Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2024-2025 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, M.S.

Program Description

The Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics prepares students for effective business intelligence, analytics, data science, and leadership roles by focusing on business acumen, ethics and leadership, data command, technology, and storytelling communication. The degree is application‐oriented with every course designed to connect the student to real world situations and scenarios. Students engage in the study and implementation of advanced analytic techniques, such as data engineering and artificial intelligence and enterprise‐level business intelligence design. Students construct an operational data store, identify stakeholder needs, assess resource needs, and present projects to experienced business intelligence professionals and industry leaders. Students completing the program are prepared to construct advanced data mining models, and lead, support and develop business intelligence and data science capabilities at small, medium, and large companies.

Students have the opportunity to select one of three certificates to further tailor their program to their particular career track and interest:

Artificial Intelligence - Students study data engineering to collect, clean and structure data for artificial intelligence projects.  Through deep learning methodology and technology focused on artificial intelligence models, students gain skills and insight to perform in the fields of big data, IoT, and artificial intelligence.

Business Analytics - Students learn how to frame business problems, provide optimal solutions, and improve business performance through data science project application.  Students learn which tools are available, which to create themselves, and then how to implement them to improve organizational performance. 

Healthcare Analytics - Students learn how to develop business intelligence capabilities within a healthcare organization and apply artificial intelligence techniques across a spectrum of patient care and business functions.  Students study best-practice information management systems, including health informatics and decision support systems.  Learn how to develop highly-accurate models for patient needs and organization objectives.  Students also study governance and ethics, including HIPAA.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics are expected to be able to do the following:

  1. Apply principles and skills of economics and decision making to contexts and environments in data science.
  2. Adapt appropriate technology and software solutions to build and enhance business intelligence capabilities.
  3. Analyze legal and ethical principles applied to contexts and environments of data science and decision-making.
  4. Design tested and effective advanced analytics models and simulations for decision making.
  5. Communicate effectively in a variety of modes and contexts.

Additional Certificate Outcomes

Artificial Intelligence

  1. Design and deploy an end-to-end artificial intelligence-based solution.
  2. Present deliverables to prospective stakeholders that align with the strategy goals of an organization.
  3. Evaluate ethical considerations around artificial intelligence-based solutions, focused on conflict resolution, cross-functional teamwork, and compliance issues.

Business Analytics

  1. Apply appropriate tools, data models, and ethical approaches to solve specific business problems.
  2. Demonstrate project management techniques to business analytics projects.
  3. Communicate with a variety of stakeholders and audiences.
  4. Evaluate ways that the organization can improve its operations through analytics.

Healthcare Analytics

  1. Apply specialized knowledge in healthcare analytics, while adhering to ethical and legal considerations including HIPAA requirements and organizational governance.
  2. Incorporate health informatics, information systems, and data analysis frameworks to enhance organizational effectiveness and decision making processes.
  3. Communicate highly sensitive data to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  4. Employ best-practice data science techniques to clinical, insurance, and hospital data to identify errors and ensure accuracy.
  5. Integrate artificial intelligence to achieve the organization’s goals.

Program Structure and Delivery

The Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics program is delivered fully online.

Students must complete a certificate in Business Analytics, Healthcare Analytics, or Artificial Intelligence as part of the master’s degree.

In addition, students may substitute 6 credits from any completed Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s School of Business and Technology graduate certificates to replace BIA620 Business Analytics and MBA618 Business Statistics. The substitutions allow these certificate students to complete the M.S. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics with just 27 credits. 

 

Degree Requirements

Required Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Courses 15 cr.
Required Capstone Course 3 cr.
Required MBA Courses 3 cr.
Required Certificate Courses 12 cr.
           Business Analytics  
           Healthcare Analytics  
           Artificial Intelligence  
Total Credits 33 cr.

Required Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Courses: 15 cr.

Required Capstone Course: 3 cr.

Required MBA Course: 3 cr.

Required Certificate (choose one)

Artificial Intelligence Certificate: 12 cr.

Students will work with the Python programming language and are strongly encouraged to come into the certificate with a working knowledge of Python programming language.

Business Analytics Certificate: 12 cr.

Healthcare Analytics Certificate: 12 cr.

Graduate Certificate to Master’s Degree

Students currently enrolled in a Saint Mary’s University graduate certificate program that can be used toward this degree are eligible to enroll in the master’s program through the Change/Add Program process. Students that have been withdrawn from the university must seek readmission through the Registrar’s office.

Faculty

The faculty members for this program have earned doctorate or master’s degrees. Faculty are selected for their combination of educational and professional experience and expertise.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to master’s degree programs at any time during the year. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants may complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

  1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family) and,
  2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted. 
  3. A personal statement which includes:
  • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
  • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
  • description of the areas the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
  • personal information the applicant wishes to share.
  1. Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
  2. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Minneapolis Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN  55404