A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a degree designed to equip students with relevant knowledge and skills, allowing them to pursue a variety of roles in business. While traditional MBA programs typically require two years of full-time study, a variety of part-time, accelerated, and online options make it possible to pursue the credential in your own time and at your own pace.

Many MBA programs include tracks, specialties, or concentrations that allow students to focus their studies on areas of particular interest. This is where data science comes into play, most often in the form of business analytics. An MBA in data science or an MBA in data analytics allows individuals to work with data in a business-oriented environment to make informed business decisions.

Why would you, an aspiring data scientist, opt for the MBA route?

For one, the MBA exposes you to cutting-edge analytical methods and the modern business environments in which to strategically deploy them.

An MBA program with a data science track or concentration can position you to transform data to help make better business decisions. Foundational business knowledge, analytical expertise, and big-picture perspective may help you identify areas of business where analytics can add value and effectively communicate with the data scientists who crunch the numbers.

An MBA with a data science specialization helps prepare you for careers in brand management, strategic planning, risk management, public finance, and management consulting. Make sure to check the job description before applying.

Courses that count toward a concentration are typically taken in the later part of an MBA program after you have completed the core curriculum. For a specialization in business analytics, electives may include:

When deciding between an MBA or MS in business analytics, there are a few differences to consider. With an MBA, business analytics is often offered as a concentration while an MS program is completely dedicated to business analytics. Courses tend to be more theoretical with an MBA vs. an MS in business analytics. An MS is both practical and theoretical. Finally, an MBA in business analytics is typically geared toward individuals with business backgrounds who want to gain data analysis skills while an MS is geared toward people with technical backgrounds who want to enhance their knowledge of data science.

There are a variety of specializations that MBA in data science programs can help you get into. Data analysis is relevant in a number of industries, so there are numerous career paths you can pursue.

Beyond an MBA in data analytics, there are several other concentrations someone interested in data science can pursue, including business intelligence, business analytics, and information systems.

An MBA data analytics program can lead an individual into a few different fields. Data analytics is used to give businesses greater insight into their operations and profitability. Data helps businesses make more informed decisions for greater efficiency, and each of these types of analytics do that in a different way.

An MBA in business intelligence and an MBA in business analytics can both lead to careers that are centered around gathering and analyzing data in an effort to make smarter business decisions.

An MBA in business intelligence focuses on extracting raw data to examine past metrics in order to inform future decisions. Meanwhile, an MBA in business analytics focuses on using big data to make data-driven business decisions through statistics, predictive analytics, quantitative methods, and computational tools.

MBA programs in business analytics and business intelligence often lead to a variety of career opportunities in the above focuses. Business analytics managers, business analytics engineers, business intelligence analysts, and directors of business intelligence are just a few possible career paths.

A career in information systems is another possible career path after obtaining an
MBA in data science. This field focuses on gathering, processing, creating, and sharing data to help information systems in industrial, government and nonprofit settings make decisions.

This field uses hardware, software, and people power to gather and work with data. Rather than primarily focusing on data itself, an MBA in information systems includes courses geared toward telecommunications and IT (as opposed to an MBA in data analytics, business analytics, or business intelligence, which centers around statistics).

Some possible careers in information systems include systems analyst, information architect, database administrator, project manager, and webmaster.

After deciding to pursue an MBA degree in a given field, there are a few more choices to make. An individual should weigh the pros and cons of obtaining the degree online vs. in person, and choose between a part or full-time track. Everyone has different needs and finds themselves in unique situations. It’s important to take the time to consider all options before making a decision so you can be confident in your choice. Bandwidth, finances, and other responsibilities should all be taken into account before enrolling in an MBA program.

One of the first decisions applicants might make before enrolling in a desired course of study is whether to pursue an MBA online or in person by attending an on-campus program. Based on the individual’s needs, preferences, and allotted time, they can choose the option that’s best suited for them. This decision is entirely based on an individual’s needs, and the experience differs between the two options. The major difference between an online MBA path and on-campus one is the in-person interaction. While you don’t have to worry about the cost and time of commuting while in an online program, this may not be your best option if you love completing group work and collaborating in person. On the flip side, if you work well on your own and have the ability to self-learn, an online option could be a better fit for you.

MBA programs can either be part-time or full-time, and choosing between the two options is primarily based on one’s availability and specific situation. For someone who works full-time, a part-time track might be best. For someone who can dedicate ample amounts of time to studying, completing work and physically going to class, the full-time option can work better. Part-time jobs often pair well with a part-time education—and while full-time employees can attend a full-time MBA program, it may not be viable depending on time restraints. This decision depends on the applicant’s abilities and situation, and people should choose the option that works best for them.

Last updated August 2024.

We found the below universities in our directory offering MBA programs with a focus on analytics. The program’s website is always the best place for the most up-to-date information.