Data is king in today's digital economy. Business leadership in this disruptive age requires the ability to choose the right data, analyze it skillfully, and leverage it for strategic decisions on ever-shrinking timelines. Our innovative, STEM-designated Master's in Business Analytics program—taught with D'Amore-McKim's signature focus on the tech economy—will prepare you to respond to challenges and deliver successful solutions quickly and confidently.

Master's in Business Analytics Program Overview

  • Program Structure: Students will complete 10 core courses; full-time students have the option to complete an additional Career Management course.
  • Class Schedule: Classes are held in the daytime Monday–Friday for full-time students; online courses can be taken anytime.
  • Time to Complete: 12 or 16 months full-time; 20 months online.

Full-Time MS in Business Analytics | Program timeline

Full-Time MSBA Timeline

Online MS in Business Analytics | Program timeline

Online MSBA Graphic timeline

Unique Features

STEM

designated program

F-1

compliant full-time format

12-20

months to complete on average

  • Gain exposure to data mining, statistical and quantitative analysis, multivariate testing, and predictive modeling
  • Apply what you've learned in the classroom to a leading company or startup through a graduate co-op.
  • Learn to use tools that may include Python, R, SPSS, SQL, and Tableau
  • Explore real company data through in-class case studies
  • Get personalized career guidance from the D'Amore-McKim Graduate Career Center
  • Qualify to work in the United States for up to 36 months after you earn your degree, if you're an international student (the full-time format is F-1 visa compliant)
  • Apply your credits toward a future MBA at Northeastern (where you'll qualify for the Double Husky discount) once your master's degree is complete

Meet our students

Portrait of Daewon Yoon

Exploring how data impacts the world of business

“I am grateful that this program opened my eyes to the business world and made me curious about data and how companies use it. I am confident that I can bring the lessons I've learned and skills I've gained into my future career.” says Daewon Yoon, MS in Business Analytics'22
Portrait of Sarocha

How graduate co-op leveled up her skillset

“The D'Amore-McKim MS in Business Analytics program has already been a powerful steppingstone. I built on my understanding of data analysis, learned how to write data reports, and provided the results to business stakeholders. I've also gained exposure to data modeling and integration, and I want to work in a role where I can use this knowledge.” Says Sarocha Promsombat, MS in Business Analytics'22
Portrait of Sai

Fusing computer science experience with a passion for business

“My previous work experience taught me to make data more digestible for computers, but my time in the program has shown me how to do the same for people. Learning to analyze data for people and businesses has made me successful.” Says Sai Prasad Sashank Urlam, MS in Business Analytics'22
MSBA'21 Female Student Portrait

Forging a path to a marketing analytics career

“I started this program without prior technical experience, and I have learned a great deal in my time here. I'm confident it has prepared me to use data analytics to make informed business decisions,” says Enoska Ventura, MS in Business Analytics‘21
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Speak directly with some of our students and gain valuable insights based on their firsthand experiences in the program.
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Admissions

  • GMAT/GRE required? Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business is currently test-optional and does not require applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores. For more information watch this video, or review our admissions policies.
  • English language proficiency: English proficiency, both written and verbal, is necessary for success in D'Amore-McKim classrooms. For more information, review our admissions policies.
  • Prerequisite coursework? An undergraduate-level, full-semester course in Statistics is required.
  • Where do I apply? Learn more here.
  • Interview required? Yes.

MS in Business Analytics

Application DeadlinesDecision NotificationsClasses Begin
Nov. 9, 2023Jan. 10September
Feb. 1, 2024March 21September
March 21, 2024*May 2September
May 9, 2024June 13September
*March 21, 2024 deadline is the final deadline for international candidates who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa

Tuition

Northeastern Student Financial Services publishes the tuition rates for the MS in Business Analytics program. Under the “Graduate Programs” section, the cost per credit appears next to “D'Amore-McKim School of Business Programs.”

Financial Aid

Northeastern's Student Financial Services team will guide you through options to help you finance your graduate education. You can learn more about graduate financial aid options on their website.

Once you become a student, your financial aid advisor will work with you to answer your questions, and provide valuable insight as you navigate the financial commitments of your program.

Scholarships

D'Amore-McKim and Northeastern University offer a variety of scholarships. You'll automatically receive consideration for a merit scholarship. You may also qualify for funding support as an alum, U.S. servicemember, or veteran.

Application Fee Waivers

D'Amore-McKim offers application fee waivers to applicants that meet specific criteria. You can review the policy on the Graduate Application FAQ web page.

The D'Amore-McKim School of Business community stands with our university and its leadership in our dedication to cultivating equity and inclusion for all humankind. Understanding and solving our problems requires constant interaction among people who bring their own diverse contexts and experiences to the conversation. Therefore, we must be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that values the uniqueness of its members, recognizes the power and importance of diversity in our own and surrounding communities, and ensures their engaged participation.

Graduate Student Clubs  

There are numerous university-wide and D'Amore-McKim-affiliated student groups that you may wish to join, and several are grounded in building inclusive communities and resiliency. Many of our graduate business students participate in the Graduate Students of Color Collective, Grad Q, and Out in Business

Campus Resources

Participate in community-building programs, lectures, and events offered by Northeastern's cultural centers representing a range of affiliations and interests including the LGBTQA Resource Center, Latinx Student Cultural Center, Asian American Center, Office of Global Services, and many more.

Choose Your Format

Our STEM-designated Master's in Business Analytics program is a rigorous, experience-powered program that takes you from the foundational principles of analyzing data all the way to advanced topics like data mining and modeling. The full-time program is F-1 visa compliant and our online program is designed for professionals who want to study 100% virtually.

Full-time

Study on our Boston campus and learn to lead in a data-driven environment.

Online

Learn to master big data on your own schedule—from anywhere in the world.

Curriculum

Before you get started

An undergraduate-level, full-semester course in Statistics is required for admission.

Optional Courses

Begins with an introduction to the career planning process and to the services of the Graduate Career Center. Topics include resumé writing, videotaped practice interviewing, job search strategies, interview preparation, salary negotiation, marketing communication, and visa issues for international students seeking employment in the United States. May include additional topics depending on student interest. May be repeated once.

BUSN 6200 | 0 Hours

Provides eligible students with an opportunity for work experience. May be repeated up to five times.

BUSN 6954 or BUSN 6964 | 0 Hours

Offers graduate students an opportunity to participate in flexible, professional work experiences through micro-internships, an alternative to a traditional corporate residency or co-op. Students demonstrate and enhance their career readiness competencies, explore career paths, and expand their network. These project-centered experiences are primarily remote, involve 10 to 40 hours of work, and are deadline-driven instead of set during specific hours.

BUSN 6970 | 0 Hours

Required Courses

Provides a comprehensive approach to understanding how business analytics enable companies to become more competitive. Offers students an opportunity to learn how to apply value chain analysis and other strategic perspectives to determine how business analytics can be integrated effectively into a firm's operations. Interactive activities such as simulations and case studies allow students to explore how insights from data can improve business decisions. Examines real-world examples of how companies have used business analytics perspectives and tools to enhance different types of business processes, such as inventory prediction, customer service quality, and resolution of ethical dilemmas.

MISM 6200 | 3 Hours

Covers basic principles and techniques of descriptive and predictive analytics. What are the essential data analysis concepts underlying business analytics? Topics include descriptive statistics, data visualization, probability and modeling uncertainty, sampling, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, simple and multiple regression analysis, time-series analysis, and forecasting. Emphasizes an understanding of how these tools can support decision making and analytics initiatives in a business context with real-world examples and case studies. Uses various software packages for analyzing data sets and creating visualizations.

MISM 6202 | 3 Hours

Covers data wrangling principles and techniques for business. Key topics include data extraction, profiling, cleansing, integration, aggregation, transformation, and automating data processes for business purposes. Applies principles and techniques using data transformation tools, programming languages, and data process automation tools. Emphasizes embedding appropriate communication mechanisms for collaboration for identifying, solving, and resolving challenges revealed in datasets and business processes. Offers students an opportunity to learn data wrangling techniques to identify, solve, and resolve real-world data challenges, creating business value in today's disparate computing and dynamic business environment.

MISM 6205 | 3 Hours

Introduces design principles for creating meaningful displays of information to support effective business decision making. Studies how to collect and process data; create interactive visualizations; and use them to demonstrate or provide insight into a problem, situation, or phenomenon. Introduces methods to critique visualizations along with ways to identify design principles that make good visualizations effective. Discusses the challenges of making data understandable across a wide range of audiences. Provides an overview of data visualization, key design principles and techniques for visualizing data, and the fundamentals of communication that are required for effective data presentation. Other topics may include ethical uses of information displays, storytelling, infographics, immersive visualizations, and information dashboard design. Offers students an opportunity to use one or more software tools.

MISM 6210 | 3 Hours

Examines data mining perspectives and methods in a business context. Introduces the theoretical foundations for major data mining methods and studies how to select and use the appropriate data mining method and the major advantages for each. Students use contemporary data mining software applications and practice basic programming skills. Focuses on solving real-world problems, which require data cleaning, data transformation, and data modeling.

MISM 6212 | 3 Hours

Covers the leading data practices from early adopters, focusing on innovative information design, data quality, data sharing, and data integration perspectives and methods for managing data and business analytics. Explores how data analytics and management can be strategically implemented to transform a company. Discusses theories and contemporary industry practice, and real-world data and cases are used for discussion and projects. Offers students an opportunity to prepare for problem identification and solution perspectives of data-related projects, gearing up for MISM 6214.

MISM 6213 | 3 Hours

Offers students an opportunity to engage in a real-world project that engages all concepts and methods covered over the course of the business analytics program. Students apply the business analytics knowledge they have gained to collect, visualize, analyze, and manage data from a real company (or companies). Based on their results, students present a proposal for strategic actions to be taken by the company with a viable scope. The project is reviewed by peers, faculty, and external judges from industry.

MISM 6214 | 3 Hours

Electives

Complete 9 semester hours from the following:

Offers students an opportunity to obtain the insights, frameworks, and tools to effectively manage and develop talent in teams and organizations. Also explores promotion and cross-functional systems that strengthen the organization as well as retention strategies to promote and reward high-quality talent. Managing and developing talent is one of the top three issues on the minds of CEOs from around the world. In fact, CEOs cite managing and developing their leadership talent as the issue that is most important to the future success of their business but that their organizations are least capable of addressing effectively. Offers students an opportunity to engage in various activities intended to illustrate and practice the skills involved in implementing talent management systems.

HRMG 6223 | 3 Hours

Introduces the methodological frameworks and tool sets for the design, development, and implementation of data management solutions for business. Offers students an opportunity to work hands-on, applying these methods and tools to solve actual business problems. Almost no aspect of business operates without a strong reliance on the flow of data. Even small enterprises track huge volumes of data, from sales transactions and supply chain activities to website traffic. Knowledge workers and managers at all levels within the organization require an understanding of data management, database design and operations, and associated decision-support and data analysis tools and systems to complete even day-to-day tasks.

MSIM 6201 | 3 Hours

Focuses on modern decision models in business analytics, with applications to business process design, revenue management, pricing, inventory control, business network planning, and other topics. Includes optimization, simulation, and selected data mining techniques. Emphasizes data-driven, real-world applications of mathematical decision tools and concepts.

MSIM 6206 | 3 Hours

Focuses on the integrative management of processes and activities involved in transformation and delivery of goods and services. Offers students an opportunity to obtain foundational knowledge on operations and supply chain management concepts, techniques, and functions. Topics covered include sourcing and procurement, manufacturing and service operations, process design and control, quality management, capacity planning, demand planning and forecasting, inventory management, transportation and distribution management, interfirm relationship management, and attendant information flows.

SCHM 6201 | 3 Hours

Designed to develop strategic decision-making skills using the latest analytics capabilities and enabler. Examines the state of the art in analytics capabilities and how these drive supply chains, from marketing to sourcing. Also examines how organizations use analytics to meet their strategic objectives, provide value to the business, and make decisions. Focuses on industry best practices, including studying some of the leading companies.

SCHM 6215 | 3 Hours

Introduces how to measure and manage a workforce strategically, including (1) identifying the strategic work that is truly necessary to execute firm strategy; (2) investing in differentiated management systems that support that work; and (3) designing and implementing targeted measurement systems, such as human resources function and workforce scorecards, designed to help to hold line managers accountable for strategic talent. Emphasizes helping students move from a focus on levels associated with a particular workforce attribute (e.g., what is our cost per hire?) to understanding the impact of the workforce on business-level outcomes (e.g., how might an increase in the quality of our project managers affect new product cycle time?).

STRT 6210 | 3 Hours

The following is a sample curriculum and is subject to change. Enrolled students should reference the academic catalog for current program requirements.

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