Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Why are big data and business analytics so frequently mentioned together?
2. What kind of job opportunities exists for students with business analytics skills?
3. Why is the MSBA at Bentley the right program for someone interested in the field?
4. Who should consider getting a degree in business analytics?
5. What math/statistics courses are pre-requisites for MSBA program applicants?
6. What are the course requirements for the MSBA program?
7. Can I choose elective classes from different clusters/tracks?
8. If I got admitted in to the MSBA program as a full time student, can I change my status to a part-time later, if I find a full-time job?
9. Is the MSBA program a STEM program?
10. What software will students learn to use in this program?
11. What support do students get at Bentley for learning SAS?
12. Does Bentley only accept GMAT? Can I use my GRE score? Is there any preference between GMAT and GRE?
13. Is there any opportunity for students to participate research projects with professors?
14. How long does this program take for a full time student?
15. Does this program connect with outside companies?
1. Why are big data and business analytics so frequently mentioned together?
Huge amounts of data are generated every day, and keep accumulating. However, only a small portion of these data sets has have been analyzed and utilized. The vast opportunities and challenges in this area continue to attract considerable public attention.
2. What kind of job opportunities exists for students with business analytics skills?
In the business world, there is a high demand for business analysts or data analysts in many business areas. Employers concur that a good knowledge of general business areas coupled with strong exposure to analytic techniques and database management tools are key to success in rewarding analytics careers. Typical employers include financial institutions such as Bank of America and Fidelity Investments, health-care organizations such as Partners Healthcare, database marketing and market research firms such as Digitas, Epsilon, Calexus and Predilytics, analytics groups in leading corporations such as Deloitte, consulting firms such as the Boston Consulting Group, D50 Media, Chadwick, Martin and Bailey, retailers such as Staples, major supermarkets chains, and more.
3. Why is the MSBA at Bentley the right program for someone interested in the field?
With over 20 years' experience in business analytics education, Bentley now offers the MS in Business Analytics (MSBA). Our curriculum allows students to gain an in-depth understanding of state-of-the-art data analytics techniques that are in demand in business practice and to become proficient at the use of leading statistical packages and database management tools. Students will be prepared to be well-rounded business professionals with a specialty in business analytics, and have learning opportunities that reinforce theories, practices and principles through internships and projects.
4. Who should consider getting a degree in business analytics?
The MSBA program welcomes the applicants who wish to develop and use analytics expertise in many business fields, as well as in public policy (such as health care) and social science disciplines (such as economics).
Potential students may be entry-level candidates who have recently completed a four-year undergraduate degree with some quantitative analysis background or computer science experience and who wish to delve more deeply in their field of study by learning advanced analytical techniques and the creative mindset necessary to apply these techniques in complex situations. Other candidates may have been in the workforce for several years following completion of an undergraduate degree and wish to enhance their professional success by applying advanced analytics techniques and a creative mindset to complex problems typical in their work environment.
5. What math/statistics courses are pre-requisites for MSBA program applicants?
We require all MSBA students to have completed statistics level-1 in the past 5 years. However, students who have never taken statistics before, or took it a long time ago and need a refresher, can take this foundations course at Bentley.
6. What are the course requirements for the MSBA program?
The program is a 10-course program, 6 core courses and 4 elective courses. Among the core courses, there are 5 applied quantitative analysis courses and 1 database management course. Students can choose 4 elective courses from different tracks: Data Science, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing.
7. Can I choose elective classes from different clusters/tracks?
Yes. For example, one can choose two classes from the Data Science cluster, one class from Finance, and one from Marketing. In our program, students choose courses based on their own background and interests.
8. If I got admitted in to the MSBA program as a full time student, can I change my status to a part-time later, if I find a full-time job?
Yes. Full time students can change their status to part time, and vice versa, except international students with an F1 visa. Due to the visa requirement, international students have to be full-time students to keep their F1 visa status.
9. Is the MSBA program a STEM program?
Yes, therefore international students can have a longer OPT period.
10. What software will students learn to use in this program?
In our core courses, students will learn how to use professional packages like SAS, SPSS, R, JMP to do data analysis, and SQL to manage/process information in a database. In the Data Science cluster, more cutting-edge data management software tools will be introduced through our elective classes.
11. What support do students get at Bentley for learning SAS?
Bentley has a site license for SAS, so SAS is free for current Bentley students. We have many SAS and R learning materials in our library, including SAS certificate exam material. For more details, please check the SAS learning guide and SAS installation guide on our website.
12. Does Bentley only accept GMAT? Can I use my GRE score? Is there any preference between GMAT and GRE?
We accept both GMAT and GRE scores, and there is no preference. If you took the GRE, we will compute the equivalent GMAT score for the review.
13. Is there any opportunity for students to participate research projects with professors?
Yes. We have a very active analytics research group here. Students can connect to the professors in person.
14. How long does this program take for a full time student?
In general, this program will take 1.5 to 2 years for full time students.
15. Does this program connect with outside companies?
Yes. We have corporate partners and a corporate advisory board. With their support and feedback, we continuously improve our program. We also host the Bentley Virtual Analytics Symposium, sponsored by Bentley University, INFORMS, and the American Statistics Association’s Boston Chapter. In this symposium, we regularly invite analysts from corporations to talk about their analytics practice.