Stevens Institute of Technology Online Master’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics, Concentration in Data Science, New Jersey

Why Stevens Institute of Technology?

The online Master’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics, Concentration in Data Science offered by Stevens Institute of Technology focuses on analytics and quantitative skills focused on the needs of business and industry. Stevens Institute of Technology is a private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, with a focus on engineering and technology. Hoboken, New Jersey Applicants to the program should have completed one semester of calculus and one semester of basic probability, hypothesis testing, and estimation. GRE/GMAT scores are required, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00  is expected.

Program Snapshot

University Name	Stevens Institute of Technology
Location	Hoboken
State	New Jersey
Niche.com Grade	A
Name of Degree	Master’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics, Concentration in Data Science
School or Department Administering Program	Business
Credits	36
Cost per credit	$1,686
Tuition for Entire Program	$60,696
Test Requirements	GRE/GMAT
Minimum GPA	3.00
Prerequisite Courses and Skills	One semester of calculus and one semester of basic probability, hypothesis testing, and estimation
Campus Visit Required?	No
Typical Time to Complete	Two years
When Can Students Start the Program?	Fall, Spring, Summer
Program Concentrations	Data Science is a concentration within the Business Intelligence and Analytics degree
Synchronous Classes	Yes
Required Courses	Financial Decision Making Data And Information Quality Dealing with Data Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence Optimization and Process Analytics Multivariate Data Analytics Experimental Design Data Analytics & Machine Learning Social Network Analytics Practicum in Analytics For concentration in Data Science, take a minimum of three courses in the Department of Computer Science, Financial Engineering, and Mathematics as elective courses.
Does the Program Include a Capstone?	No
Does the Program Include a Practicum or Internship?	Yes
Other Features that Make the Program Unique	Business degree with a data science component Institution focus on engineering and science
Program Objectives (quoted directly from the program)	Students will cultivate the skills to collect, analyze and interpret data in strategic data planning and management; databases and data warehousing; data mining and machine learning; network analysis and social media; and risk, modeling, and optimization, and will learn to apply those skills to business problems in order to form an actionable strategy.
Program Description	This 36-credit program prepares students to apply data skills to business problems in order to form an actionable strategy. Data Science is a concentration within the Masters of Business Intelligence and Analytics. A practicum is required. Students learn the skills to collect, analyze, and interpret data in strategic data planning and management. Techniques covered include databases and data warehousing, data mining and machine learning, network analysis, and social media, and risk, modeling, and optimization.

What will I Learn?

The Stevens Institute data science program is a concentration within the school’s Business Intelligence and Analytics degree. Business Intelligence is the field within business studies that focuses on collecting and analyzing data to make data-driven decisions to improve business processes and results. Students in the program, therefore, learn the skills to collect, analyze, and interpret data for strategic business planning and management, focusing on real-world business problems across a range of organizations. Topics covered include databases and data warehousing, data mining and machine learning, network analysis, and social media, and risk, modeling, and optimization. The focus throughout is applying skills to form an actionable strategy.

Students pursuing the data science concentration must take required courses in Data and Information Quality, Dealing with Data, and Multivariate Data Analytics. In comparison with other data science Master’s programs, the Stevens Institute program provides a deeper look at financial and business-oriented techniques, with required courses in Financial Decision Making and Optimization and Process Analytics. Fundamental skills of data management and stewardship are covered in a required course on Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence.

Key techniques for analysis are taught in courses in Experimental Design, Data Analytics and Machine Learning, and Social Network Analytics. Students then have an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned during a required practical in Analytics. In addition,  students in the Data Science concentration must take a minimum of three courses in the Department of Computer Science, Financial Engineering, and Mathematics as elective courses.

How much will the program cost?

Students finish their degree within two years and pay $1,686 per credit for a total of 36 credits, or just over $60,000.

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 own schedule within the given week.  The program can be completed 100% online, and no campus visits are required.  The program is usually completed in 2 years. Students can enter the program in Fall, Spring, or Summer semester.

Summary

The Stevens Institute of Technology program provides a business-oriented suite of courses that prepares students with a suite of techniques and approaches for data-driven decision making within finance, investment, supply chain management, retail, and other business contexts. The program stands out from other similar programs in requiring students to complete an analytics practicum, which may be an important and attractive feature for many applicants seeking greater professional experience to aid their employability.

The practicum, as well as the location of Stevens in Hoboken, close to the financial centers of New York, means that students have connections with a large number of potential employers. However, some aspiring data scientists will find that the practicum is not appealing because they already have extensive business experience, and/or because scheduling practicum work times will prevent them from having the flexibility they need in their education.