A. Gary Anderson
Graduate School of Management

New Degree Program: Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) Launches at UC Riverside

Commencing in fall 2021, the degree offers a flexible program with three career tracks

The field of business analytics is a burgeoning area of exceptional job growth, and the new Master of Science in Business Analytics at UC Riverside answers the need for professionals in this sector—in fact, demand for talent is expected to increase by as much as 14 percent over the next five to 10 years.

“Our MSBA program will prepare students to pursue these rewarding careers and provide their employers with fresh insights and a vital understanding of business performance,” say Yunzeng Wang, dean of the UCR School of Business.

The program offers three career tracks—finance analytics, marketing analytics, and supply chain analytics—and is jointly offered by the UCR School of Business’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management and the Department of Statistics in the College of Natural Sciences.

Taught by recognized faculty in the field of analytics, the coursework focuses on a well-rounded skill set combining big-data methods, statistics, and business management principles. A capstone project also provides hands-on experience as students work with industry in the business analytics space.

Students may earn the degree in nine months of intensive study or follow a flexible schedule combining studies and industry work experience. The curriculum focuses on:

  • Statistical computing to describe marketing, logistics, and financing patterns;
  • Testing models for improved operating efficiency, lowering costs, and targeting the needs of customers;
  • Forecasting revenues and consumer demand; and
  • Identifying trends in financial markets and using financial data to hedge operations.

Targeting degree candidates with an undergraduate degree in a quantitative field, the MSBA’s 48-unit curriculum includes eight core courses, three elective courses, and a two-quarter capstone course. Importantly, the degree will also be STEM-designated, which allows international students to work in the United States for up to 36 months.

The A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management also offers a STEM-designated full-time MBA, Professional MBA, Master of Finance, Master of Professional Accountancy, and a Ph.D. in Management.

For more information, visit business.ucr.edu/msba.