MSBA Program

Earn your Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) at UCO

Businesses generate or collect enormous amounts of data about their business processes, operations, customers, employees, suppliers and competitors ─ this is referred to as big data.

Business analytics involves accumulating, processing and analyzing this data to inform business decision making. 

UCO’s MSBA Program, a Tier-3 SAS Academic Specialization, provides a theoretical understanding of the principles used in data analysis for business decision making. It also engages students in practical, hands-on, transformative learning experiences with real-world data. SAS (www.sas.com) is the global leader in analytics, machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Your MSBA degree can help you identify:

• market or product trends
• ways to raise customer satisfaction
• new opportunities to create a competitive advantage
• new avenues to increase operational efficiency

MSBA Courses

The MSBA program is a STEM-designated degree at the University of Central Oklahoma that will equip each graduate with data analysis skills and business knowledge for great business decision making. All courses are delivered in person at our Edmond or downtown Oklahoma City campuses.

MSBA Program Courses Include:

• Applied Regression Analysis / Advanced Business Statistics (SAS Base)
• Managing Analytics
• Spreadsheet Modeling (Microsoft Excel)
• Managerial and Operational Analytics (Microsoft Excel)
• Financial Modeling & Analytics
• Programming for Analytics (Python)
• Marketing Analytics (SAS Studio, Microsoft Excel)
• Database Foundation for Analytics (Microsoft SQL Server, SQL)
• Data Visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
• Applied Analytics (SAS Studio, SAS Enterprise Miner and SAS Text Analytics)
• Advanced Applied Analytics (SAS Studio, SAS Enterprise Miner, SAS Text Analytics)
• Advanced Business Statistics

MSBA Program Goals

The goals for graduates of this M.S. in Business Analytics program are:

• The ability to understand, manage and improve analytics processes within a business.
• The ability to identify appropriate big data technologies to support analytics goals within a business.
• The ability to create and present a professional, meaningful representation of business data.
• The ability to determine the best analysis model to apply for a variety of business cases covering multiple disciplines and industries.
• The ability to write and present a business proposal based on data analysis of a real-world business case.

Job Opportunities

Data-savvy managers are needed to pose the right analysis questions, interpret and challenge the results, then make the appropriate business decisions. The MSBA program will engage our students in practical, hands-on and transformative learning experiences with real-world data.

This degree is categorized as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) designated degree program per federal government categories (USCIS STEM). The degrees enumerated in the expanded STEM designation list qualify for a 17-month optional practical training (OPT) extension for F-1 nonimmigrant students (USCIS F1).

Admission Requirements

Admission is competitive and meeting the admission requirements alone does not guarantee acceptance.

Admission Requirements Include:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree from an appropriately accredited institution
• Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75* or greater is strongly encouraged. 

*Students with a GPA less than 3.0 are encouraged to take STAT 2113 and ISOM 2313 and/or equivalent courses before applying.

Application Details

Required Documents for Applying to the MSBA Program

• Application for UCO Graduate Admission
• A 500-word letter of application expressing interest in the program and providing any additional information you believe will be helpful for admission decisions.
• Current resume**
• Evidence of English language proficiency. See Graduate Admissions Information – English Language Proficiency (p. 15)
• Official copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts from each institution attended with all degrees posted. All transcripts must be from appropriately accredited institutions.

**The MSBA Admissions Committee recommends applicants have 1-2 years of industry experience, although this is not strictly required.

Candidates should be willing to participate in a Skype/phone interview.

An approximate cost can be calculated via the tuition calculator.

Technology Recommendation

Once accepted into the MSBA program, we recommend a Windows laptop with a 64-bit version of Windows 10 installed, an i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, which will provide optimal performance. For students looking for a bargain, the minimum requirement is a 64-bit version of Windows installed on a laptop (preferable) or a desktop having an i5 (2.6GHz) processor, 4GB RAM and 300GB hard disk.

Lauren Eichinger
Director of Business Graduate Enrollment

Chase Harmon
Business Graduate Advisor

Terry Williams, Ph.D.
MSBA Program Coordinator

Quality Faculty

focused on your learning

Advisory Board

MSBA Advisory Board