This piece was contributed by Jenny Bingham, External Programs & Communications Coordinator, and Dr. Manoj Vanajakumari, Associate Professor and Director of MS Business Analytics within Cameron School of Business. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 39% increase in business analytics jobs through 2024.  Whether you’re seeking professional advancement or wanting to transition into a new career, UNCW’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program can give you the skills you need.

Data acquisition, storage, and processing costs have gone down over the past ten years. Data provides a wealth of information that helps organizations make informed decisions and remain competitive in the marketplace. 

“Organizations need analysts who can harness the power of big data sets, use advanced data analytics tools and techniques, and communicate the information gleaned from the data to management and the public,” explains MSBA program coordinator Dr. Manoj Vanajakumari.

The need for business analyst who make data-driven decisions is estimated to increase by 10% by 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Our program offers a competitive curriculum designed to equip students with business analytics skills and knowledge that meet the demands of the industry.  Our program provides a good pool of talented students who can meet the needs of the businesses in Wilmington and beyond,” – Dr. Vanajakumari. 

STEM Designated
This technical degree is designed to develop your understanding of the techniques, models, and analytic methods needed to create data-driven solutions.

The STEM designation makes the program attractive to students and employers.  It allows international students to gain practical experience (OPT) for 24 months before joining the workforce. 

What Does the Program Entail?
During the MSBA students will:

• Apply the methods and skills covered in courses to solve realistic business analytics problems during realistic timeframes. 
• Understand and apply the techniques to collect and transform data into appropriate formats for analysis
• Understand the analytics tools and techniques to manage analytics projects in various business environments
• Communicate proficiently and tell a story with data towards a targeted audience (i.e. upper management or analysts in other business units)

• Supply Chain Analyst
• Production and Operations Analyst
• Data Engineer 
• Quantitative Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Statistician
• Financial Manager
• Budget Analyst
• Risk Management Specialist
• Marketing Manager