M.S. in Business Analytics

Program Overview

The M.S. in Business Analytics at USC Upstate is a 30-credit-hour program structured to provide students with a deep understanding of data acquisition, data crunching, and the utilization of large data streams. It is designed for individuals from diverse undergraduate backgrounds, with a preference for STEM majors or those with strong quantitative skills. The program is flexible, allowing students to start in either the fall or spring semester and complete the degree in a flexible timeframe, including a one-year full-time option. A key feature is the opportunity to participate in capstone and consultancy projects, as well as data challenge events and case competitions, providing hands-on experience. The program aims to prepare graduates to effectively analyze data and deliver deeper insights for better decision-making across various industries.

Curriculum: The 30-semester-hour curriculum for the M.S. in Business Analytics is designed to provide comprehensive skills in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Core courses typically include "Introduction to Quantitative Analysis and Programming," "Data Mining and Management," "Predictive Analytics and Forecasting," "Principles of Business Analytics," "Data Visualization," and "Prescriptive Analytics." A crucial component is the "Analytics Practicum," offering real-world application of skills. Students also select three electives (9 credit hours) from specialized areas such as "Optimization," "Financial Analytics," "Accounting Analytics," "Data Governance, Law, and Ethics," "Business Process and Operations Analytics," "Programming for Analytics," "Web & Social Media Analytics," and "Marketing Analytics." This structure allows students to tailor their degree to specific career interests.

Research Focus: The M.S. in Business Analytics at USC Upstate has a strong applied research focus, aiming to equip students with the skills to design creative data analytics solutions to complex business problems. The curriculum emphasizes providing practical experience with popular analytics software tools and languages like SAS and R. A core aspect of the program is the Analytics Practicum and capstone projects, where students engage in real-world, data-driven learning. These projects involve analyzing data-focused problems for sponsoring organizations, gathering and analyzing data to develop strategic solutions, and formally presenting findings to organizational leadership. This hands-on approach to problem-solving, grounded in data analysis, serves as a form of applied research, enabling graduates to generate insights and drive evidence-based decision-making. The Center for Business Analytics and Community Research (CBACR) also supports community research and data analytics to enhance decision-making for businesses, non-profits, and government agencies, further solidifying the program's applied research orientation.

Industry Engagement: The University of South Carolina Upstate's M.S. in Business Analytics program demonstrates significant industry engagement through its experiential learning opportunities. The program offers real-world, data-driven learning, with hands-on projects both inside and outside the classroom. Students have the opportunity to participate in capstone and consultancy projects where they work with regional companies and organizations to solve real-world analytics challenges. An integral part of the curriculum is the Analytics Practicum or an approved data-intensive internship, where student teams analyze data-focused problems for sponsoring organizations, gather and analyze data, develop high-return investment solutions, and present implementation plans to leadership. The faculty members often have industry and consulting experience, and the Center for Business Analytics and Community Research (CBACR) actively collaborates with local and state business partners, providing real-world datasets for teaching and research. This direct collaboration ensures graduates gain practical experience and valuable networking opportunities.

Global Perspective: While the M.S. in Business Analytics at USC Upstate primarily focuses on the application of analytics within the U.S. business context, the principles of data-driven decision-making and the methodologies taught are universally applicable in a globalized business environment. The demand for business analytics skills is global, spanning diverse industries. The program prepares students to understand and improve complex business, policy, or economic questions, which can certainly extend to international contexts. While specific courses dedicated to international business analytics may be electives or integrated into broader topics, the core skills in data acquisition, analysis, visualization, and strategic communication are highly transferable and essential for professionals operating in multinational corporations or engaging with global markets. The University of South Carolina as a whole is committed to "innovation in learning, research and community engagement," and the Darla Moore School of Business (part of USC) has a highly-ranked international business program, which can implicitly enrich the perspective of students in related analytics fields.