MBA with Business and Managerial Analytics Specialization

In-demand skills

"Analytics and data-driven decisions are now part of every department and discipline in companies of all sizes. Analytics- and data science-related positions are still tops on recruiters' lists, and demand is still outpacing supply. There's no better time to integrate additional data analytics skills into our MBA program through the Business and Managerial Analytics specialization."

Scott Rex, Co-director of the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute

Enhance your 向日葵视频MBA with a Business and Managerial Analytics specialization.  Across industries, professionals with knowledge, skills, and experience in analytics and data-informed decision-making are increasingly in demand.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 鈥渆mployment of operations research analysts is expected to grow 23% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations鈥�.

 

Specialization Curriculum

The Business and Managerial Analytics (BMAN) specialization is completed within MBA core curriculum and elective courses.  Specialization courses include:

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Business Analytics (MBA 6100, 3 credits, required MBA course)

Provides a structured and effective way of tackling a wide range of managerial problems using analytics. Introduces students to basic concepts in business analytics and several quantitative techniques that are important for the practical analysis of a broad range of business problems and widely accepted by the practitioners. These techniques provide a framework to support managerial decision making. Lectures cover the topics in sufficient details to make one feel comfortable in their use. Also stresses the importance of critical thinking skills to make sound managerial decisions, to apply ethical reasoning to business situations and to communicate effectively in business settings.

Skills Courses (SQL, Python and R, 3 credits MBA elective)

R Programming, ECON 6114

Offered online in the summer and spring

Explores the basic building blocks of statistical programming in R. Focuses on three parallel learning objectives: setting up an open-source software environment for practicing data science; translation of ideas to software solutions using R; and management and sharing of code.

SQL, ECON 6116

Offered online in the fall

Fundamentals of the creation and use of databases using the programming platform Structured Query Language (SQL). Students learn to customize and manipulate databases with SQL to help gather data for presentations and analyses.

Python Programming, ECON 6118

Offered online in the spring.

Teaches the basics of programming with Python: writing and executing Python programs, learning the core data structures in Python, interacting with data, acquiring skill in data manipulation and using Python to access web data and data from databases.

Data Analysis (COSC 6520, 3 credits MBA elective)

Foundational topics in the analysis of data. Includes methodology for the development of data analytics systems. Examines technology employed for data analytics in a variety of industry segments and the benefits derived from data analytics. Foundations of text and data mining techniques commonly used for classification, clustering and prediction. Students are presented techniques for developing a business case, evaluating predictive performance and managing data. Includes exercises using analytic technology and a project to apply analytics to a customer application.

Analytics Electives (9 credits, MBA elective)

Customer Relationship Management, MARK 6130

Offered most often in the fall semester, on-campus.

Marketing Research, MARK 6160

Offered most often in the spring semester, on campus.

MARK 6165 Marketing Analytics

Offered most often in the fall semester, on campus.

Applied Econometrics, ECON 6560

Offered in the fall semester, on campus.  Requires prior completion of intermediate macroeconomics and intermediate microeconomics courses.  MBA advisor consent required.

Applied Time Series Econometrics and Forecasting, ECON 6561

Offered in the spring semester, on campus.  Requires prior completion of intermediate macroeconomics and intermediate microeconomics courses.  MBA advisor consent required.

Financial Derivatives, MSF 6560

Offered online, most often in the fall semester. 

FinTech Foundations and Applications

FINA 6175 is offered online, most often in the fall semester.

FINA 5075 is offered on campus, most often within the fall semester.

Quality Improvement Science in Health Care, HEAL 6830

Offered online in the spring semester.

Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues, HEAL 6835

Offered online in the fall semester.

Social Media Analytics and Measurement, ADPR 5350

Temporarily unavailable due to College of Communications capacity.

Communication Research in Action, COMM 6002

Offered in the spring semester, on campus. 

Digital Communication Strategies in Metrics, COMM 6815

Offered in the fall semester, on campus. 

 

NEW Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute Assistantships

The Graduate School of Management is excited to announce new Graduate Assistantships for students pursuing the MBA-BMAN.  Thanks to support from the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI), starting in fall 2025, NMDSI graduate assistantships will be available for students pursuing the MBA through full-time enrollment. Within GA roles, students will provide college support - often supporting faculty research - for 10 hours per week within the fall and spring semester and will receive 9 credits of tuition scholarship and a $10,000 stipend.

For priority consideration, interested students should apply to the MBA with a specialization in Business and Managerial Analytics by Feb. 15, 2025 and indicate an interest in being considered for merit-based financial aid: select "Graduate Assistantship" or "All types of merit-based financial aid."  Students applying for graduate assistatnships are requried to submit letters of recommendation.


Application Information

Requirements: Admission requirements for the MBA with the Business and Managerial Analytics specialization are identical to the MBA and MBA Online. 

Online Application: Students interested in pursuing the MBA with the Business and Managerial Analytics specialization should specify this interest within their application to the 向日葵视频MBA.  Within the 鈥淧rogram of Interest鈥� section of the online application, please select the 鈥淏usiness and Managerial Analytics (STEM Designation)鈥� pull-down option in response to the specialization prompt (image below).

Application process screenshot

Stem Designated

The MBA with BMAN specialization is STEM designated. International graduates may be eligible to apply for 36 months of optional practical training (OPT).

Current MBA Students: If you have been admitted to the MBA or MBA Online and wish to pursue the MBA with Business and Managerial Analytics specialization, please contact your advisor.  Your advisor and 向日葵视频admissions staff will support next steps to transition your MBA application and CheckMarq enrollment from the MBA program to the MBA with Business and Managerial Analytics specialization.

Recommended Scheduling for International Students

Review scheduling pathways for 3, 4 and 5 semester completion options.  Schedules differ based on the number of Business Essentials courses required.