What an MBA with a Specialization in Analytics Can Do for You

Students in the LSU Flores MBA Program develop the technical and soft skills employers demand in the modern workplace through exposure to a robust curriculum centered on application learning. Students take core courses covering the functional disciplines of business, including finance, marketing, business law, operations, and strategic management, along with elective credits that offer them the chance to target their studies in a specific subject area of business. The Flores MBA Program offers 11 market-driven specializations, including one in one of the most sought-after industries today, analytics.

 

Why Specialize in Analytics? 

Analysts collect and interpret data to generate business insights that offer problem-solving techniques that enhance productivity, efficiency, and revenue. Over the last five years, the number of firms that have produced measurable business value from investing in data analytics has doubled from 48.4% to 91.9%, according to a survey conducted by NewVantage partners. Additionally, the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey states that 92 percent of corporate recruiters say they expect to hire newly minted MBAs, as do 95 percent of staffing firms. Given this hiring outlook, MBA graduates with analytics knowledge are in high demand.

Once hired, MBA graduates with an analytics specialization tend to take on more leadership responsibilities earlier in their careers than their peers, largely due to the high-level decision-making skills they developed through their studies. Career options available for MBAs specializing in business analytics include Management Analyst/Consultant, Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Analyst, Program and Marketing Manager, and Research Analyst, to name a few. 

Full-time Flores MBA student Molly Shepherd spoke to us about why an MBA with a specialization in analytics perfectly complements her engineering background. See why she chose LSU for an MBA and her post-graduation plans.

 

More from our interview with Molly:

Tell us about some of your analytics coursework. 

The first class I took within the specialization was a class in SQL. This one sticks out to me because I didn’t have an analytical background, so I didn't really know how it could be implemented. I found it really interesting how you can use analytics in day-to-day tasks or to analyze larger problems within society or your job. After taking this course, I realized that one of the tasks I'm assigned within my graduate assistantship would be a thousand times easier using an analytics database rather than just Excel. 

After that class, I moved into a class on Jump, which transforms data into insights for effective business planning. 

How do you think specializing in analytics will help in your intended career in engineering?

Getting my MBA now makes me more competitive because I don’t have to go back to school to be able to be considered for the next step up; I will already have my MBA under my belt. Getting my MBA with an analytics specialization makes me stand out against other candidates because not many other engineers have the skills I'm learning in the Flores MBA Program. Specifically with analytics, I’m learning skills that can be directly applied to engineering since both industries are math and problem-solving-based. These skills will allow me to look at engineering problems from a different perspective and be able to use the data in a variety of different ways.

What advice would you give to someone considering an MBA with a specialization in analytics?

As everything is becoming data-driven, it's definitely going to be beneficial to get your MBA with an analytics specialization. When I talk to people through interviews, or in general, when I tell them that I’m specializing in analytics, they say, ‘That is the best decision you could make.' 

Go into the analytics specialization with an open mind because it is different from many of the MBA classes you will take. It is a specific skill set that you're trying to expand on. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The professors explain the different steps, and it's cool to see how they implement real data to solve a variety of issues. You’re not only learning the skills, but you also get to see how analytics affect the real world.

Learn more about the classes included in our analytics specialization. Students choose three classes to complete the specialization, but they also have the chance to earn a Graduate Certificate in Analytics if they choose to complete all four classes through their elective credits.

The LSU Flores MBA Program provides you with a flexible path to advance your career. Our nationally ranked program currently administers a traditional, two-year, full-time program, a one-year, full-time program for business majors, a part-time online (no residency requirement) program, and an Executive MBA Flex program. For more information, visit lsu.edu/business/mba.

 

Helpful Links: 

What is an MBA in Business Analytics?

GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey- 2022 Summary Report