Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2014-15 
    
Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2014-15 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Analytics, MS


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Program Description

The Master’s of Science in Analytics program at DSU will prepare graduates with the skill set necessary to transform them into analytics and data science professionals. These professionals are needed to solve crucial data-driven business problems and assist with analytics-driven decision making that is needed in the work force as the progression of big data jobs continues to grow.

Use of information technology (IT) and statistical analysis continues to grow in business and industry and, along with that growth, comes a need for individuals with advanced training. Graduates of these programs may find careers such as analytics professionals, data scientists, data architects, data governance specialists, predictive modelers, business intelligence/analytics developers, data visualization specialists, business analysts, market analysts, financial analysts, supply chain analysts, data analysts, computational scientists, or machine learning software engineers in technical, industrial, business, healthcare and financial companies of all sizes, as well as in the public sector.

Program Goals

Upon graduation, graduates of the program will:

  • be able to gather requirements from business or other contexts and goals to clearly articulate a data analytics problem;
  • be able to interpret the results of the analysis in such a way as to generate actionable intelligence;
  • be able to communicate the results of the analysis to stakeholders in the optimal combination of written, graphical/visual, and verbal means;
  • be able to prepare and transform big data sets into actionable information in an easy-to-understand format to support business decision making through the use of advanced data processing tools;
  • be able to select the appropriate analytics techniques and apply advanced analytical tools to solve data analytics problems;
  • be able to have a good understanding of using information technology and computing languages to implement analytics solutions;
  • be able to assess alternative approaches and infrastructures for implementing big data analytics;
  • be able to manage data analytics projects to ensure delivery of a successful data analytics initiative throughout its life cycle.

Program Delivery

Courses in the MSA program are offered using a variety of instructional delivery methods:

  1. Face-to-face on site in Madison, SD in a traditional classroom setting;
  2. Using interactive video-conferencing via the Dakota Digital Network offered at multiple sites in South Dakota (sites arranged to meet student need);
  3. At a distance via Internet, using a combination of both live and/or encoded streaming videos of classes, interactive course web boards, course web sites, and e-mail. All courses are web-enhanced.

Program Completion

The program can be completed on a full or part-time basis, with classes offered in three academic terms, fall, spring, and summer. Time to complete really depends upon the number of credit hours taken per semester and the number of knowledge requirements needed. Full-time students (9 credit hours per semester) can complete the program in four semesters (assuming two knowledge support courses are required). The program must be completed within 5 years of the date the program is started (first course taken).

Admission Requirements Specific to the MSA

Entering students will be required to have a baccalaureate degree from institutions with full regional accreditation for that degree. International students must have an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree that is the equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree in the U.S.

  • Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.70 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on an alternative grading system)
  • Transcripts should show completion of courses in key areas equivalent to:
    • Database design/programming including familiarity with SQL (INFS 760 or STAT 410/510)
    • Understanding of the principles of programming (INFS 605 or equivalent)
    • Understanding of statistical principles (INFS 608 or (STAT 281 and STAT 441/541))

Program Faculty

Dorine Bennett, Omar El-Gayar, Pat Engebretson, William Figg, Tom Halverson, Stephen Krebsbach, Jun Liu, Chris Olson, Josh Pauli, Wayne Pauli, Ashley Podhradsky, Ronghua Shan, Kevin Streff, Daniel Talley, Yong Wang

Program Requirements

The program requires 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate. All students must take the following:

Six Core Courses (18 credit hours)

Two required courses (6 credit hours)

Two track/elective courses (6 credit hours)

Electives are divided into three tracks that students may follow or they may elect to take two general elective classes. Tracks that students can follow are Information Systems, Healthcare Analytics, and General.

Courses Supporting the MSA program


Required courses are to be taken by everyone admitted to the program, they include six core courses (18 credit hours), two required courses (6 credit hours) and two track or elective courses (6 credit hours). Core courses build upon the knowledge support courses or appropriate experience.

Knowledge Courses (9 Credits)


Individuals who do not meet knowledge requirements may be required to take up to 9 additional hours.

Tracks


Elective Classes (select two classes)


Students can choose two elective courses (6 credits hours) with the INFS, CSC, HIMS, and BADM prefixes. Please see appropriate program for rotation of classes and descriptions.

Assessment/Evaluation Activities


All candidates for graduation must participate in an assessment activity. The Office of Graduate Studies & Research will provide specific information to MSA students during their final semester. The MSA students will complete a comprehensive exam.

The results of the exam are used as one means of evaluating the MSA curriculum by providing information to the faculty who teach the courses.

Course Grades


Course Grades are used as an indirect measure of student attainment of specific program goals and objectives. DSU Policy requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program, receive no grades below a C, and have no more than 2 grades of a C. If you do not maintain the required “B” average you will be placed on academic probation and given the opportunity to raise your GPA to 3.0 within the next nine credit hours. If you do not raise your GPA to 3.0 you will be suspended from the program. If you receive more than 6 credits of “C” or any grade lower than a “C” you will be suspended from the program. You may appeal the suspension. If students have questions regarding grading, they should review the Satisfactory Progression Policy (DSU Policy 05-34-00) or speak with their advisor.

MSA Course Rotation


Knowledge Courses


Required only of students who do not meet specific admission knowledge requirements.

Course #
Course Title
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
INFS 605 Foundations of Programming X     X     X  
INFS 608 Applied Statistics X     X     X  
INFS 760 Enterprise Modeling, & Data Management X   X X   X X  

MSA Core Courses


Course #
Course Title
SU 15
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
INFS 762 Data Warehousing & Data Mining X X   X X   X X  
INFS 772 Programming for Data Analytics     X     X     X
INFS 774 Big Data Analytics X     X     X    
STAT 700 Statistical Programming* (SDSU) X     X     X    
STAT 701 Modern Applied Statistics I* (SDSU)   X     X     X  
STAT 702 Modern Applied Statistics II* (SDSU)     X     X     X

*Courses taught by SDSU.

Required Courses


Course #
Course Title
SU 15
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
INFS 768 Predictive Analytics for Decision Making   X     X     X  
INFS 770 Advanced Data Mining Applications     X     X     X

MSA Tracks


Students must choose one track to complete.

Information Systems (select two classes)


Course #
Course Title
SU 15
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
INFS 720 Systems Analysis & Design   X X   X X   X X
INFS 724 Project & Change Management   X X   X X   X X
INFS 764 Information Retrieval   X     X     X  
INFS 766 Advanced Database     X     X     X

Healthcare Analytics (select two classes)


Course #
Course Title
SU 15
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
HIMS 701 Introduction to Healthcare Information   X     X     X  
HIMS 742 Healthcare Information Infrastructure     X     X     X
HIMS 744 Healthcare Information Analysis X     X     X    
HIMS 746 Data Management in Health Informatics   X     X     X  

General (select two classes)


Course #
Course Title
SU 15
FA 15
SP 16
SU 16
FA 16
SP 17
SU 17
FA 17
SP 18
BADM 712 Advanced Business Finance         X        
BADM 729 Business Analysis for Managerial Decisions   X           X  
ECON 730 Economics for Decision Making           X      
BADM 775 Strategic Marketing           X      
CSC 710 Structure and Design Programming X     X     X    

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