MS Business Analytics (MSBA)

Master of Science in Business Analytics

The USC Marshall MSBA program is a data science STEM program with a business lens. It is one of the longest-running MSBA programs in the nation and has consistently been ranked among the world’s top programs. The program includes project-based learning in the classroom, so our students acquire deeper business analytics knowledge through active exploration of real business challenges and problems. These projects cover a range of business areas including finance, operations, marketing, management, supply chain, sports analytics, and HR.

MSBA PROGRAM BENEFITS

The Business Analytics program engages with the community through our annual conferences. We host a free conference, Data Con LA, here on the campus of USC. The conference provides anyone who is interested in data the opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain new insights into the field. We typically have about 2000 attendees who come from all over the country.
Furthermore, we engage the community through our partnerships with various organizations and companies, which allow our students to work on various real-world projects. These projects, whether it be gathering and programming data to improve transportation, affordable housing, or homelessness initiatives, allow our students to assist organizations with innovative solutions for the community.
Our students gain valuable real-world experience throughout their time in the MSBA program through Summer internships and projects with industry partners. Rather than requiring a capstone project, in which students would only pursue one project at the end of their graduate program, MSBA students have the chance to build their resume through collaboration with companies to solve real business problems through data.
To further their business acumen, students partake in case competitions both internally to the program and externally. In April 2022, the MSBA program kicked off the first annual USC MSBA Sustainability Case Competition, where students competed to solve sustainability issues on-campus. Additionally, students from the program have joined international case competitions. A team of USC MSBA's placed 2nd in the Humana-Mays Healthcare Analytics 2020 Competition for their model predicting transportation challenges for Medicare patients.

VISIT THE BASA SITE

MSBA ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

Academics at a Glance

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) degree requires 33 units, taken in 3 semesters (with the flexibility of extending to 4 semesters): Fall, Spring, and Fall. There are 21 units of required coursework, including an internship opportunity, plus 12 units of coursework chosen from a list of electives.
USC MSBA's Three Pillars: Computer Science; Statistics, Machine Learning, Optimization; and Business Strategy.

Actual schedules may differ between students for various reasons and will be determined with the guidance of the Academic Advisor.

First Semester (Fall)
GSBA 545: Data Driven Decision Making (1.5 units)
DSO 510: Business Analytics (1.5 units)
DSO 545: Statistical Computing and Data Visualization (3 units)
DSO 570: The Analytics Edge: Data, Models, and Effective Decisions (3 units)
DSO 552: SQL Databases for Business Analysts (1.5 units)

Second Semester (Spring)
DSO 530: Applied Modern Statistical Learning Methods (3 units)
GSBA 542: Communication for Management (1.5 units)
DSO 553: NoSQL Databases in Big Data (1.5 units)
Elective (3 units)
Elective (1.5 units)

Summer
DSO 595 (1.5 units) Internship in Data Sciences or Operations

Third Semester (Fall)
DSO 573*: Data Analytics Driven Dynamic Strategy & Execution (3 units)
Elective (3 units)
Elective (3 units)
Elective (1.5 units)
*DSO 573 can be replaced with DSO 574 (Getting Ready for Big Data), which is offered in the Spring or DSO 556 Business Models for Digital Platforms

Probability Distributions

Inferential Statistics

Supervised Learning Methods (linear regression, logistic regression, lasso, ridge regression, decision trees, LDA, QDA, KNN, PCR, neural networks, random forests, SVM)

Unsupervised Learning Methods (k-means, hierarchical clustering)

Deep learning (CNN, RNN, LSTM, GAN)

Simulation Models, Linear, Non-linear, Discrete, Dynamic Optimization

MSBA FACULTY

APPLYING TO USC MARSHALL

As a top-ranked four-year business school housed at a leading private research institution, a USC Marshall business degree allows extraordinary students to cement their own legendary futures.

The fall 2023 Application Cycle is now open.

Application Deadlines:

•Round 1–November 15, 2022–Decision: by January 1, 2023
•Round 2–January 15, 2023-Decision: by March 1, 2023
•Round 3–February 15, 2023-Decision: by April1, 2023
•Round 4–March 15, 2023-Decision: by May 1, 2023
•Round 5–April 15, 2023 (International Student Deadline)-Decision: by June 1, 2023
**No international student applications will be accepted after April1 5, 2023, due to immigration requirements and timelines.**
•Round 6–Rolling Admissions until Fall 2023 Cohort is full, or the final deadline of May 15 passes*

*Applications will not be reviewed once the class is full. To be sure your application is reviewed, plan to apply by April 15

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For more information about this program, please fill out the form below. If you have further questions you may EMAIL the admissions team directly.

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Master of Science in Business Analytics

MSBA PROGRAM BENEFITS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

CASE COMPETITIONS

MSBA ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

Academics at a Glance

Sample Schedule

Programming

Statistics + Machine Learning

Business Strategy

MSBA FACULTY

Dawn Porter

Mohammed Alyakoob

Arif Ansari

Cosimo Arnesano

APPLYING TO USC MARSHALL

Dates + Deadlines

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