Study MBA in Data Analytics

Data analytics is a rapidly growing field that utilizes information to make better-informed business decisions. More specifically, MBA-trained data analysts look at patterns and trends in the data they collect to draw insights about marketing, management, supply chain issues, and new product launches, to name a few.

Since this field is growing quickly – the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates it will grow by 36 percent in the coming years – it’s a fantastic career choice. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend years taking MBA classes on campus, either. Instead, some of the popular online MBA in Data Analytics programs mentioned in this guide offers a fast-track solution for your degree – all without needing to take the GMAT!

NO GMAT Online MBA in Data Analytics - Best Accredited Easy Low GPA MBA in Data Analytics

Online MBA in Data Analytics NO GMAT

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online MBA in Data Analytics programs without the requirement of GMAT:

  • University of Wisconsin Parkside
  • University of New Haven
  • Southeastern Oklahoma State University
  • Boise State University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Unity Environmental University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • American Public University

University of Wisconsin Parkside

Online Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics

The Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics from the University of Wisconsin Parkside is a 30-credit program that takes as little as one year to complete. Not only is this program completely online, but you can start your classes just a couple of weeks after gaining admission to the program.

In addition to being a popular and flexible program, this degree is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This prestigious accreditation indicates the rigor of this program and the quality of the education you will get as a student. Employers appreciate graduates from AACSB-accredited programs, too. When you graduate, you might pursue any number of careers, from a business analyst to a data analyst to a data analytics manager.

The curriculum is divided into four components: Foundation courses, MBA core courses, required electives, and specialized electives. The foundation courses are only needed if you do not meet the program’s prerequisite requirements. For example, if you lack enough undergraduate business credits, you might have to take Foundations of Finance and Accounting as well as Foundations in Statistics and Economics.

Once you complete any foundation courses, you will move on to the MBA core, starting with the following classes:

  • Creative and Innovative Management
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Advanced Operations Management
  • Project Management
  • Information Technology for Business Decision-Making

Likewise, you are required to take Corporate Financial Management, which explores the various theories and applications of corporate finance. This includes an examination of the time value of money and valuation. You will also take a course called Contemporary Challenges in Managing Organizations, which discusses everything from global management to organizational effectiveness to organizational climate.

Furthermore, you will take Marketing Management, which uses case studies to help you develop your decision-making and analytical skills for the purposes of marketing. You will analyze common marketing problems, brainstorm evidence-based solutions, and work to develop a toolkit of management skills that allows you to advance the marketing goals of the organization.

Other core MBA courses you must take include the following:

  • Advanced Strategic Management
  • Competitive Decision-Making
  • Advanced Global Management
  • Leadership: Theory, Application, and Skill Development

Technology is a critical part of this program. As such, you are required to take an elective Technologies for Data Analytics class. As the name indicates, this course introduces you to data analytics tools, including programming for data analytics and database technologies.

Lastly, you will take two of the following three classes: Optimization Techniques, Social Media Marketing, or Quantitative Models for Supply Chains. The Optimization course explores the quantitative techniques you can use to make better-informed decisions. Meanwhile, the Social Media Marketing class explores digital marketing strategies and various digital analytics platforms you can use to create engaging, hyper-focused content that’s likely to compel users to buy your company’s products or services. Or, you can take the Quantitative class and learn how managers use quantitative data to improve decision-making, inventory management, and distribution strategies.

You can begin your journey toward an MBA by filling out an online application to the University of Wisconsin Parkside. The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher. You can apply with a lower GPA, but you must also submit a resume and two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

University of New Haven

Online Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics

The University of New Haven’s online Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics is an AACSB-accredited program that requires 34-40 credits to graduate. Most students need about 1.5 years to complete the program, though you can take longer if your life commitments prevent you from studying full-time.

This program is STEM-designated, which means it is highly focused on technical skills development. You will learn how to collect data, properly identify it, look for patterns, and use that information to make better decisions (and equip other stakeholders to make better decisions as well).

At the outset, you must complete three foundation courses if you haven’t already done so at the undergraduate level. These classes include the following:

  • Economics for Managers
  • Accounting Foundations
  • Introduction to Finance

Where these classes explore fundamental concepts that all MBA students need to know, the core sequence of classes dives into more specific managerial-related topics. For example, you will take Leadership and Team Building to master the relevant theories governing how modern managers lead organizations and build successful teams. Likewise, you will take Managerial Accounting to get familiar with planning, evaluating, and controlling how a business performs based on its accounting data.

Another essential class to your development is Applied Statistical Methods. The purpose of this class is to help you understand how to use data analytics and visualizations to gain insights into valuable data. You will discuss regressions, discrete data, statistical inference, and chi-squares, to name just a few tools.

Our world is increasingly globalized, and as such, you are required to take Managing in a Global Economy. This class focuses on the theoretical foundations of international economics and helps you understand how the global economy works. You will discuss topics like gains from trade, economic policy development, and measuring national output. You will also examine factors like comparative advantage, inflation, and unemployment during your studies.

The four remaining core courses are as follows:

  • Corporate Finance
  • Marketing Analysis and Customer Value
  • Leading Organizational Strategy and Change
  • Strategic Management

As for the data analytics portion of the curriculum, you will take a mix of required and elective classes. One of the most important required classes is Business Forecasting. This course will teach you how to use statistics and data analysis methods to predict the future performance of businesses. You will use many different empirical techniques, including moving averages,time-series decomposition methods, and Box-Jenkins models, to name a few.

Knowledge Management is yet another required class. The point of emphasis in this course is to examine organizational and management issues that may arise in a business setting. More specifically, you will analyze how to harness the power of knowledge and information to improve the competitive standing of businesses and organizations.

The Data Mining for Business Intelligence class is also required. In this course, you will learn how to conduct statistical analyses and mine data with the purpose of enhancing evidence-based managerial decision-making. You will learn how to mine the appropriate data, use it to make informed decisions, and apply what you’ve learned to specific managerial positions.

You will supplement the required courses listed above with two data mining electives of your choice. There are more than a dozen options, including the following:

  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Digital Marketing Strategy
  • Real Estate Analysis
  • Data Visualization and Communication
  • Supervised Machine Learning

The University of New Haven’s application for admission is available online. You must meet the following requirements to apply:

  • Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher if your undergraduate degree is not in business. If your degree is in business, there is no minimum GPA requirement.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a statement of purpose.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
  • Submit a current resume.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Online Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics

Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics is a 100 percent online program with no residency requirements. The program requires you to complete at least 30 credits of coursework, which typically takes around three semesters or one calendar year.

This program is accredited by AACSB, and its curriculum aligns with current industry standards. Importantly, the learning outcomes of this program align closely with the accepted roles and responsibilities of data analysts. These outcomes include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Master analytic techniques for exploring and visualizing data.
  • Become familiar with the Cross-Industry Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM).
  • Understand valuation concepts and theories.
  • Conduct risk analyses and develop competency in option-based pricing.
  • Make data-driven decisions that enhance business operations and customer satisfaction.

You will take a wide variety of classes throughout your tenure to acquire the skills listed above. The bulk of the credits needed to graduate are MBA core courses. For example, you will take Accounting for Managers, which explores how to use accounting information as a vehicle for managing an organization’s resources. You will study many specific topics, including managerial planning, cost systems, and managerial decision-making.

The Management Information Systems class is another important course in your development. You will learn how to use modern management information systems to enhance organizational decision-making. This class also discusses how to effectively implement information systems and how to use them to spur innovation and gain a competitive advantage against other businesses.

Numerous management-focused classes are required, too. On the one hand, you will take Behavioral Management, which focuses on the strategies you can use to manage individuals and groups in a business environment. This class also explores how to use human capital in the most effective and efficient manner.

Likewise, you will take Marketing Management, which explores the effective use of marketing principles to give a company an advantage over its competitors. This is an experiential course, too—in addition to traditional lectures, you will also use integrated case studies to see how marketing management principles should be applied in real-world settings.

Other MBA core courses you are required to take include the following:

  • Managerial Economics
  • Financial Management
  • Data Analysis for Managers
  • Strategic Management

The final component of this program is the two-course sequence of data analytics classes. The first class is Predictive Analysis and Data Visualization. This course walks you through building a basic machine-learning environment in which predictive models use live data to make predictions about business outcomes. Moreover, you will learn how to mine data using the CRISP-DM method and use the information you gather to develop pivotal questions and answers about business decisions.

The second data analytics class you need to take is Introduction to Data Analysis and Text Mining. This course focuses specifically on data analytic thinking skills. You will learn about data-driven economies, data analytics, and data management. You will also undertake data exploration and visualization activities.

You can apply to Southeastern Oklahoma State University online. If accepted, you can begin the program in just a few days or weeks. Successful applicants meet the following criteria:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher. If you do not meet this GPA requirement, you might still be granted admission by achieving an acceptable GPA and having a combination of relevant work experience, letters of recommendation, and approval from the program coordinator. You can also gain admission by having some graduate work already completed.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

Boise State University

Online Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics

Yet another popular online option for completing an MBA in this field is Boise State’s Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics. This program offers the flexibility of online learning and six start dates throughout the year. Additionally, each course is just seven weeks long, so you can work quickly through each class without being overwhelmed with a traditional full load of classes all at once.

You must complete 49 credits to graduate. Typically, this takes about 1.5-2 years, though you can work quickly through the coursework and finish this program in as little as 12 months. Whatever the case, you will gain important knowledge and skills pertaining to data analytics that are enhanced by hands-on learning experiences throughout the program.

Like the other programs outlined earlier, Boise State’s MBA is accredited by AACSB. With that designation, you can rest assured that the program offers you a rigorous curriculum that’s aligned with high standards of academic and professional success. As a result of your studies, you will be able to:

  • Use marketing and customer data to make informed business decisions.
  • Lead an organization with interdisciplinary skills that make problem-solving an easier task.
  • Be fluent in business analytics and use that competency to take on leadership roles.

Needless to say, with skills like those listed above, you might be in high demand after graduation. Likewise, as a graduate of this program, you can pursue a wide range of potential careers, including work as a Director of Finance, Senior Business Analyst, or Business Development Manager. Graduates of this program have also gone on to become Customer Insights Directors, Directors of Market Research, and Business Intelligence Managers.

The curriculum is divided into two parts: a 37-credit sequence of required classes and a 12-credit sequence of business analytics classes. You will begin by taking Introduction and Business Foundations, which is a basic refresher course that explores topics like statistics, financial accounting, and microeconomics. From there, you will take Design Thinking and Strategic Management, which analyzes the various strategies used to enhance innovative thinking and long-term strategic development.

You will then shift to Marketing Strategy. This course explores the different opportunities available to businesses and organizations to increase revenue, specifically with new product and service offerings. You will learn about segment analysis, branding, personal selling, and other critical aspects of marketing in this class as well.

Further required courses include the following:

  • People and Organizations
  • Corporate Finance
  • Global Economics: Policy and Trade
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Law and Ethics

You must also take an Operations and Supply Chain Management class. This course offers insights into how products and services move their way through the supply chain. Though the focus is on logistics management, you will also discuss topics like operations modeling and supplier relationships.

This program has an integrated capstone, too. As the final core course, the capstone is an opportunity to integrate what you’ve learned to this point in the program and apply that learning as you create a business plan for an organization in any industry you choose.

The three business analytics-focused classes round out the curriculum. First, you will take Digital Marketing Management, which explores the different types of digital and online marketing and how they can be combined to produce an effective and meaningful marketing campaign. Then you will take FInancial Analytics and Modeling, which gives you hands-on experience using essential data analysis tools to solve real financial problems.

Your studies then end with Data-Driven Decision-Making, which gives you access to data analysis techniques that are critical to carrying out managerial-level decisions. You will learn how to identify patterns within data, explore the factors that influence how the data unfolds, and explore sources of data that can be used for business intelligence purposes.

You must meet the following requirements when applying:

  • Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (though you might be granted provisional admission with a 2.75 GPA or above, and applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 might be admitted on a case-by-case basis).
  • Have two years of full-time management experience.

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