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Ross Adds Data and Analytics Concentration

Business schools have become increasingly interested in the rise of big data in recent years. Now, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is joining the party with a new Data and Business Analytics concentration for full-time MBA students.

The new concentration, which will be offered beginning this fall, is designed to give students an opportunity to focus on big data in-depth, developing their analytical skills and their ability to apply data-based techniques to business.

By launching the concentration, Ross intends to “meet the needs of today’s MBA student as well as today’s evolving business world,” according to associate dean of full-time and global MBA programs Brad Killaly.

Killaly, who oversaw the process of developing the new concentration, says that “as students continue to seek careers in data-intensive industries, such as consulting and technology, Michigan Ross will offer the necessary business acumen that students can utilize to give themselves a competitive edge.”

Data and Business Analytics joins two other specialized concentrations available in Ross’s full-time MBA curriculum: Business and Sustainability, and Healthcare Management. Also offered is a certificate in Real Estate Development.

So what does completing the Data and Business Analytics concentration entail?

Students must take at least 12 credits of courses that relate to analytics. These courses are divided into three groups: Data and Business Analytics Fundamentals (Group 1), Tools and Applications Electives (Group 2), and a range of miscellaneous other courses (Group 3).

Completing the concentration requires taking at least two courses from Group 1, two from Group 2 and one from Group 3.

Group 1 includes three courses that cover the fundamentals of business analytics, big data and marketing analytics respectively.

Group 2 courses cover a variety of topics focusing on analytics and data skills. These range from data mining to marketing engineering to applied biostatistics.

Group 3 consists an assortment of miscellaneous other courses, including four offered by University of Michigan’s School of Information. Courses in this category cover topics ranging from mobile development to applications of statistical methods in epidemiology to information retrieval. 

Clearly, even within the new concentration, students will have substantial flexibility to tailor the courses they take to their individual interests.

The addition of this new concentration makes Ross more attractive to students who want an MBA that emphasizes data science and business analytics.

The next question you might have, naturally, is how your profile stacks up at Ross and what you can do to highlight your strengths as an applicant. We can help with that: sign up to do a free assessment!