Master's in Business Analytics

Requirements for the MS in Business Analytics (MSBA)

Business analytics MS students must complete a three-course core, as follows:

• MIS 502 Data Management for Analytics 
• MIS 584 Business Intelligence 
• OIE 552 Modeling and Optimizing Processes

Business analytics MS students must complete two three-course specialties, selected from the following specialties:

Specialty in Advanced Business Analytics Methods

• MIS 587 Business Applications in Machine Learning
• MKT 562 Marketing Research 
• OIE 559 Advanced Prescriptive Analytics: From Data to Impact

Specialty in Artificial Intelligence in Business

• MIS 587 Business Applications in Machine Learning

Select one of the following courses:

• MIS 520 Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethical Applications in Business
• MIS 581 Policy and Strategy for Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Analytics

Select one of the following courses:

• MKT 562 Marketing Research
• MKT 568 Marketing Analytics
• OIE 552 Modeling and Optimizing Processes

Specialty in Marketing Analytics
Select one of the following two courses (the other two courses are required):

• MKT 500 Marketing Strategy (recommended for students with no marketing background) 
• MKT 561 Consumer Behavior and Analytics
• MKT 565 Digital Marketing 
• MKT 568 Marketing Analytics 

Specialty in Operations Analytics
Select three of the following courses:

• OIE 501 Operations Management (recommended for students with no operations background)
• OIE 542 Risk Management and Decision Analysis
• OIE 544 Supply Chain Analysis and Design
• OIE 548 Performance Analytics
• OIE 558 Designing and Managing Lean Six Sigma Processes

Note: Additional specialties are likely to be developed in the future.

Business analytics MS students must complete a two-course capstone project experience, as follows:

• OBC 505 Teaming and Organizing for Innovation
• BUS 596  Master of Science Capstone Project

About the MSBA Capstone

One of the central priorities in WPI’s educational philosophy is the application of academic skills and knowledge to real-world problems. The capstone project represents a substantive evaluation and application of coursework covered in the program. Students are encouraged to select projects with practical significance for the advancement of their company’s competitive position as well as their own personal development. The project is administered, advised, and evaluated by WPI as part of the learning experience, but students are encouraged to seek mentorship from experienced colleagues in the Business Analytics profession. The presence of or degree of participation from a mentor is made at the discretion of the student or the organization sponsoring the program.

Recommendation for International Students

On-campus, international students are encouraged to complete up to three additional credits of internship to ensure their readiness for employment in the U.S.

Admissions Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least one prior college-level statistics course with a grade of B or better, and a GPA > 3.0.

For International Students - English Language Proficiency Requirement

The Business Masters programs require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90, TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, IELTS score of 7 (minimum sub-score of 6.5), or Duolingo score of 115.