Harnessing Business Analytics: Analyzing Data Analytics Programs in U.S. Business Schools.

Companies are collecting data at a greater pace and volume than ever before. However, they are struggling to develop expertise and the know-how to aggregate, analyze and more importantly provide executives and managers with the insights needed for informed decision making. As a result, the need for data analysts has never been higher. In fact, the shortage of data analysts is expected to reach 1.5 million within the next two years. As demand for data analysts continues to grow, colleges and universities are rushing to offer programs to equip their graduates with the necessary analytical skills to meet today’s data-centric workplace. This study explores masters in business analytics programs from top ranked business schools in the United States and investigates the content of these programs. Our results offer interesting perspectives covering data analytics, interdisciplinary skills, online versus on-campus programs, as well as different geographical areas. Implications and future research opportunities are also discussed.