Master of Science in Business Data Analytics

Position yourself as a data-driven business leader—and your company’s data scientist—with an MS in Business Data Analytics.

The one-year, full-time graduate degree program will prepare you to make informed business decisions based on a targeted analysis of the big data available to business today.

Our MS in Business Data Analytics will provide you with specialized, hands-on knowledge of software tools and techniques for analyzing big data, statistical models, and their practical business application through real-world consulting projects.

STEM Designation

The MS in Business Data Analytics has been granted a STEM designation because the curriculum includes courses in statistics, econometrics, computer programming and information systems, quantitative methods, and management science. 

Under this STEM classification, international students can extend their training in the U.S. by working in their field of study. Students can qualify for a 24-month OPT (Optional Practical Training) Extension, bringing the total OPT time granted to 36 months.

Career Outcomes

Business leaders able to crunch big data are in high demand. A massive shortage of talent—between 140,000 and 190,000 people—with deep analytical skills is predicted by a McKinsey Global Institute study. The same study also projects a workforce gap of 1.5 million managers and analysts with the skills to decipher and translate data patterns for decision-making.

MSBDA Program Structure

You will complete the degree in 12 months of full-time study, beginning in the fall quarter, by taking three classes each quarter. One class will be held on an evening weekday; the other two will meet on Saturday.

For the first 6 foundational courses, you’ll study as part of a cohort – taking classes with the same group of students. This encourages dynamic interactions between you, your peers, and your professors, allowing you to form lifelong personal and professional connections.

The next 5 courses are electives in specific business discipline areas, such as finance, marketing, or supply chain management. The program concludes with a hands-on, integrative capstone course featuring a real-world consulting project, where you’ll apply all that you’ve learned.

Classes are held weekday evenings and Saturdays on Loyola's Water Tower Campus, which is conveniently located off the Red Line in downtown Chicago. Some courses may also be offered online. The program is on a 10-week quarter system.