Master of Applied Business Analytics
Masters GMAT/GRE Option for 2021 Admissions
For 2021 Walton master's program admissions, the GMAT or GRE is optional. While not required, you have the option to submit your test scores as part of a holistic admissions review. Programs may still conduct an interview as part of the overall process. Doctoral programs will still require a valid GMAT or GRE test score as part of the application. Please contact gsb@walton.uark.edu for more information.
The need to effectively analyze data is growing at an amazing rate. At the same time, businesses are finding that they lack enough skilled professionals to fill those roles. Industry analysts predict that the United States will soon face a vast shortage of people with deep analytical skills as well as the managers and analysts qualified to make decisions based on that data.
What Story Does the Data Tell?
Program Overview
The Master of Applied Business Analytics degree will arm students with a solid knowledge of business analytics, data handling and management, machine learning methods, optimization, and computing.
Data skills, combined with knowledge of business application modeling and business problem solving, will enable students to identify, assess, and seize the opportunity for data-driven value creation in the private and public sectors.
Focus is given to answering questions such as:
- How do we get and transform data for use?
- How to we manage data?
- What are the data telling us?
- How can we put the data to work via modeling?
Students may choose from a variety of elective analytics courses focusing on business applications or a deeper dive into statistical theory. The program culminates with a multi-semester practicum experience where students work with industry data to complete an analytics project from beginning to end.
Master of Applied Business Analytics
Program Length: 1 Year
(Summer; Fall; Spring)
Program Start Date: Mid-May
Application Deadline:
November 1
Curriculum Overview
View a Course Listing
Admissions Information
View Info and Requirements
Required Test: GMAT or GRE
A GMAT/GRE waiver is available for select candidates with quality work experience
and a strong prior academic record.
Program Cost
View Cost of Program
Program Designation:
This is a STEM designated program.
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Career Outlook
Prospective employers indicate a strong demand for graduates with a working knowledge of applied business analytics. Job titles associated with the knowledge and skills obtained from the program include:
- Business Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Management Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Operations Analyst
Expected starting salaries are in the range of $70,000 to $85,000. An average salary for these positions is $73,000, rising with experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median pay in 2018 for a management analyst is $83,610 per year.
Program Highlights: Skills, Tools, Certifications
- STEM designated degree
- Graduate Certificate - Enterprise Systems Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
- State-of-the-Art Software access – SAS, Tableau, SQL, Python, Power BI, etc.
- Data analytics and problem solving using real, “large-scale,” datasets
- Use of “industrial strength” systems – IBM, MS, Teradata, SAP, SAS, …
- Comprehensive multi-semester practicum for real-world business problems.
Jobs and Salaries
$83,610
National median pay for management analysts in 2018.
876,300
Number of people employed as management analysts in the United States in 2018.
+118,300
Projected numeric change in the number of employed economists from 2018 to 2028. (+14% change. The average growth rate for all occupations is +5%.)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Industry Survey: Employer Feedback
Executives and managers from the multiple corporations wrote letters of support for offering the Master of Applied Business Analytics degree, include: Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield, Teradata, Dillard’s Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Wal-Mart, and J.B. Hunt Transport Inc.
"Data driven decision-making permeates throughout our company. Consequently, analytics
has become very important in many roles, from operational to strategic decisions."
"Analytics has become a critical role within companies to make informed and advanced
decisions to improve and transform their business. This disciplinary focus exemplifies
courses and subject matter for training necessary to produce qualified professionals
toward advanced skills in analytics."
"Over the last few years the use of data to make decisions in our organization has
had great success with a great ROI. This program would be crucial in getting more
people in the organization the skills to use data more effectively."
Program Outline (Full-time MABA) – 1 year
| Summer 6 credit hours |
|
| Fall 12 credit hours |
|
| Spring 12 credit hours |
|
Saturday Class Dates
| Spring 2021 |
Summer 2021 |
Fall 2021** |
Spring 2022 |
Summer 2022 |
| January 9 |
May 15 |
August 28 |
January 15 |
May 21 |
| February 6 |
June 12 |
September 25 |
February 12 |
June 18 |
| March 6 |
June 26 |
October 30 |
March 5 |
July 9 |
| April 3 |
July 24 |
November 20 |
April 2 |
July 30 |
| April 24 |
December 11 |
April 30 |
**Fall 2021 dates are tentative.
*Students admitted to the Full-time MABA program are required to attend a three-day orientation prior to the start of scheduled courses. Dates to be determined. Please contact gsb@walton.uark.edu for more information.
Admissions Requirements and Prerequisites
The Master of Applied Business Analytics program is open to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and who can present evidence of their ability to do graduate work (superior grade-point average, an acceptable test score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and recommendations with respect to ability for successful pursuit of graduate-level work). Other admissions criteria can be considered on a case by case basis.
The Master of Applied Business Analytics program considers work experience an integral part of the curriculum and recommends that students work/intern for up to one year in a position (or positions) which allow for the practical application of the theoretical principles taught in courses. The Master of Applied Business Analytics Degree is a non-thesis degree program.
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