn how to design and evaluate governance practices that ensure AI creates value while aligning with organizational goals and stakeholder trust.

Link to registrar coming soon
ITM 822 Information Systems Project Management

1 Credit

Introduction to the project management process in an analytics framework using real-world data, including the management of project scope, time, cost and quality; optimization of project resources; planning and control of projects; program and portfolio management. Waterfall, lean and agile methodologies are discussed. Student teams will apply these concepts to a business’ current problem, providing real-world applied solutions.
STT 805 Statistical Modeling for Business Analytics

3 Credits

Fundamental concepts in probability and statistics including topics such as hypothesis tests, type I and type II errors, statistical significance and power, uncertainty quantification, bootstrapping, Monte Carlo methods, and advanced statistical modeling, low dimensional data visualization, regression, variance, proportional odds modeling and introduction to time series.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ITM 881 Network Analytics

2 Credits

This course explores the application of network analysis in business contexts. Focus is placed on establishing the basic methods and terminology associated with network analysis and text analytics and then progresses into broad-based applications. Applications of these techniques span a broad range of business contexts, including human resource management, CRM systems, supplier networks and online networks.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ITM 885 Machine Learning and Optimization in Analytics

2 Credits

Concepts and application in decision making, (stochastic) gradient descent, supervised learning (such as penalized regression, classification, survival analysis), deep neural networks for classification, optimization in Python and R, advanced topics in machine learning (such as generative models, adversarial learning, meta learning).

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ITM 888 Capstone: Business Analytics

2 Credit

Corporate practicum in the development and delivery of predictive data analysis for strategic decision making in organizations. Application of the principles and tools of analytics to real-world problems in research & development, marketing, supply chain, accounting, finance and human resources management. Development and presentation of analytical insights and recommendations.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Specialized Certificate Pathway (choose one)

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

Term	Course	Credits	Timing
Fall 1	PIM 800; Organizational Management	1.5	1^st half
Summer 1	PIM 803; Leadership or PIM 867; Ethics	1.5	1^st or 2^nd half
Fall 2	PIM 852; Negotiations	1.5	1^st half
Fall 2	IM 853; HR & Talent Management	1.5	1^st half
Fall 2	PIM 855; Strategic Management	1.5	2^nd half
Spring 2	PIM 856; Strategic Management 2	1.5	2^nd half

Business Essentials

Term	Course	Credits	Timing
Fall 1	PIM 811; Financial Accounting for Leaders	1.5	1^st half
Spring 1	PIM 862; Customer Analysis	1.5	1^st half
Spring 1	PIM 841; Finance: Investment Decisions	1.5	2^nd half
Fall 2	PIM 870; Supply Chain Management	1.5	1^st half
Fall 2	PIM 812; Performance Measurement & Control	1.5	2^nd half
Spring 2	PIM 863; MKT Systems	1.5	2^nd half