Carnegie Mellon University

Curriculum | Master of Science in Business Analytics

MSBA student in class

The Tepper School of Business developed the curriculum for the online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) in consultation with global business leaders. The Tepper School determined that the greatest need is for professionals who not only have advanced analytical skills, such as machine learning and optimization, but also the appropriate business knowledge and communication skills to solve complex problems and bring value to industry.

As a STEM-designated program, the curriculum of the Full-Time MS in Business Analytics program equips students with leading-edge knowledge, skills, and experiential training in:

  • Methodology, including machine learning and optimization.
  • Software engineering, including large-scale data management and programming in R and Python.
  • Corporate communication, including communicating with non-technical stakeholders.
  • Business domain knowledge, including marketing, operations, accounting, finance, and people analytics.

"When I compared the Tepper MSBA with other similar programs, the Capstone experience really stood out to me. I'm really looking forward to the hands-on experiences and opportunities to not only learn what companies are already doing but actually apply what we are learning in our courses to help find new solutions and opportunities for them." 

Amina Shahzad (she/her) PT MSBA 2025

Full-Time | MS in Business Analytics Curriculum (9 months)

Mini 1

  • Programming in R & Python
  • Introduction to Probability & Statistics
  • Managing People and Teams
  • Business Fundamentals
  • Experiential Learning

Mini 2

  • Business Communications
  • Statistical Foundations
  • Machine Learning Fundamentals
  • Modern Data Management
  • Experiential Learning

Mini 3

  • Optimization
  • Data Exploration
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Experiential Learning

Mini 4

  • Business Value for Integrative Analytics
  • Machine Learning for Business Applications
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Experiential Learning

Part-Time | MS in Business Analytics Curriculum (20 months)

Yr 1 - Fall Mini 1

  • Programming in R & Python
  • Introduction to Probability & Statistics
  • Campus Experience: BaseCamp

Yr 1 - Fall Mini 2

  • Statistical Foundations of Business Analytics
  • Business Fundamentals

Yr 1 - Spring Mini 3

  • Machine Learning Fundamentals
  • Data Exploration & Visualization

Yr 1 - Spring Mini 4

  • Optimization for Prescriptive Analytics
  • Business Communication
  • Campus Experience: Analytics Immersion

Yr 1 - Summer Mini 5

  • Modern Data Management
  • Data Analytics in Finance

Yr 1 - Summer Mini 6

  • Business Value Through Integrative Analytics
  • Ethics and AI

Yr 2 - Fall Mini 1

  • Managing Teams and Organizations
  • Machine Learning for Business Applications

Yr 2 - Fall Mini 2

  • Operations and Supply Chain Analytics
  • Optional Elective
  • Campus Experience: Capstone Overview

Yr 2 - Spring Mini 3

  • Capstone
  • Analytical Marketing

Yr 2 - Spring Mini 4

  • Capstone
  • Optional Elective

Built for Industry. Built for Today. Built for You.

Our students develop proficiency in the full range of state-of-the-art business analytics techniques; they also learn how to tell stories through and extract insights from data. Given the Tepper School’s view of a curriculum as an organic entity, our faculty continually work in concert to ensure that courses harmonize, even as they are individually updated and modified to ensure learning outcomes for students are always in step with an ever-evolving industry.

Whether you enroll full-time on campus or in the flexible online format, students will make meaningful personal and professional connections with each other and develop the strong communication, collaboration and virtual team skills that will help them succeed in today’s increasingly interconnected and global business environments.

Business Analytics Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, MSBA students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a depth of knowledge of quantitative and analytical tools for decision-making.
  • Make appropriate judgments regarding managing, manipulating, and analyzing large data sets.
  • Develop and/or efficiently apply computer software to implement analytical techniques.
  • Identify the potential and challenges of applying data analytics in a business environment.
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively.

World-Renowned Faculty

MS in Business Analytics students learn from and engage with the world’s foremost experts in business analytics and benefit from course material that incorporates our faculty’s leading-edge research. 

Full-time professors across the Tepper School develop and teach the MS in Business Analytics program and are deeply committed to its ongoing relevance and student success.

Read About MS in Business Analytics Capstone Stories