M.S. in Business Analytics Program Launches Inaugural Class
Students in the first class enrolled in the M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business began their studies in January, officially launching the new online degree that is focused on driving value-based decisions by combining leading-edge analytics and critical business skills.
“We believe understanding data is important at all levels of one’s career, regardless of business function, so we have created this program to ensure each student is prepared to analyze data to make informed, strategic decisions that drives change within organizations,” said Sudipta Dasmohapatra, academic director of the MSBA program and professor of the practice. “We are excited to begin this data journey with the incredible students enrolled in our program.”
Among the 59 students in the program, the mean age is 29 with an average of five years of work experience (ranging from 0 to 27 years). The diverse cohort includes 25% U.S. under-represented minority students, 34% female students, and 10% international students. Their average undergraduate grade-point average is 3.4.
The students represent a range of undergraduate fields of study, including business (44%), math and physical sciences (15%), social sciences (12%), engineering (10%), information systems (8%), economics (7%), and humanities (3%). The most popular industries included financial services (27%), technology and new media (8%), and consumer goods and retail (8%).
“The level of excitement about this new program has been tremendous, and we know this first class will set the stage for success for our MSBA well into the future,” said Nita Swinsick, assistant dean of recruitment and admissions, executive and specialized degree programs. “Our students are diverse on many different dimensions, from gender and ethnicity to academic and industry background to years of experience — all of which will create a rich classroom environment as we kick-off our MSBA program.”
The MSBA is a premier program designed specifically for technology-enhanced learning, characterized by close-knit cohorts, a dedicated career services team, and flexibility for working professionals seeking to balance their education with work and personal commitments. The 16-month program includes a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework, with two long-weekend, campus-based residencies that provide integrated, hands-on activities. Students also will complete a Capstone Project that applies the program’s study of concepts, methods, and tools to a challenging business data analytics assignment with a project sponsor.
The curriculum integrates the technical aspects of data analytics with managerial business functions, with students learning to “speak the language of data.” Students will learn from expert faculty who will provide foundational skills in accounting, finance, economics, marketing, and operations through both research-based and applied solutions to real business problems.
