Why Oklahoma State University?
The online Master of Business Administration: Data Science offered by Oklahoma State University combines the management-oriented coursework of a full MBA curriculum with additional courses in skills and techniques of data science. Applicants who are not interested in pursuing an MBA may wish to explore the other data science degree offered by Oklahoma State, the Master of Science in Management Information Systems.
Oklahoma State University, a large public research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, expects applicants to the program to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The GRE or GMAT is required. The TOEFL is required for international applicants. Although no specific prerequisite courses are required, the program emphasizes that the application process is competitive, and MBA applicants should plan their application carefully, with particular attention to building and maintaining relationships with professional contacts who can provide letters of recommendation.
Program Snapshot
| University Name | Oklahoma State University |
| Location | Stillwater |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Niche.com Grade | A |
| Name of Degree | Master of Business Administration: Data Science |
| School or Department Administering Program | Business |
| Credits | 45 |
| Cost per credit | $634.75 |
| Tuition for Entire Program | $28,564 |
| Test Requirements | GRE or GMAT and TOEFL if applicable |
| Minimum GPA | 3.00 |
| Prerequisite Courses and Skills | None |
| Campus Visit Required? | No |
| Typical Time to Complete | Two years |
| When Can Students Start the Program? | Spring, Fall |
| Program Concentrations | Data Science is a concentration within the MBA requiring additional coursework |
| Synchronous Classes | No |
| Required Courses |
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| Does the Program Include a Capstone? | No |
| Does the Program Include a Practicum or Internship? | No |
| Other Features that Make the Program Unique |
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| Program Objectives (quoted directly from the program) |
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| Program Description | The University of Oklahoma MBA with a concentration in Data Science consists of 45 credits: the base MBA curriculum plus additional coursework in data science. Students gain skills for all areas of business, including management, finance, strategy, and accounting, and also learn how data science techniques can be used to enhance processes and decision-making in their organizations. The program covers all phases of the data science life cycle and also includes required professional development courses and case study projects. |
What will I Learn?
It is essential to recognize that this Data Science program is a traditional MBA program with additional course credits in data science topics. Therefore students follow the core curriculum of the Oklahoma State MBA program, covering skills across finance, strategy, and management. They are also prepared for data science roles within business. Professional development is also emphasized, and students apply their domain knowledge and communication and teamwork skills by participating in business case study competitions. The Oklahoma State MBA program has long-running partnerships with local and global companies, including IBM, Teradata, and SAS, and these partnerships influence projects and software used in the curriculum.
All MBA students at Oklahoma State must complete the following core courses: MBA Financial Reporting, MBA Managerial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, and Management and Organization Theory. Business students must also take at least one advanced finance course such as Business Finance or Theory and Practice of Financial Management as well as a course in Corporate and Business Strategy. Significant ethical problems in business are covered in one of the following: External Environment of Business, Legal Environment of Business, or Management and Ethical Leadership. An innovative feature of the Oklahoma State MBA is that all students complete a series of 1-credit professional development courses throughout the program covering critical skills such as communication, professional networking, and preparing to enter the job market.
In addition to the above, data science students in the program must complete the required courses in Advanced Database Management and Predictive Analytics Technologies. They then complete two elective courses from the following selection: Data Warehousing, Descriptive Analytics, and Visualization, Big Data Advanced Analytics Technologies, and Data Base Marketing.
How much will the program cost?
Students finish their degree within two years and pay $634.75 per credit for a total of 45 credits, or just over $26,500.
How does the program fit into my life?
All courses are asynchronous, meaning that instructors create learning materials such as lectures, activities, quizzes, assignments, and group discussions in weekly modules, and students are responsible for completing the module on their schedule within the given week. Students can begin the program in the Fall or Spring semesters. Because of the project-based nature of the program, students can expect to need to schedule a time to work with classmates or meet with instructors, mainly if they participate in case competitions. The professional development classes will also likely require students to schedule meetings outside of class time. Still, students can expect to be well-prepared to enter the job market upon completion, saving time, and frustration overall.
Summary
The Oklahoma State University MBA with a concentration in Data Science is an excellent choice for applicants who want to gain a well-rounded management-oriented business education that will make them attractive to a range of employers in a variety of roles. The additional coursework required to attain the data science concentration represents an additional investment of both time and money in comparison to some programs that require as little as 30 credits instead of this program’s 45 required course credits. However, some applicants may jump at the opportunity to gain both MBA skills and data science skills in the same degree program.