The Master of Science in Business Analytics will equip graduates with "Big Data" analytical skills that will allow them to help their respective companies sift through and analyze large data sets and uncover patterns and insights that will give their firms a valuable competitive advantage. Students with an undergraduate accounting degree should also be able to take sufficient accounting courses to become licensed as a CPA in the state of South Carolina.

The program goals are to:

1. Provide students with the knowledge of the three areas of data analytics: descriptive (data mining and data visualization), prescriptive (optimization and simulation), and predictive (forecasting and regression analysis).
2. Provide students with a practical experience with the popular analytics software tools and languages such as SAS and R.
3. Provide students with the necessary skills to design creative data analytics solutions to complex business problems.

The student learning objectives are that upon completing the MSBA program, graduates will be able to:

1. Access, clean, and mine data.
2. Analyze, interpret, and visually display data.
3. Model, analyze, and determine an optimal solution to business problems.
4. Provide estimates about the likelihood of future values of a business metric.
5. Use popular analytics software tools and languages (e.g.: SAS and R).
6. Conduct analyses and communicate the results in a clear business language to inform business decisions.

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
I. Required Courses
MSBA U700	Introduction to Quantitative Analysis and Programming	3
MSBA U705	Data Mining and Management	3
MSBA U710	Predictive Analytics and Forecasting	3
MSBA U715	Principles of Business Analytics	3
MSBA U720	Data Visualization	3
MSBA U740	Prescriptive Analytics	3
MSBA U790	Analytics Practicum	3
II. Electives
Select three of the following:		9
MSBA U730	Optimization
MSBA U745	Financial Analytics
MSBA U750	Accounting Analytics
MSBA U760	Data Governance, Law, and Ethics
MSBA U765	Business Process and Operations Analytics
MSBA U770	Programming for Analytics
MSBA U775	Web & Social Media Analytics
MSBA U780	Marketing Analytics
Master of Science in Nursing:
NURS U705	Advanced Digital & Information Literacy for Nurses
NURS U710	Advanced Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
NURS U722	Data Analysis in the Healthcare System
NURS U723	Evidence Based Practice Project I
Master of Science in Informatics:
HIMS U750	Health Services Research Methods and Analytics
Total Hours		30

Admissions Requirements

A Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a strong GPA and demonstrated quantitative and statistics preparedness through prior coursework, professional experience, or certifications. Applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or above from an accredited university. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Applications are reviewed holistically.

Application Requirements

1. Application, application fee, residency form with all requested information and supporting documents.
2. Transcripts: Individuals seeking admission must provide official transcripts showing all post-secondary coursework attempted and an award of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to USC Upstate or delivered in a sealed envelope bearing a Registrar's stamp.
3. Letter of recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should be from professionals knowledgeable about the student's academic or professional potential. Letters that do not meet this criterion will be considered as an incomplete application.
4.  Current CV or resume.
5. Personal statement: Applicants are required to submit a one-page personal statement that describes how this program aligns with their career goals.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students wishing to take Johnson College of Business and Economics courses must meet the required prerequisites. Verification is required prior to approval.

International Students

Applicants who are citizens of a country other than the United States and who do not have permanent resident status are classified as international students. In addition to meeting the items in the preceding Admissions Requirements section, international student applicants are required to:

1. Submit application for admission with $100 application fee.
2. Submit official school records (transcripts, diplomas, or certificates of study), translated to English. Applicants with foreign university work must submit a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from a NACES approved company. An admissions decision will not be made until the evaluation and all transcripts are on file.
3. Be academically and otherwise eligible to return to the last college attended.

Conditional Admission

Students may be admitted with Conditional Admission.  When this is granted, students are required to:

1. Register for no more than three classes in the first semester.
2. Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 in each class the first semester.
3. Complete any other requirements defined by the Admissions Committee.

1.  

Suggested Course Sequence

Students should seek advice from advisor about sequencing

Plan of Study Grid

Fall		Hours
MSBA U700	Introduction to Quantitative Analysis and Programming	3
MSBA U705	Data Mining and Management	3
MSBA U715	Principles of Business Analytics	3
Elective		3
	Hours	12
Spring
MSBA U710	Predictive Analytics and Forecasting	3
MSBA U720	Data Visualization	3
MSBA U740	Prescriptive Analytics	3
Elective		3
	Hours	12
Summer
MSBA U790	Analytics Practicum	3
Elective		3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	30