Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSA)
Contact Info
In the 18-month Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSA) program at Olin, we prepare students for today's world of big data. By combining technical programming skills with a rigorous approach to business problem-solving, MSA students gain the tools and the confidence needed to extract strategic insights from vast storehouses of data.
Across every industry, businesses are collecting data — from retail inventory records to hospital patient data to credit card transactions and more — and relying on skilled analysts to stay ahead of business trends, build forecasts, and drive creative solutions to business problems.
Areas of Focus
Students can choose one of six STEM-designated tracks, focusing on a specific business area of data analytics:
- Customer Analytics (MSCA)
- Financial Technology ("FinTech") Analytics (MSFTA)
- Supply Chain Analytics (MSSCA)
- Healthcare Analytics (MSHA)
- Accounting Analytics (MSAA)
- Talent Analytics (MSTA)
The MSA degree requires the completion of 39 credits, including 18 units of common core credits that build students' analytics knowledge. The core courses focus on skills and tools such as SQL, Python, Tableau, R programming, text mining, big data and cloud computing.
Master of Science in Customer Analytics (MSCA)
The MSCA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 13.5 customer analytics required credits, and 7.5 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include marketing research, marketing management, digital marketing, and data analysis for brand management. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Master of Science in Financial Technology Analytics (MSFTA)
The MSFTA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 15 fintech required credits, and 6 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include financial management, advanced corporate finance, investment theory, methods and practice of financial technology, and a seminar in financial technology. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Master of Science in Supply Chain Analytics (MSSCA)
The MSSCA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 15 supply chain required credits, and 4.5 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include operations management, stochastic models, revenue management, and supply chain finance. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Master of Science in Healthcare Analytics (MSHA)
The MSHA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 15 healthcare required credits, and 6 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include research in healthcare management, health economics and policy, healthcare management, and the business and practice of medicine. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Master of Science in Accounting Analytics (MSAA)
The MSAA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 15 accounting analytics required credits, and 6 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include strategic cost analysis, financial reporting and assurance in a blockchain world, accounting policy and research, and ethical decision making in accounting. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Master of Science in Talent Analytics (MSTA)
The MSTA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 13.5 talent analytics required credits, and 7.5 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include people metrics; human resource strategies; the wholonics approach to integrated value creation; and compensation, incentives, talent, and organization analytics. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.
Orientation Programs
All Specialized Master’s Programs students kick off their degrees with a multipronged orientation program designed to prepare them for academic, personal and professional success.
Students will participate in various online and in-person orientation activities prior to beginning their fall semester at Olin. SMP Start is a set of online modules that introduce students to the ins and outs of Washington University including policies and procedures, health and wellness, leadership opportunities, and more. SMP Orientation Week includes workshops, events, and cohort overviews including introductions to faculty and advisors. This week is set up to help students with their final preparations before the start of their first semester. Orientation includes career sessions, which serve as catalysts for students to help them get started in their career search. These programs are packed with opportunities for students to bond with their program cohort and to connect with their peers in all of the Specialized Master's Programs.
Students new to the United States may have the opportunity to participate in Passport, during which they will acclimate to the Olin Business School culture and strengthen their English and business communication skills.
Simultaneously, students will complete required online, asynchronous foundation courses to bolster their background and maximize their academic preparation before the start of their degree program.
The Supply Chain Analytics program also requires the completion of an on-campus intensive foundation course that may begin prior to orientation.
Master of Science in Business Analytics Common Core Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DAT 500N | Prescriptive Analytics | 1.5 |
| DAT 500S | Machine Learning Tools for Prediction of Business Outcomes | 3 |
| DAT 500W | A/B Testing in Business and Social Science | 3 |
| DAT 560E | Data Visualization for Business Insights | 1.5 |
| DAT 560G | Database Design and SQL | 1.5 |
| DAT 560M | Big Data and Cloud Computing | 1.5 |
| DAT 561 | Introduction to Python and Data Science | 3 |
| DAT 562 | Text Mining | 1.5 |
| MGT 560F | Professional Business Communication | 1.5 |
Accounting Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 500M | Ethics I | 1.5 |
| ACCT 5002 | Strategic Cost Analysis | 1.5 |
| ACCT 503 | Business Analysis Using Financial Statements | 1.5 |
| ACCT 503B | Advanced Business Analysis Using Financial Statements | 1.5 |
| ACCT 510E | Financial Reporting & Assurance in a Blockchain World | 1.5 |
| ACCT 555 | Accounting Policy and Research | 3 |
| ACCT 562 | Financial Accounting II (Intermediate Acct) | 3 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 6 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 4.5 approved elective credits
Customer Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MKT 500T | Customer Analytics | 3 |
| MKT 500U | Digital Marketing and Analytics | 1.5 |
| MKT 555 | Analytics Driven Brand Management | 1.5 |
| MKT 555A | Data Analysis for Brand Management | 1.5 |
| MKT 577 | Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| MKT 580 | Marketing Research Analytics | 3 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 6 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 4.5 approved elective credits
Financial Technology Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| FIN 5203 | Financial Management | 3 |
| FIN 550G | Seminar in Financial Technology | 3 |
| FIN 524 | Options and Futures | 1.5 |
| FIN 525 | Fixed Income Securities | 1.5 |
| FIN 532 | Investment Theory | 1.5 |
| FIN 534 | Advanced Corporate Finance I - Valuation | 1.5 |
| FIN 550F | FinTech: Methods and Practice | 3 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 4.5 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 3 approved elective credits
Healthcare Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MEC 563 | Olin Grand Rounds | 3 |
| MEC 564 | Health Economics and Policy | 3 |
| MEC 565 | Healthcare Management | 3 |
| MEC 566 | Research in Healthcare Management | 3 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 7.5 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 6 approved elective credits
Supply Chain Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SCOT 500M | Supply Chain Analytics: Stochastic Models | 1.5 |
| SCOT 519E | Introduction to Revenue Management | 1.5 |
| SCOT 530 | Supply Chain Analytics Capstone | 3 |
| SCOT 531 | Supply Chain Finance | 1.5 |
| SCOT 554 | Opertions Analytics | 3 |
| SCOT 558 | Advanced Operations Strategy | 3 |
| SCOT 576 | Foundations of Supply Chain Management | 1.5 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 4.5 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 3 approved elective credits
Talent Analytics Track Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MEC 538 | Economics of the Organization | 1.5 |
| MEC 538B | Compensation, Incentives & Organizations | 1.5 |
| MGT 502 | Ethical Issues in Managerial Decision Making | 1.5 |
| OB 534 | Talent Analytics | 1.5 |
| OB 535 | People Metrics | 1.5 |
| OB 545 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| OB 565 | Leading Change | 1.5 |
Other Courses (Electives and Experiential Learning)
Option A:
- 1.5 experiential course credits
- 7.5 approved elective credits
Option B:
- 3 experiential course credits
- 6 approved elective credits