近幾年，Business Analytics （BA）成為了越來越熱門火爆的留學項目。那麼，BA到底是學什麼的？又有哪些top美國大學開設了碩士BA項目？學成後的職業規劃如何呢？LeadYouAbroad儘量用簡明扼要的風格解答這些問題，並在文末列舉幾例我們做過的BA申請案例。
首先，BA到底學什麼？
BA是以商業知識為基礎，數理編程為手段，從數據分析出發，以決策優化來創造價值的新興專業，實現 Big Data 的商業應用。我們不妨看看Wake Forest University 的MSBA官網介紹：
Business analytics is the process of transforming data into insights to improve business decisions. Data management,data visualization, predictive modeling, data mining, forecasting simulation and optimization are some of the tools used to create insights from data.
該項目的課程設置分為summer session, fall semester 和spring semester. 其中，summer session的課程包括
Summer Module
Probability & Statistical Modeling
Intro to SAS
Intro to Programming with R
Career Management
Fall semester可以在兩個module中2選1，具體課程為
Mini 1
Mini 2
Analytics in Society
Analytics in the Board Room
Data Management
Predictive Analytics & Data Mining
Business Metrics
Data Visualization
Data Analysis & Business Modeling
Business Analytics Practicum I:
Mess to Model
同樣地，spring semester也是可以在兩個module中2選1，具體課程為
Mini 3
Mini 4
Process Analytics
Forecasting
Prescriptive Analytics
HR Analytics
Supply Chain Analytics
Financial and Risk Analytics
Marketing Analytics
Digital Marketing Analytics
Business Analytics Practicum II:
Model to Insight
Business Analytics Practicum III:
Insight to Impact
雖然學生可以根據自己的喜好選擇不同的module，但從課程我們也可以看出，整體來講，BA項目對數理統計、數據分析、數學建模、編程等有著較高要求，同時要求畢業生具有一定的商業知識，畢竟，這是一個培養複合型商業人才的專業。
美國好的BA碩士項目有哪些？
根據Poets&Quants 2016年發布的report(http://poetsandquants.com/2016/01/18/business-analytics-masters-at-the-top-100-b-schools/),
美國MBA項目排名前100的商學院，有30多所開設MSBA項目，具體如下
Rank
School
Program
Duration
Program Tuition
7
MIT Sloan School of Management
Business Analytics
1 year
$75,000
16
NYU Stern School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
$68,750
18
University of Texas-Austin McCombs School of Business
Business Analytics
<1 year
In-state: $36,000; out-of-state: $44,000
21
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Business Analytics (online)
18 months
$38,100
24
Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
$57,100
25
Michigan State Broad College of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
In-state: $36,000; out-of-state: $39,000
26
USC Marshall School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
$51,300
29
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management
Business Analytics
1 year
In-state: $41,265; out-of-state:$57,015
30
Washington University Olin Business School
Customer Analytics
18 months
$72,930
34
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
Analytics
1 year
In-state: $36,000; out-of-state: $49,000
35
University of Maryland Smith School of Business
Marketing Analytics
9 months
In-state: $46,140; out-of-state $55,590
36
Arizona State Carey School of Business
Business Analytics
9 months
In-state: $31,600; out-of-state: $47,800
37
University of Iowa Tippie College of Business
Business Analytics
1-2 years
$19,950
38
University of Rochester Simon Business School
Marketing Analytics
9-10 months
$63,000 (part-time: $62,820)
38
University of Rochester Simon Business School
Business Analytics
10 months or 17 months
$63,000 (part-time: $71,545)
39
Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business
Business Analytics
9 months
$41,850
44
Purdue University Krannert School of Management
Business Analytics and Information Management
11 months
In-state: $29,000; out-of-state: $46,000
49
George Washington University School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
$50,985
50
Temple University Fox School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
In-state: $32,460; out-of-state $45,330
52
University of Texas-Dallas Jindal SOM
Business Analytics
18 or 24 months
out-of-state: 18 months: $45,444; 24 months: $48,452
54
College of William & Mary Mason School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
In-state: $33,000); out-of-state: $39,000
61
U.C. San Diego Rady SOM
Business Analytics
1 year
$52,900
66
University of Miami School of Business Administration
Business Analytics
10 months
$55,500
68
Louisiana State Ourso College of Business
Analytics
1 year
In-state: $12,463; out-of-state: $34,901
70
University of Colorado Leeds School of Business
Business Analytics
1 year
$35,446
71
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Haslam College of Business
Business Analytics
3 semesters
In-state: $21,903; out-of-state: $49,575
72
Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead SOM
Business Analytics
11 months
$47,500
73
University of Connecticut Storrs School of Business
Business Analytics & Project Management
1-1/2 years
$28,875
77
University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
Business Analytics
9-12 months
In-state: $20,958; out-of-state:$28,796
78
American University Kogod School of Business
Analytics
1-2 years
$50,358
82
Iowa State College of Business
Business Analytics (online)
21 months
$16,440
99
Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
Business Analytics
12-16 months
$40,560
100
Texas Tech Rawls College of Business
Data Science
1 year
$16,000
但是，這個MSBA的list顯然是不全面的，例如，Wake Forest Univ. ，UCSD和UCI等學校都在近年開設了MSBA項目，不在此列。
關於MSBA，並沒有一個很官方的專業排名。不過大家可以參考
http://www.mastersindatascience.org/schools/top-masters-in-analytics/
上的21Top Schools With Master’s in Business Analytics Programs.
分別是：
MIT Master of Business Analytics
Carnegie Mellon Master of Information Systems Management: Business Intelligence & Data Analytics
UT Austin Master of Science in Business Analytics
University of Chicago Master of Science in Analytics
Columbia University Master of Science in Applied Analytics
Duke University Master of Quantitative Management
Gatech Master of Science in Analytics
Purdue University Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Management
UMN Master of Science in Business Analytics (Full-Time/Part-Time)
NYU Master of Science in Business Analytics
Indiana University Bloomington MBA:Business Analytics Major; Online Master of Science in Business Analytics
TAMU Master of Science in Analytics
Northwestern University Master of Science in Analytics
UFL Master of Science in Information Systems and Operations Management: Business Intelligence & Analytics Specialization
University of Virginia Master of Science in Commerce: Business Analytics Track
UC Davis Master of Sciencein Business Analytics
Rutgers Master of Business & Science inAnalytics: Discovery Informatics & Data Sciences
University of Rochester Master of Science in Business Analytics
MSU Master of Science in Business Analytics
Boston University Online Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics Management; Master of Science in Computer Science: Data Analytics Concentration
University of Iowa Master of Science in Business Analytics
BA專業職業規劃
BA碩士畢業後第一年平均年薪為$64k，有些項目甚至達到了$80K,整體還算不錯。
以Rochester MSBA官網關於就業去向的介紹來看，Simon graduates in business analytics are well prepared to succeed in diverse industries and functions, including:
這幾個方面主要還是集中在金融、保健領域，而實際上就業當然遠遠不局限於這些。像是Nielsen等大公司的業務與數據分析有著千絲萬縷的聯繫，又像是阿里巴巴、京東、沃爾瑪等電商或者零售巨頭都需要數據分析來更好地制定策略為客戶提供更好服務進而抓住市場：這些公司都需要大量的BA人才。實際上，金融、快消、零售、廣告等各傳統行業中需要外部數據進行決策的部門，和網際網路企業都是BA畢業生就業好去向。
剛入職場的應屆畢生生，職位一般都是analyst，analyst又分為自己公司提供數據分析支持的(business function) analyst，和通過數據分析為其他公司提供professional services的analyst。繼續往上走，發展途徑最主要無非是兩種，要麼以data為主，在公司內部或者是在此種類型的諮詢公司持續扮演decision-support的角色；要麼就是從數據轉向業務/管理，畢竟，作為一個既有技術又懂business的複合型人才，在如今這個大數據時代的商業社會，只要夠努力夠有拼搏精神，just dream big!
LeadYouAbroad的BA方向案例
我們在過去幾年做過多例MSBA的申請，以2016年為例：
W同學
背景：華中科技大學物流專業本科GPA 88%, T 106, GMAT 750
目標：主申金融，輔申少數幾所學校的BA
結果： Wake Forest University的offer, Duke University MQM 的 interview, University of Southern California在審，College of William & Mary的wait list
G同學
背景：國際關係學院國際經濟與貿易專業本科 GPA 3.66, T 95, GMAT 650
目標：主申BA，輔申少數幾所學校的物流
結果：Denver University ($11,000獎學金), Stevens Institute of Technology, Miami University ($20,000獎學金),University of Connecticut的offer, Purdue University的interview, University of California San Diego的wait list.
我們預測18 Fall的MSBA申請還會持續火爆，競爭更激烈，希望對BA感興趣的同學們儘早規劃，提升背景，申請到滿意的program!
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