Business Analytics (MS)
The Master of Science in Business Analytics offers a unique blend of courses with a strong focus on data analytics–and it can be completed in one year.
This STEM-designated degree emphasizes important skills and tools in the information systems and analytics space such as SQL, Python, R, Tableau, database and data warehouse modeling, data mining, data visualization, and data storytelling.
The Business Analytics (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The 12-course curriculum of the Master of Science in Business Analytics is a STEM-designated program that prepares you to be a responsible leader in the fast-growing information systems and analytics fields.
Courses are offered in online, hybrid, and in-class formats. Students can complete all 12 courses in one year and completely online.
All MS students will be awarded the Business Analytics Certificate as well. The Business Analytics certificate is a 5-course graduate Quinlan program, and all its courses are a part of the MS program.
Students with previous information systems coursework and part-time students should contact Nenad Jukić, the program director, for more information on how their courses would be sequenced.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Business Analytics (MS) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| INFS 443 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 491 | Managerial Statistics with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | 3 |
| INFS 492 | Database Systems | 3 |
| INFS 494 | Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) | 3 |
| INFS 592 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| INFS 791 | Programming for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| INFS 796 | Data Warehousing | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
Group One (Take up to 4 Courses) | ||
| Database Analytics | ||
| Principles of Analytic Programming | ||
| Applications of Visualization | ||
| AI Product Management | ||
Group Two (Take 0 to 4 Courses) 2 | ||
| Analytical Problem Solving | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Forecasting Methods with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | ||
| Data Driven Decision Making | ||
| Research Methods in Marketing | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Database Marketing Strategy | ||
| Digital Marketing Analytics | ||
| Customer Analytics | ||
| Marketing Metrics | ||
| Intro to Operations Management | ||
| Supply Chain Analytics | ||
| Ethics Requirement (Take 1 Course) | 3 | |
| Business Ethics | ||
| International Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Data Analytics | ||
| Practicum | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Applications of Visualization | ||
| AI Product Management | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Some courses may be substituted based on previous coursework with the permission of the program director.
- 2
Additional courses may be approved by the program director.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 492 | Database Systems | 3 |
| INFS 795 | Ethics and Data Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 491 | Managerial Statistics with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| INFS 443 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 796 | Data Warehousing | 3 |
| INFS 798 | AI Product Management | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| INFS 494 | Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) | 3 |
| INFS 592 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| INFS 691 | Principles of Analytic Programming | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| INFS 493 | Database Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 791 | Programming for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| INFS 797 | Applications of Visualization | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 6 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 491 | Managerial Statistics with Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| INFS 494 | Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Master's | ||
| Fall | ||
| INFS 492 | Database Systems | 3 |
| INFS 795 | Ethics and Data Analytics | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| INFS 443 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 796 | Data Warehousing | 3 |
| INFS 798 | AI Product Management | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| INFS 592 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| INFS 691 | Principles of Analytic Programming | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| INFS 493 | Database Analytics | 3 |
| INFS 791 | Programming for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| INFS 797 | Applications of Visualization | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
This course was added for the purposes of creating a suggested sequence of courses. Students can choose a required MSBA Core Course from the following in their Senior year: INFS 443, INFS 491, INFS 492, INFS 494, INFS 592, INFS 791, and ISSCM 484N. Any courses not taken in Senior year must be taken in the Master's year.
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, graduates are expected to:
- Use data to drive strategic and tactical business decisions;
- Utilize sophisticated database, data warehousing, data mining, and data visualization methodologies and techniques to capture and apply data as a corporate asset;
- Demonstrate competence with various languages and tools, SQL, R, Tableau, and Python;
- Lead, supervise, and manage information systems projects of varying levels of complexity;
- Demonstrate effective communication skills with technical and non-technical individuals and groups;
- Show ability to effectively collaborate with and provide technical leadership to a variety of business units and organizations;
- Demonstrate a high level of technical aptitude in design, development, and use of information systems components;
- Integrate values and ethics into data analysis and information systems projects and solutions.