If you are interested in becoming an operations research analyst and are still in high school, talk to your guidance counselor about adding relevant courses to your schedule. Classes such as computer science, computer applications, and advanced mathematics will be valuable for you, as will any business and management-related courses.
After high school, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree. A technical or business-related degree is ideal. Following graduation, you may decide to acquire a few years of professional work experience in an entry-level position before returning to school to earn a master’s degree in business analytics.
Following high school, the first step toward becoming an operations research analyst is to earn a relevant undergraduate degree. There is considerable flexibility regarding the type of bachelor’s degree you can earn. An operations research analyst might have an academic background in any of the following fields:
- Computer science
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Business and management
- Data analytics
While you are working toward your degree, take the opportunity to pursue job shadowing, internship, and part-time positions that are relevant to your career aspirations. The career services department on your campus can assist you with locating and applying to these positions. As important as academic credentials are, it is also crucial to build your professional network and acquire real-world experience.
It is possible to find work as an operations research analyst with a bachelor’s degree alone. However, you are likely to discover that many employers prefer or require that their job candidates possess a graduate degree as well. After acquiring a couple of years of professional experience, you could head back to school to earn your master’s degree.
Aspiring operations research analysts will typically earn a graduate degree in business analytics. You have two main options:
What is the difference between an MS and an MBA in Business Analytics, and which one should you choose? One of them is not necessarily better than the other; they are both excellent choices. The right degree for you depends on your particular interests, strengths and career aspirations.
An MBA in Business Analytics focuses on applied knowledge. You will study all the technical aspects of business analytics in classes that cover the following:
- Data mining techniques for extracting data patterns from large data sets, with a look at inferential techniques for interpretation and recommended application
- Foundational data analytics concepts, such as predictive analysis using industry tools
- Advanced analytics techniques, such as prescriptive analytics to identify and develop solutions intended to address key business issues
- Descriptive and diagnostic analytics to identify business challenges and uncover their root causes
As you can see, this curriculum is quite technical and hands-on. It is an ideal way to prepare for a rewarding career as an operations research analyst.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is an equally viable choice, but it may take your career in a different direction. Every MBA, regardless of its concentration (e.g., business analytics) will focus on foundational concepts in business leadership, organizational science, finance principles and operations management. However, you will also take courses in your concentration, such as descriptive and diagnostic analytics.
In short, an MBA program will focus on the competencies you will need to become an effective and ethical business leader, while also offering some technical skills in data analytics. You could still become an operations research analyst with an MBA in Business Analytics. However, earning an MBA as opposed to an MS may also position you to pursue a higher-level career as an executive who is responsible for making data-informed decisions.
