Business Analytics - MSc

Program Overview

The MSc in Business Analytics at Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest equips students with comprehensive business and analytical skills to solve business problems and support informed decision-making. This full-time, one-year program is tailored to meet the growing demand for Business Analytics professionals in Ireland. Graduates are prepared for careers as Financial Market Analysts, Business Intelligence Analysts, Data Analysts, and more.

Program Outline

Business Analytics – MSc - TUS

Degree Overview:

The MSc in Business Analytics equips students with a comprehensive set of business and analytical skills to effectively solve business problems and support informed decision-making. This program is specifically designed to address the growing demand for Business Analytics professionals in Ireland, with an estimated 5,000 new jobs projected in the next five years (National Skills Council, 2022). The program's curriculum is tailored to equip graduates with the necessary skills to thrive in this competitive job market.

Outline:

The MSc in Business Analytics is a full-time, one-year program delivered at the Moylish campus in Limerick City. It is a Level 9 postgraduate taught program offered by the Business & Financial Services department. The program commences on October 2nd, 2023.

Course Modules:

The program is structured across three semesters, with each semester offering a variety of modules:

Semester 1:

• Business Analytics & Modelling (5 Credits): This module introduces students to the impact of analytics on decision-making and equips them with analytical skills to understand, predict, and optimize business operations and performance.
Key concepts covered include data exploration, mining, forecasting, and optimization. The module utilizes MS Excel, add-ins Analytic Solver Platform, and XLMiner through illustrative examples.
• Business Strategy (5 Credits): This module provides students with a business analyst perspective on strategic management and strategic issues.
It explores contemporary issues related to the formulation and implementation of corporate and business strategies, emphasizing identifying and implementing strategic change within organizations, building dynamic capabilities, and developing coherent strategies. Topics may include strategies in the face of uncertainty, global strategies, and knowledge-based strategies.
• Relational Databases (5 Credits): This module focuses on developing students' skills in areas such as entity modeling, normalization, and database design.
It also emphasizes utilizing the SQL language to operationalize the design process, manage data, and manage security within a modern relational database management system.
• Statistics And Tools For Business Analytics (10 Credits): This module introduces students to the role of Excel macros and VBA programming in deriving insights and automating processes involving large datasets.
Practical work provides students with experience in applying statistical techniques to data and programming VBA to instruct Excel to perform tasks.

Semester 2:

• Applied Business Analytics (5 Credits): This module emphasizes the importance of data manipulation and pre-processing, exploration, analysis, and modeling.
The module also includes a modeling component where students build linear and non-linear models, assess model performance and variable selection, and learn to write clear reports conveying analysis results. Topics include using data to understand customers, enhance customer loyalty, and gain new customers through improved profiling and segmentation.
• Data Visualisation (10 Credits): This module develops students' skills in data visualization by introducing various techniques.
• Research Methods (5 Credits): This module introduces students to key research concepts and develops their understanding of major methodologies.
The content covered forms the basis for the research dissertation element of the MSc in Data Analytics program, with a key outcome being a valid and robust research proposal for research in the area of Data Analytics.
• The Science of Decision Making (5 Credits): This module introduces students to the science of decision making, aiming to help them become more effective decision-makers.
It explores theories and methods drawn from psychology, economics, philosophy, statistics, and management science to understand and improve the judgment and decision-making of individuals, groups, and organizations.

Semester 3:

• Applied Research Project (30 Credits): This capstone project builds upon the Research Methods module, where students have developed and submitted their research proposal.
The dissertation consists of 20,000 words, excluding appendices. This element integrates curriculum content and, in collaboration with an approved industry partner, delivers a significant body of work contributing to the body of knowledge in the field of data analytics. The dissertation draws on analytical and evaluative competences developed during the program and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to undertake individual research ethically and methodologically.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Assignments: Students complete assignments throughout the program to demonstrate their understanding of the course material.
• Exams: Exams are used to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the course content.
• Presentations: Students may be required to give presentations on their research or projects.
• Dissertation: The dissertation is the final assessment for the program and requires students to conduct independent research and write a comprehensive report on their findings.

Teaching:

The program employs a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Lectures are used to introduce students to key concepts and theories.
• Seminars: Seminars provide students with the opportunity to discuss and debate course material with their peers and faculty.
• Workshops: Workshops provide students with hands-on experience in applying the skills they have learned.
• Case studies: Case studies are used to help students apply their knowledge to real-world situations.

Careers:

Graduates of the MSc in Business Analytics are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the field of data analytics. The program's curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this growing field.

Career Opportunities:

• Financial Market Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Customer Insight Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Data Scientist

Further Study:

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates have the opportunity to pursue further studies at Level 9/10 programs at TUS or other institutions.

Other:

The program is designed to meet the growing demand for Business Analytics professionals in Ireland. The program's curriculum is tailored to equip graduates with the necessary skills to thrive in this competitive job market.