Nov 23, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Business Analytics


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Nathan Colaner, MBA, PhD, MSBA Program Director

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program combines deep analytical content with an emphasis on the ability to communicate with business leaders and on understanding business problems. Our program is designed to emphasize technical skills along with the ability to use those skills effectively in a business context. Our graduates will be knowledgeable regarding business practices, language, and strategies so as to be able to understand problem situations well and communicate their findings to senior management.

The Albers MSBA program has been designed around fundamental business analytic skill requirements with the opportunity to concentrate in one of the following areas:

  • Data Analytics (offered in collaboration with the College of Science and Engineering)
  • Marketing
  • Financial Economics

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to graduate programs should contact the Albers School of Business and Economics at (206) 296-5700 or Seattle University Graduate Admissions at (206) 220-8010. See Graduate Admissions Programs for admission materials. Documents required for admission to the Master of Science in Business Analytics program includes the following:

  • Completed Application for Graduate Admission 
  • A 300 word essay on either one of these topics:
    • the job you would like to have after graduating;
    • a problem you would like to solve, or have already solved using analytical skills
  • Transcripts of all post-secondary education institutions attended in the last 90 quarter/60 semester credits of the bachelor’s degree, including any transfer credits earned during this time, and any post-baccalaureate course work
  • Scores from the GRE or GMAT exams taken within the last five years are optional except for those subject to the Three-Year Degree Policy (2004-04) and those who earned degrees from institutions issuing nongraded transcripts.
  • Current résumé
  • If English is not the applicant’s native language, official English proficiency scores meeting the University entrance requirements are necessary. See Admissions Policy (2008-01) for details. 

Transfer Credit and Waivers

Students are allowed to transfer up to nine quarter graduate credits in core or elective courses if the grade obtained was equivalent to a B or better with prior approval by the dean or director of the program. Any transfer credits from international universities are subject to prior approval by the dean. The six-year limit policy applies to courses approved for transfer from other universities, and courses must otherwise meet the criteria for transfer as outlined in the University transfer policy. 

Students are allowed to waive any core courses for which the substantive learning outcomes have been successfully achieved before, whether in graduate or undergraduate courses, with prior approval by the director of the program. Courses waived must be substituted by other courses. Students are encouraged to contact their adviser as soon as possible, and preferably before enrolling in the program, to make sure that suitable alternatives will be available.

Degree Requirements


I. Preparatory Coursework


To be satisfied before starting the program:

  • Applications Programming for Business
  • Business Calculus
  • Introductory Business Statistics

Students with previous comparable course work with a grade of B- or better have the option of waiving these preparatory courses.

III. Capstone


6 credits:

IV. Electives


6 credits chosen from one or more of the areas below:

Minimum credit required for degree (45)


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