Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSA)

Contact Info

In the three-semester Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSA) program at Olin, we prepare students for today's world of big data. By combining technical programming skills with a rigorous approach to business problem-solving, MSA students gain the tools and the confidence needed to extract strategic insights from vast storehouses of data.

Across every industry, businesses are collecting data — from retail inventory records to hospital patient data to credit card transactions and more — and relying on skilled analysts to stay ahead of business trends, build forecasts, and drive creative solutions to business problems. 

Areas of Focus

Students can choose one of five STEM-designated concentrations, focusing on a specific business area of data analytics:

• Accounting Analytics (MSAA)
• Customer Analytics (MSCA) 
• Financial Technology ("FinTech") Analytics (MSFTA)
• Healthcare Analytics (MSHA)
• Supply Chain Analytics (MSSCA)

The MSA degree requires the completion of 39 credits, including 18 units of common core credits that build students' analytics knowledge. The core courses focus on skills and tools such as SQL, Python, Tableau, R programming, text mining, big data, and cloud computing. 

Master of Science in Accounting Analytics (MSAA) 

The MSAA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 13.5 accounting analytics required credits, and 7.5 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include strategic cost analysis, financial reporting and assurance in a blockchain world, accounting policy and research, and ethical decision making in accounting. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.

Master of Science in Customer Analytics (MSCA)

The MSCA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 13.5 customer analytics required credits, and 7.5 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include marketing research, marketing management, digital marketing, and data analysis for brand management. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.

Master of Science in Financial Technology Analytics (MSFTA)

The MSFTA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 15 fintech required credits, and 6 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include financial management, advanced corporate finance, investment theory, methods and practice of financial technology, and a seminar in financial technology. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.

Master of Science in Healthcare Analytics (MSHA) 

The MSHA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 12 healthcare required credits, and 9 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include research in healthcare management, health economics and policy, healthcare management, and the business and practice of medicine. Please review the curriculum outline for more details.

Master of Science in Supply Chain Analytics (MSSCA) 

The MSSCA program requires 39 total credits, including 18 common core credits, 18 supply chain required credits, and 3 elective credits (at least 1.5 credits must be an experiential course). Areas of focus include operations management, stochastic models, revenue management, and supply chain finance. The Supply Chain Analytics program also requires the completion of an on-campus intensive foundation course that may begin prior to orientation. Please review the curriculum outline for more detail.

Orientation Programs

All Specialized Master’s Programs students kick off their degrees with a multipronged orientation program designed to prepare them for academic, personal and professional success.

Students will participate in various online and in-person orientation activities prior to beginning their fall semester at Olin. SMP Start is a set of online modules that introduce students to the ins and outs of Washington University including policies and procedures, health and wellness, leadership opportunities, and more. SMP Orientation Week includes workshops, events, and cohort overviews including introductions to faculty and advisors. This week is set up to help students with their final preparations before the start of their first semester. Orientation includes career sessions, which serve as catalysts for students to help them get started in their career search. These programs are packed with opportunities for students to bond with their program cohort and to connect with their peers in all of the Specialized Master's Programs.

Students new to the United States may have the opportunity to participate in SMP GO, during which they will acclimate to the Olin Business School culture and strengthen their English and business communication skills. 

Simultaneously, students will complete optional online, asynchronous foundation courses to bolster their background and maximize their academic preparation before the start of their degree program. 

Master of Science in Business Analytics Common Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
DAT 5550	Machine Learning Tools for Prediction of Business Outcomes	3
DAT 5561	Introduction to Python and Data Science	3
DAT 5562	Text Mining	1.5
DAT 5563	Data Visualization for Business Insights	1.5
DAT 5564	Database Design and SQL	1.5
DAT 5566	Big Data and Cloud Computing	1.5
DAT 5567	Prescriptive Analytics	1.5
MGT 5600	Professional Business Communication	1.5
MKT 5569	A/B Testing in Business and Social Science	3

Accounting Analytics Concentration (MSAA)

MSAA Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ACCT 5012	Managerial Accounting	1.5
ACCT 5013	Ethics I	1.5
ACCT 5030	Business Analysis Using Financial Statements	1.5
ACCT 5031	Advanced Business Analysis Using Financial Statements	1.5
ACCT 5105	Financial Reporting & Assurance in a Blockchain World	1.5
ACCT 5550	Accounting Policy and Research	3.0
ACCT 5620	Financial Accounting II (Intermediate Acct)	3.0

MSAA Electives and Experiential Learning

Option A

• 1.5 experiential course credits
• 6 approved elective credits

Option B

• 3 experiential course credits
• 4.5 approved elective credits

MSAA Recommended Elective Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ACCT 5004	Fraud Prevention and Internal Controls	1.5
ACCT 5005	Information Technology Control and Audit	1.5
ACCT 5014	Ethics II	1.5
ACCT 5020	Managerial Control Systems	1.5
ACCT 5080	Financial Reporting From the CFO's Perspective	1.5
ACCT 5090	Tax and Business Strategy: A Planning Approach	1.5
ACCT 5360	Financial Issues in Leasing	1.5
ACCT 5640	Auditing	3.0
ACCT 5670	Taxation of Individuals	3.0
ACCT 5680	M&A Accounting	3.0
DAT 5565	Deep Learning for Prediction of Business Outcomes	1.5
DAT 5571	Introduction to Cybersecurity	1.5
DAT 5668	Agentic AI: Autonomous Decision-Making	1.5
MEC 5310	The Global Economy	1.5
MGT 5785	Strategic Data Storytelling and Visualization for Business	1.5

Note: All Master of Science in Business Analytics students can count courses from other concentrations toward their elective requirements. 

MSAA Experiential Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ACCT 5675	Volunteer Income Tax Assistance	1.5
MGT 5103	The Practicum	3.0
MGT 5105	Taylor Non-Profit Practicum	3.0
MGT 5515	Internship, Business and Application	1.5

Customer Analytics Concentration (MSCA)

MSCA Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
MKT 5002	AI Driven Customer Analytics	3.0
MKT 5003	Digital Marketing	1.5
MKT 5550	Data Analysis for Brand Management	1.5
MKT 5551	Analytics Driven Brand Management	1.5
MKT 5770	Marketing Strategy	3.0
MKT 5800	Marketing Research Analytics	3.0

MSCA Electives and Experiential Learning

Option A

• 1.5 experiential course credits
• 6 approved elective credits

Option B

• 3 experiential course credits
• 4.5 approved elective credits

MSCA Recommended Elective Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
CSE 4107	Introduction to Machine Learning	3.0
CSE 4507	Introduction to Visualization	3.0
CSE 5104	Data Mining	3.0
CSE 5105	Bayesian Methods in Machine Learning	3.0
CSE 5107	Machine Learning	3.0
CSE 5300	Database Management Systems	3.0
CSE 5306	Rapid Prototype Development and Creative Programming	3.0
DAT 5370	Data Analysis, Forecasting & Risk Analysis	3
DAT 5565	Deep Learning for Prediction of Business Outcomes	1.5
DAT 5571	Introduction to Cybersecurity	1.5
DAT 5668	Agentic AI: Autonomous Decision-Making	1.5
FIN 5575	Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies	1.5
MEC 5660	Health Analytics	3.0
MGT 5785	Strategic Data Storytelling and Visualization for Business	1.5
MGT 8200	Empirical Methods in Business: Part B	3
MGT 8201	Empirical Methods in Business Part A	3
MKT 5580	Pricing Strategies	1.5
MKT 5581	Pricing Decision Making & Implementation	1.5
MKT 5615	Introduction to GIS and Spatial Mapping	1.5
MSB 5520	Introduction to Bioinformatics	3
OB 5340	Talent Analytics	1.5
OB 5350	People Metrics	1.5
SDS 4110	Experimental Design	3.0
SDS 4210	Statistical Computation	3.0

Note: All Master of Science in Business Analytics students can count courses from other concentrations toward their elective requirements. 

MSCA Experiential Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
MGT 5103	The Practicum	3.0
MGT 5105	Taylor Non-Profit Practicum	3.0
MGT 5515	Internship, Business and Application	1.5
MKT 5000	Intensive Industry Project	3.0
MKT 5315	Growth Marketing Practicum	1.5

Financial Technology Analytics Concentration (MSFTA)

MSFTA Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
FIN 5203	Financial Management	3
FIN 5240	Options and Futures	1.5
FIN 5250	Fixed Income Securities	1.5
FIN 5320	Investment Theory	1.5
FIN 5340	Advanced Corporate Finance I - Valuation	1.5
FIN 5506	Fintech: Methods and Practice	3
FIN 5507	Seminar in Financial Technology	3

MSFTA Electives and Experiential Learning

Option A

• 1.5 experiential course credits
• 4.5 approved elective credits

Option B

• 3 experiential course credits
• 3 approved elective credits

MSFTA Recommended Elective Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
CSE 5104	Data Mining	3
DAT 5370	Data Analysis, Forecasting & Risk Analysis	3
DAT 5565	Deep Learning for Prediction of Business Outcomes	1.5
DAT 5571	Introduction to Cybersecurity	1.5
DAT 5668	Agentic AI: Autonomous Decision-Making	1.5
FIN 5020	Financial Markets - Institutions, NYC Immersion	3
FIN 5023	Venture Capital Methods	1.5
FIN 5024	Venture Capital Practice	1.5
FIN 5025	Private Equity - Methods	1.5
FIN 5026	Private Equity - Practice	1.5
FIN 5232	Mergers & Acquisitions	1.5
FIN 5241	Derivative Securities	1.5
FIN 5270	Financial Markets and Institutions	1.5
FIN 5280	Investments Praxis	3
FIN 5300	International Finance	1.5
FIN 5315	ESG Investing	1.5
FIN 5321	Data Analysis for Investments	1.5
FIN 5330	Valuing Strategic Corporate Investments	1.5
FIN 5341	Advanced Corporate Finance II - Financing	1.5
FIN 5342	ACF3: Corporate Financial Strategy	1.5
FIN 5360	Financial Issues in Leasing	1.5
FIN 5400	Real Estate Finance	1.5
FIN 5502	Wealth Management - Practice	1.5
FIN 5503	Endowments, Foundations and Philanthropy	1.5
FIN 5504	Hedge Fund Strategies	1.5
FIN 5505	Behavioral Finance	1.5
FIN 5575	Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies	1.5
FIN 5601	Research Methods in Finance	3
MEC 5310	The Global Economy	1.5
MGT 5101	Startup Practicum (STL)	3
MGT 5110	Law and Business Management	1.5
MGT 5785	Strategic Data Storytelling and Visualization for Business	1.5
MKT 5003	Digital Marketing	1.5

Note: All Master of Science in Business Analytics students can count courses from other concentrations toward their elective requirements. 

MSFTA Experiential Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
FIN 5110	Fintech Practicum	3
MGT 5515	Internship, Business and Application	1.5

Healthcare Analytics Concentration (MSHA)

MSHA Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
MEC 5220	Healthcare Management	3
MEC 5630	Olin Grand Rounds	3
MEC 5640	Health Economics and Policy	3
MEC 5660	Health Analytics	3

MSHA Electives and Experiential Learning

Option A

• 1.5 experiential course credits
• 7.5 approved elective credits

Option B

• 3 experiential course credits
• 6 approved elective credits

MSHA Recommended Elective Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ACCT 5080	Financial Reporting From the CFO's Perspective	1.5
DAT 5565	Deep Learning for Prediction of Business Outcomes	1.5
DAT 5668	Agentic AI: Autonomous Decision-Making	1.5
MEC 5310	The Global Economy	1.5
MEC 5550	Health Insurance in the US	1.5
MEC 5551	Drugs and Devices	1.5
MGT 5785	Strategic Data Storytelling and Visualization for Business	1.5
MSB 5520	Introduction to Bioinformatics	3
PHFN 5000	Epidemiology	3
PHS 5010	Introductory Clinical Epidemiology	3
PHS 5011	Intermediate Clinical Epidemiology	3
SCOT 5503	Simulation	1.5

Note: All Master of Science in Business Analytics students can count courses from other concentrations toward their elective requirements. 

MSHA Experiential Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
MGT 5101	Startup Practicum (STL)	3
MGT 5103	The Practicum	3
MGT 5105	Taylor Non-Profit Practicum	3
MGT 5108	Startup Practicum (Domestic)	3
MGT 5515	Internship, Business and Application	1.5
SCOT 5050	Boeing Center Supply Chain Practicum	3

Supply Chain Analytics Concentration (MSSCA)

MSSCA Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
SCOT 5100	Operations Management Foundations	2
SCOT 5300	Supply Chain Analytics Capstone	3
SCOT 5310	Supply Chain Finance	1.5
SCOT 5503	Simulation	1.5
SCOT 5580	Advanced Operations Strategy	3
SCOT 5702	Introduction to Revenue Management	1.5
SCOT 5721	Operations Analytics	3
SCOT 5760	Foundations of Supply Chain Management	1.5
SCOT 5906	Operations and Supply Chain Management Industry Seminar	1

MSSCA Electives and Experiential Learning

• 1.5 experiential course credits
• 1.5 approved elective credits

MSSCA Recommended Elective Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
CSE 2201	Internet of Things	3
CSE 4207	Cloud Computing With Big Data Applications	3
CSE 5104	Data Mining	3
CSE 5105	Bayesian Methods in Machine Learning	3
CSE 5107	Machine Learning	3
CSE 5300	Database Management Systems	3
CSE 5306	Rapid Prototype Development and Creative Programming	3
DAT 5370	Data Analysis, Forecasting & Risk Analysis	3
DAT 5565	Deep Learning for Prediction of Business Outcomes	1.5
DAT 5571	Introduction to Cybersecurity	1.5
DAT 5668	Agentic AI: Autonomous Decision-Making	1.5
MEC 5310	The Global Economy	1.5
MGT 5785	Strategic Data Storytelling and Visualization for Business	1.5
MKT 5580	Pricing Strategies	1.5
SCOT 5500	Project Management	3
SCOT 5501	Supply Chain Risk Management	1.5
SCOT 5568	Business Management with SAP 1	1.5
SCOT 5730	Operations Management in the Service Industry	1.5
SCOT 5770	Supply Chain Innovation and Technology	1.5

Note: All Master of Science in Business Analytics students can count courses from other concentrations toward their elective requirements.

MSSCA Experiential Course Options

Course List

Code	Title	Units
MGT 5515	Internship, Business and Application	1.5
SCOT 5050	Boeing Center Supply Chain Practicum	3