Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Why Rutgers University?
Rutgers is the 8th oldest university in the nation. We are the leading state university in New Jersey, spanning three campuses, including Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick, with over 65,000 current students and over 500,000 alumni worldwide.
Why an MSBA?
More and more businesses and organizations are seeking individuals with strong analytical skills. There is a demand for job candidates who are capable of gathering, cleaning, mining, modeling, and visualizing business data in order to gain insight into business processes, improve productivity, detect problem areas, identify opportunities, and boost profitability.
Business data can be mined to predict customer purchase or churn, detect fraudulent behavior, analyze flow and traffic patterns, etc. in a variety of industries, including: high technology, not-for-profit, medical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, retail, credit, banking, gaming, hospitality, real estate, utilities, trucking, and transportation.
What will I learn in the MSBA?
Upon graduation, you will be able to strategize ways that analytics can be deployed in an organization to help it achieve its key performance objectives. An MSBA can lead to career paths as data analysts, data scientists, business intelligence analysts, digital marketing managers, and data consultants, among others.
How is the MSBA program structured?
The MSBA is comprised of ten courses, through which students acquire knowledge of statistics, machine learning techniques, and relevant software (e.g., SQL, Excel, R, SAS, Python etc.) with direct applications to business domains, such as marketing, operations, finance, and accounting. With this degree, candidates will learn how to extract, collect, clean, describe, segment, and model data, as well as validate models and clearly communicate the results to stakeholders, while appreciating legal, ethical and strategic issues involved.
What classes can I choose from?
Students will choose ten (10) courses from offerings, such as:
- Quantitative Skills
- Business Analytics
- Data Management and Business Intelligence
- Social Media Strategy
- Supply Chain Analytics
- Managing Projects and IT
- Strategic Marketing Analytics
- Data Privacy: Legal and Ethical Issues
- Machine Learning Applications in Business
- Database Marketing
- Accounting Analytics
In what order should I take the classes?
Students who have not taken a college level course in statistics with a grade of B or better in the last 5 years must first take Quantitative Skills. This is a foundation course that will prepare students to take more advanced courses.
Students who have taken at least one college level course with a grade of B or better in the last 5 years should take Business Analytics either before or at the same time as other courses. These students may take Quantitative Skills at any time, if they wish.
For students with a very strong prior analytical background (e.g., undergraduate degree with a major in statistics, mathematics, or engineering), courses may be taken in any order.
How much math do I need to know before entering the program?
It is strongly recommended that applicants possess a working knowledge of algebra. Exposure to statistics and/or calculus is desirable but not necessary.
Are the classes delivered in person or online?
All classes are offered fully online.
When do classes start?
The program follows a traditional semester calendar, with fall classes starting in September, spring classes starting in January, and summer classes starting in May each year.
How are the classes delivered?
Classes will consist of asynchronous elements, such as recorded lectures, readings, discussion boards, cases, and other materials that the student completes or contributes to each week. Synchronous elements may also be incorporated such as live chat office hours, homework help, etc. Quizzes, exams, assignments, and other assessments will need to be completed according to the stated guidelines of each course.
Is an in-person residency required?
No, there is no on campus residency required. All classes are offered fully online.
How long will it take me to complete this degree?
If students enroll in four (4) courses in the fall, four (4) in the spring, and two (2) courses in the summer, the degree could be completed in as little as 12 months.
Students may complete the program at a slower pace, as well. If students complete one (1) course each in the fall, spring, and summer, the degree could be completed in just over three (3) years.
How many hours per week should I plan on spending on each course I take?
The courses in the MSBA are worth 3 credits each. You should plan on spending 7 to 10 hours each week, on average, to complete course requirements. The amount of time needed will vary as a function of prior preparation and aptitude.
How is this degree different from an MBA?
The MSBA is a more focused program. It concentrates on the development of analytic skills as applied in business contexts. An MBA typically requires more credits to complete, and covers several managerial disciplines, such as management, accounting, finance, marketing, etc.
Will I have access to career services at Rutgers-Camden?
Yes. As a student matriculated in the MSBA degree program, you will have full access to the Rutgers-Camden Career Center, including career fairs, etc.
When is the application deadline?
For domestic students, applications are due August 1 for Fall, December 1 for Spring, and May 1 for Summer. For international students, the deadlines are June 1 for fall and November 1 for spring.
What supporting materials do I need in order to apply?
You need to provide:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university.
- Original transcripts from your undergraduate university
- Two letters of recommendation (from professors or professional colleagues)
- Resume
- Personal statement describing why you are applying to the program.
*Although we normally request that you submit GMAT or GRE scores, in response to COVID-19, we are waiving standardized test scores for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Do I need to take the GMAT or GRE?
If you have scores from the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to submit them. If you would like to request a standardized test waiver, information is provided at: https://graduate.business.camden.rutgers.edu/gmat/.
What kind of bachelor’s degree is needed to apply?
A Bachelor’s degree in any topic, from an accredited university is acceptable.
Do I need any work experience?
Work experience is not needed to apply, but may be looked upon favorably for your application.
Can I transfer in credits?
You may petition for a transfer of up to six (6) credits of graduate coursework completed at another AACSB accredited university, if the credits largely replicate course offerings in the MSBA and you received a grade of B or better in the course(s). Contact the program director for more information.
Can I defer my admissions start date?
Deferrals are granted only for a full academic year, from one fall semester to the very next fall semester, with the exception of students leaving for military service. A deferral is official only when you are notified that the Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions has granted your request.
How long can I take to complete the MSBA degree?
You can take up to five years from the time you begin the degree to complete the 30 credits.
Is financial aid available?
Students may apply for financial aid if they are enrolled in at least two courses in a semester. Click the Rutgers Office of Financial aid for more information (https://studentaid.rutgers.edu or 856-225-6039). Unfortunately, financial aid is not available to international students.
Can I use my employer’s tuition benefits to pay for the degree?
Students receive a term bill at the start of each semester, which they must pay in full. Upon receipt of their grade for the class, they can submit evidence of their tuition payment to their employer for reimbursement, as appropriate.
Who can I contact for more information?
You can contact the Program Director, Dr. Mimi Morrin (856-225-6647 / mmorrin@rutgers.edu), or the Program Manager, Rory "Cal" Maradonna (856-225-6714 / cal.maradonna@camden.rutgers.edu).
