COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) at Wichita State University is a 30-credit-hour AACSB-accredited graduate program designed to prepare domestic and international students for data-driven careers by combining business knowledge, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and practical industry applications. The program focuses on developing contemporary analytical competencies through hands-on projects and real-world business practices. Students choose between two specialized tracks: the Management Track, which emphasizes leading analytics initiatives and applying analytics to business decision-making, and the Data Science Track, which focuses on advanced analytical methods, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and technical data science skills. All students must have a foundation in statistics, either through previous coursework or by completing Introductory Business Statistics during their first semester. The curriculum consists of eight required courses (24 credit hours) and two elective courses (6 credit hours). Core coursework includes Python Programming for Business, Business Acumen for Technical Professionals, Introduction to Business Analytics, Introduction to Data Mining and Machine Learning, and Business Analytics with Advanced AI Techniques. Management Track students additionally study Prescriptive Analytics with Python, Data Visualization, and Quantitative Analysis of Business Conditions and Forecasting, while Data Science Track students complete Advanced Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Mathematical Data Analysis, and Perspectives on Data Science. Students may receive approved substitutions for Python Programming for Business if they have completed an equivalent course previously, and Business Acumen for Technical Professionals may be waived for students who already hold a business degree or MBA from an accredited U.S. institution. Elective options allow students to customize their education in areas such as cloud computing, database management, enterprise resource planning, finance analytics, investment analysis, project management, supply chain analytics, marketing research, human resource analytics, forecasting, big data analytics, neural networks, sports analytics, and advanced data science. Graduates develop expertise in programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, forecasting, data visualization, and business strategy, preparing them for careers as business analysts, data analysts, data scientists, business intelligence specialists, analytics consultants, machine learning professionals, forecasting analysts, and decision-support experts. The program provides a strong balance of technical and managerial skills, enabling graduates to transform data into actionable insights and drive strategic decision-making in organizations across a wide range of industries.