MSBA Collaborates with Amazon Web Services to Keep Students at the Forefront of Computing Innovation
Georgetown McDonough’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program (MSBA) recently established an independent collaboration with a leading cloud-computing platform to keep students on the cutting edge of the data science field.
Starting this semester, MSBA students will have the opportunity to utilize training and certification courses, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to prepare for the evolving demands of data management solutions.
“Organizations need rising professionals with the business acumen, specialized training, and fluency in emerging technologies to help shape the future of the data analytics industry,” said Sudipta Dasmohapatra, professor of the practice and academic director of the MSBA program. “Through strategic collaborations with top data science companies, our students will build their analytical skills while keeping a pulse on the future of the industry, which is a critical advantage in a highly competitive job market.”
The use of cloud computing is projected to grow substantially over the next few years. As companies shifted their operations during COVID-19, IT professionals turned to cloud solutions to maintain a decentralized and remote workforce. This, and the added benefits of on-demand, optimized data analysis technologies, has led to an aggressive shift in the usage of cloud infrastructure services.
MSBA students will be at the forefront of this forecasted growth – leveraging insights from the world’s largest cloud platforms.
AWS is the top cloud provider on the market, providing various techniques, services, and capacity for cloud-based IT, analytics, data science, and machine learning. The MSBA program will integrate AWS Academy coursework into the curriculum to provide students with the education and skills-based training they need to earn industry certifications.
In addition to ongoing trainings, most students will be tasked with utilizing AWS cloud computing tools for their capstone project. This project will ask students to employ their skills with analytics tools, business functions, computing and technology, and value-based data analytics to define an organizational challenge and present actionable insights to real-world clients and McDonough faculty.
Ongoing skills training and program coursework will be supplemented by professional engagement opportunities – taught by MSBA faculty – to give students an understanding of how the rapid development of cloud computing is being applied in real-world scenarios. MSBA faculty members are accredited AWS instructors that hold multiple industry-recognized certifications in cloud computing and analytics. Students will also hear from AWS employees for periodic guest lectures about new cloud computing and analytics projects happening in real-time.
“Private and public sector organizations are experiencing an exciting culture shift where various industries and sectors—from nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies—are embracing digital transformation to improve agility, innovation, and operations,” said Kim Majerus, vice president of US Education, State and Local Government at AWS. “Data analytics is at the center of this shift, and through our collaboration with the McDonough School of Business, students will gain real-world experience using the AWS Cloud to harness the power of data to solve complex business problems.”
Georgetown’s 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 campus-based residencies that provide integrated, hands-on activities.
The curriculum integrates the technical aspects of data analytics with managerial business functions, with students learning to “speak the language of data.” Students learn from expert faculty who provide foundational skills in accounting, finance, economics, marketing, and operations through both research-based and applied solutions to real business problems.
To learn more about the MSBA program and its new collaboration with AWS, please visit msb.georgetown.edu/msba.