Data surge inspires new MS program in UB School of Management

By Jacqueline Molik Ghosen

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The proliferation of data throughout businesses and organizations worldwide has created skyrocketing demand for individuals who can use it to solve complex problems. Starting this fall, the University at Buffalo School of Management will offer a Master of Science in business analytics to prepare graduates for careers in this high-growth field.

The program is the first business analytics master’s to be offered in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and was designed with input from corporate recruiters, alumni and industry experts to meet the exponentially growing needs of the marketplace. 

The 30-credit-hour program can be completed in just two semesters and focuses on the skills employers seek: data-driven decision-making, data visualization, business intelligence and data storytelling.

Students will gain a combination of technical, managerial and communication skills, allowing them to rise to leadership positions in organizations worldwide. 

According to The NextTech, the world generates 2.5 quintillion (that’s a million times a trillion) bytes of data per day, all of which must be analyzed, so demand is soaring for data analysts and data storytellers. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects opportunities in this sector will grow by more than 450,000 jobs by 2026.

“In the School of Management, our degree portfolio is constantly evolving,” says Paul Tesluk, dean of the UB School of Management. “Our Master of Science in business analytics will position our graduates for successful careers and enable them to make a positive impact on their organizations and society.”

For more information on the Master of Science in business analytics, visit mgt.buffalo.edu/msba