Business Analytics (MS)
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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Business Analytics (MS) Program
The Business Analytics (MS) program at California Polytechnic State University is a 10-month, in-person degree that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business to develop data-savvy leaders. The program focuses on hands-on industry projects, advanced modeling, and technical training in statistics, machine learning, and cloud computing, preparing graduates to lead in the fast-growing data analytics field.
Program Overview
The program is offered at the San Luis Obispo Campus and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business analytics, including data management, statistical analysis, and data visualization.
Requirements for Admission
To be eligible for the program, students must:
- Apply via Cal State Apply
- Submit a transcript, resume, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation
- Meet the standard eligibility criteria and demonstrate proficiency in English (for international students)
- Have completed at least one college-level course in calculus and two college-level courses in statistics
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (although most successful applicants have a GPA above 3.0)
Advancement to Candidacy
Students must complete at least six units of graduate coursework in the MS Business Analytics program with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to advance to candidacy.
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience for the program is a collaborative business project with a client organization, which allows graduate-level students to apply their knowledge, skills, and competencies to address a business problem.
Program Learning Objectives
The program learning objectives are:
- Employ key aspects of data management - retrieval, integration, and enrichment.
- Apply high ethical standards toward the collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Apply modeling tools to data of various types and sizes.
- Visualize data to infer and communicate insights.
- Use data to analyze, inform, and solve fundamental business problems.
Course List
The required courses for the program are:
- ECON 5029: Econometrics and Data Analysis (3 units)
- GSB 5518: Essential Statistics for Business Analytics (3 units)
- GSB 5520: Data Management for Business Analytics (3 units)
- GSB 5530: Data Analytics and Mining for Business (3 units)
- GSB 5544: Computing and Machine Learning for Business Analytics (3 units)
- GSB 5598: Project 1 (3 units)
Approved electives include:
- GSB 5501: Individual Research 2
- GSB 5510: Data Visualization and Communication in Business
- GSB 5516: Strategic Marketing Analytics
- GSB 5517: Strategic People Analytics
- GSB 5521: Cloud Services and Applications for Business Analytics
- GSB 5536: Data Ethics for Business Analytics
- GSB 5545: Advanced Machine Learning for Business Analytics
- GSB 5547: Financial Analytics
- GSB 5551: Prescriptive Analytics
- GSB 5570: Special Advanced Topics 2
- GSB 5575: Career Development for Business Analytics I
- GSB 5576: Career Development for Business Analytics II
- GSB 5577: Career Development for Business Analytics III
- GSB 5591: Developing Consumer Insights with Textual Data
The total units required for the program are 33.