Specialized Master in Business Business Analytics -/Specialized Master in Business Business Analytics Online

The Specialized Master in Business Analytics (SMB-A) program at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business is designed to develop next-generation managers capable of leveraging practical approaches to analysis, informed decision-making and systems thinking.  Our graduate program equips students with real-world knowledge of how applied statistics, applications in machine learning and data visualization tactics can be used to inform advances in productivity, market position, and business innovation.

The flexible online format consists of core course work, electives and an integrated analytics management capstone experience.  Options allow professionals to acquire graduate-level knowledge and credentials in business analytics in as little as 10 months, or at a slower part-time pace.

With no work experience requirements, the SMB-A program is open to everyone. If you are already working with business data, this is your chance to accelerate your career trajectory. If you are eager to shift into the growing field of management analytics, here is your opportunity. Whatever the case, the time for your next level of mastery is now.

Program Structure (31.5 total credit hours):

The SMB-A program uses a blended course delivery format, where students participate in 75 percent online asynchronous instruction, with the remaining 25 percent delivered via Saturday in-person classes or live-streaming. Live streaming means students in the SMB-A program can complete their degree 100% online from anywhere. Saturday classes involving in-depth discussion, live demonstration and explorations of subjects and hands-on individual and group exercises. Saturday classes meet 3 times during a term, four in summer, and are delivered as 3.5-hour blocks.

The full-time or part-time curriculum is comprised of 31.5 semester credit hours of coursework, distributed as follows:

• 10.5 credit hours for business foundation course work, consisting of four courses: Managerial Economics, Accounting and Financial Analysis, Statistics and Data Analysis, and Leadership and Organizational Behavior.
• 12 credit hours of course work in Data Management, and Descriptive, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics.
• 3 credit hours for an Analytics Management Capstone using real data from a corporate partner.
• 6 credit hours of analytics-focused or discipline-specific electives

Full-Time Curriculum:

SEMESTER 1 (AUTUMN)

Term one (7 weeks)

• Statistics and Data Analysis - BUSMGT 6400 (3 credits) 
• Accounting and Finance for Analytics - BUSFIN 6230 (3 credits) 

Term two (7 weeks)

• Data Management for Analytics - BUSMGT 7250 (3 credits)
• Managerial Economics - BUSML 6243 (3 credits)

SEMESTER 2 (SPRING)

Term one (7 weeks)

• Descriptive Analytics and Visualization - BUSMGT 7331 (3 credits) 
• Predictive Analytics - BUSMGT 7332 (3 credits) 

Term two (7 weeks)

• Prescriptive Analytics - BUSML 7243 (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credit hours)

SEMESTER 3 (SUMMER)

Term one (8 weeks)

• Leadership - BUSMHR 7270 (1.5 credits) 
• Elective (3 credit hours)
• Analytics Management Capstone - BUSML 7249 (3 credit hours)
  • Learn how your Analytics Management Capstone is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Part-Time Curriculum:

The part-time curriculum consists of the same classes, however, they are spread over a two-year period. This option is a great choice for busy working professionals looking to balance work, life and education. However, the full-time option is open to working and non-working students looking to complete the program in 10 months. You can explore additional curriculum details here.

Get Started:

The SMB-A program has an autumn enrollment. View SMB-A application requirements and start your application here.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the University’s Online Programs State Authorization webpage or email us at [email protected] to find out whether their program of interest is available in their home state. Please check back often, as the College and University are aggressively pursuing authorization in all 50 states.

The minimum requirement for admission to an Ohio State graduate program is 16 years of study. This is usually 12 years of secondary school plus four years of post-secondary study at a college or university. If you only have three years of post-secondary study, you must complete one of the following:

• A master's degree (or higher)
• An approved post-graduate diploma
• An additional year of university-level coursework

This work must be completed at an accredited university. Please note that we cannot give absolute assurance that your academic documentation will qualify you for graduate study until we have reviewed your documents. When you apply, you must provide transcripts and degree statements for all post-secondary course work at a college or university.

Success at Ohio State depends upon your ability to converse in, write and understand English. The university requires official TOEFL or IELTS scores from applicants:

• whose native language is not English,
• who have been educated primarily outside of the U.S., or
• who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for less than one year from the first term of enrollment.