MBA: Business Analytics Emphasis
Gain a Foundational Business Analytics Education
The Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Business Analytics degree at Grand Canyon University combines the foundational education of an MBA, including instruction on accounting, finance, organizational leadership, management, marketing and strategic planning, with skill development in business analytics.
This program offers business analytics courses that address:
- The implementation of database functions in relation to performing data analytics.
- Techniques for extracting knowledge from large data sets. Emphasis is placed on hands-on application of key concepts.
Earn Your MBA With a Business Analytics Emphasis From GCU
Students in GCU’s MBA business analytics emphasis program have the opportunity to develop core competencies in research and business analytics. Statistical modeling is used to analyze data to diagnose root causes of business problems and discover ways to improve business operations. Other key competencies that are taught include:
- Strategic Management and Organizational Development: You will have the opportunity to evaluate internal structures and processes to create strategic plans to improve an organization’s competitive advantage.
- Critical Thinking and Decision Making: You will be taught to use market and consumer data analysis to recommend sound financial decisions and capitalize on business opportunities.
- Professionalism and Ethics: You can learn to collect, use and report data ethically. You will also be taught to analyze the ethical implications of all business decisions.
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Learn Advanced Skills and Concepts
At the completion of this advanced business program, you will have been taught to analyze and synthesize data and draw relevant conclusions in order to solve complex and time-sensitive problems. You may also acquire:
- Leadership skills to help propel positive changes and growth within an organization.
- Skills in effective communication, to help interpret business messages and relay them clearly in various formats across diverse audiences.
- The ability to determine the international factors that drive business development as well as cultural diversity awareness skills used to operate international businesses.
As a faith-based university, GCU understands that society as a whole depends on businesses to operate professionally, morally and ethically in order to make an impact on community development and economic progress. Graduates of the program are taught to articulate the responsibilities of companies in a Christian context, specifically the commitment to the good of individuals and the community required of Christian business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Career Paths for MBA: Business Analytics Emphasis Graduates
Graduates with an MBA with a business analytics emphasis may have opportunities to pursue careers in the growing field of data science. Business professionals with skills in managing and analyzing data may also be well-suited for key areas of business, including accounting, finance, marketing and operations. Some careers that graduates may pursue include:
- Management analysts
- Compensation, benefits and job analysts
- General and operations managers
- Sales managers
- Logisticians
- Training and development managers
- Industrial production managers
There is a need for business professionals who are skilled in data analysis, interpretation and application. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 108,400 new jobs are estimated to open for management analysts from 2021 to 2031.1
GCU Offers Accredited Specialized MBA Programs
GCU offers accredited MBA programs through the Colangelo College of Business. GCU is an institutionally accredited university, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Accreditation status speaks to the quality of our academic programs, acknowledging that they meet a set criteria and standards.
MBA in Business Analytics Degree FAQs
To learn more about earning your MBA with a business analytics emphasis, read through some frequently asked questions and start planning your next degree.
MBA programs with an emphasis in business analytics are designed for students with business backgrounds who want to develop their skills in making better data-driven business decisions. MBA programs provide advanced coursework in business fundamentals including accounting, finance, marketing and strategy. An MBA with a business analytics emphasis also offers transferable skills and networking opportunities for professionals in a wide range of industries.
MS in Business Analytics programs are geared toward individuals with technical backgrounds who want to gain skills in data science techniques to solve business challenges. These programs provide practical and theoretical courses dedicated to the study of relevant business topics. While completing your program, you can gain hands-on experiences using mathematics, computing skills and predictive modeling for business management.
Business analytics uses a data-driven approach to operating a business. Individuals who have a passion for blending statistics and big data modeling to implement new and improved business practices should consider taking business analytics courses.
Yes, tools used in financial analytics help businesses understand their current financial situation and uncover root issues and changes that should be addressed to optimize growth and future performance.
An MBA with an Emphasis in Business Analytics offers transferrable skills that can be applied in many different industries and areas of business. Skills in data and statistical analysis are needed in a variety of companies as they increasingly prioritize data-driven performance and results. Earning this degree may help individuals with business experience to position themselves for possible career advancement in operations, sales, marketing, accounting, finance, human resources and logistics.
Completing your degree may help you position yourself for possible advancement in your career by furthering your knowledge and teaching you valuable business analytical skills and concepts. Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, management analysts had a median annual wage of $93,000 in May 2021.2
You will need a previous bachelor’s degree to be eligible to earn your MBA. To learn more about the program and your eligibility, and to take the first steps in applying, fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor and begin the enrollment process.
If you’re interested in pursuing your MBA with an emphasis in business analytics, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts, retrieved on July 21, 2023.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Management Analysts as of May 2021, retrieved on July 21, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as management analysts. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Business. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the College of Business, key concepts of leadership, and an overview of how the science of organizational behavior contributes to effective leaders and managers.
Course Description
This course is designed for students who are preparing for more advanced coursework in business but who have not had accounting in undergraduate work. Topics covered include the principles and practices of financial accounting, including the fundamentals of revenue recognition, the components of the balance sheet, and financial statement analysis. ?The course explores accounting theories using publicly traded companies and case studies.
Course Description
This course is designed for individuals who are preparing for more advanced coursework in accounting and is designed for students who have not had finance in undergraduate work. Topics covered include financial analysis, financial planning, asset evaluation, capital structure, and working capital management.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to prepare students in mathematical, probability, and statistical concepts for their upcoming studies in quantitative methods. The course is intended for those students who have not had any prior statistical education, although students who have had statistics should also consider taking the course as a refresher.
Course Description
This course introduces microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts that are relevant to contemporary business. Emphasis is placed on using economic data for business decision making.
Course Description
This course is a study in the quantitative tools and techniques used to model business functions and applications. Emphasis is placed on how to set up models, and how to interpret and apply their results. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
Management of the marketing function, market environmental analysis, and marketing planning, strategy, and control are fundamentals of marketing management. The course examines the marketing process, marketing research, product development innovation and diffusion, pricing strategy, distribution value drain, advertising and promotion, and strategic marketing issues. Emphasis is placed on case study analysis and current academic research with a marketing plan as a significant curriculum component.
Course Description
This course covers managerial accounting concepts and procedures for internal reporting, including the study of cost behavior, cost systems, budgeting, and performance evaluation. Coursework includes case studies, group projects, and class discussion. Prerequisite: ACC-502.
Course Description
Operations Management examines managerial concepts and strategies relating to the management of operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Emphasis is placed on methods to streamline and drive inefficiencies out of a firm’s internal processes to build a highly efficient organization. The course also focuses on external processes by examining ways to achieve greater supply chain integration with suppliers and customers. Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools are introduced and applied. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
This course discusses elements of business financial decisions, including financial forecasting and development of proformas, management of working capital, capital budgeting, capital structure, and raising funds in capital markets. Prerequisite: FIN-504.
Course Description
This capstone course focuses on preparing and conducting a strategic analysis of a selected publicly traded firm to produce actionable intelligence used to formulate recommendations to promote the creation of a value-adding strategy. Based on the results of their strategic analysis, students are then required to prepare the framework of a strategic plan that creates significant value for the selected firm. Prerequisites: MGT-605, MKT-607, ACC-650, and FIN-650.
Course Description
This course introduces the role and value of data analytics in meeting the business needs of contemporary organizations. Students are introduced to selected foundational business and information technology topics that are relevant to analytics organizations.
Course Description
This course examines foundational analytics concepts with an emphasis on descriptive and diagnostic analytics. Students solve business problems by working with selected industry tools and methods for describing what happened and diagnosing root causes based on available business enterprise data. Prerequisite: MIS-615 or SYM-506.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.