Business analysts play a vital role in the development and future of different organizations and business. In general, they act as a bridge between advanced technologies and the clients who need them. There is an increasing demand for these professionals, and an online business analytics masters is a great way to boost your knowledge and career, and help you move into one of these varied roles. If you do not want to study full-time for whatever reason, and cannot commit to an in-person course, then an online alternative could be the perfect option for you. Whether you are looking for a change in career direction, or to continue your educational journey towards becoming a business analyst, here are just a couple of things you should know about online business analytics masters.
What is the course?
The online business analytics masters is a masters of science that will prepare you to work in a range of business analysis roles. It is taught completely online, and takes around two years to complete, making it an incredibly flexible study option. The course consists of interesting modules such as Data Visualization and Analysis, Prescriptive Analysis, Predictive Analysis and Analytics Capstone, and will give you the skills and opportunity to use technology and software that you would be using in the workplace. These include Tableau, SQL, Python and SPSS, and the ability to practice your skills and develop your confidence using them means that when you graduate you will be a capable and confident analyst, with in-depth knowledge of many different technologies and solutions. The online business analytics masters is competitively priced and can be studied alongside your job and other commitments, which makes it an affordable and flexible method of gaining these further qualifications and boosting your career.
What do business analysts do?
In general, as a business analyst you will be a liaison between advanced technologies and the clients that need to use them as solutions for various issues. you will be looking at data and events, understanding the cause of events and working to change or implement solutions that will prevent negative events from reoccurring. You will work with all kinds of data, particularly big data and work to improve the revenue of the business. This requires a combination of technical knowledge and personal skills, as you will need great communication and teamwork abilities in order to work with the many types of people that you will come into contact with. This is a growing job market, and there is a high demand for business analysts. Even though many jobs are becoming automated, there are some roles that a machine just cannot perform, namely people-orientated tasks, and this is where business analysts are very valuable. The online business analytics masters also gives you the option to customize your degree to fit the industry you work in, such as cybersecurity, leadership or marketing.
When it comes to career outcomes of an online business analytics masters, there is no shortage of options to choose from. There is an expecting increase in the number of companies adopting big data analytics in the near future, which also means there will be more jobs available for those who have the skills required. A few of the roles that you could find yourself in include:
- Data scientist
Data scientist specialize in a certain area, such as speech analytics or video processing, and often have to communicate complex ideas and information to many different people who have different levels of expertise and understanding in that area. Therefore, great communication skills are essential to understand when and how to adapt your communication techniques to suit your audience and situation. You will be analyzing complex digital data in order to help the business or organization make important decisions.
This is an important role that can often be the first place in which issues are spotted. You will be concerned with looking at events, and not the causes behind them. You will be collating, analyzing, processing and submitting data, and accuracy and attention to detail is vital. While there is plenty of software that can help do this, many businesses prefer to do this manually, which is where business analysts are vitally important.
- Strategy
In this role, you will be looking at the data that has been reported and using this information to find appropriate solutions that fit the situation and the requirements of the client. You will change or implement strategies based on these, and work to ensure that issues are not repeated, as well as improving the revenue of the business.
These are only a few of the roles that an online business analytics masters can give you the personal and technical skills to work in, and these can appear across a range of industries and fields. When you complete your online business analytics masters you will be a highly employable individual, with transferrable skills and detailed knowledge of the area in which you chose to specialize your degree.
It is the right course for you?
The online business analytics masters is for anyone who holds a BA or BS in any subject. There are no other prerequisites and a GRE/GMAT is also not required. This means that almost anyone can undertake this course in order to further their skills or move into an analytical career within their industry. If you do not want to study full time, or in person, then the online course is a great option that affords much more flexibility and control over your working environment and schedule. There are many different qualities and traits that make a great business analyst, and the online business analytical masters can help you discover these within yourself and develop them to make you a valuable addition to the workplace. These include:
- Communication
As a business analyst, you will be communicating with a range of different people. They may have different levels of understanding when it comes to the information and topics that you are talking about, and therefore you will need to know how and when to change your communication approaches. This will help you to get your points across clearly and accurately, avoiding any misunderstandings or miscommunications. It also involves listening, as much as it involves speaking, and you will have to listen to the clients in order to understand their aims and goals. This can then inform your decision when it comes to choosing and recommending solutions to them.
- Problem-solving
A large part of business analysis is identifying and solving problems. This means that these skills in particular need to be very developed in order to quickly and efficiently (and creatively) come up with solutions to a range of different problems and issues. You will be working with a range of people who may have different requirements and aims, and this in itself could pose a problem before you even begin looking at the data. It can be beneficial to have some conflict resolution or negotiation skills when it comes to being a business analyst, as it is as much as people-facing job as it is a technological one.
- Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to objectively assess a situation and make a judgement about it. As a business analyst you will need to look at many different solutions and scenarios, and quickly and confidently choose the most suitable option. This requires a lot of in-depth knowledge of the various solutions and technologies that are available, as well as the ability to efficiently identify the most appropriate one and make a case for it to those who need the answers.
There are many different skills that you will need to gain and develop in order to successfully work as a business analyst, and the online business analytical masters will give you the chance to do just this, all from the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of soft skills that contribute to a good business analyst and you may find that you already have many of them, and just need to know how to apply them in various scenarios.
Why should you study online?
There are numerous benefits to learning online, which make these types of courses an affordable and accessible study option. There are also many reasons to support completing a masters degree in general, as often the higher your level of education, the higher the level of jobs become available to you. These usually come with higher salaries, so a masters degree could prove itself to be a worthy investment. Furthermore, you will gain access to opportunities and people that you may not be able to outside of an educational environment, and there is the added bonus of learning more about an area that you are interested in and passionate about. Holding an online business analytical masters shows employers that you are keen to learn new information and are genuinely passionate making a different in the organizations that you want to work for.
Cost
Online courses can often be more affordable than their in-person counterparts. Being a student can be very expensive, with a range of financial elements to consider including rent, travel, tuition, living costs and tuition fees. Online courses can help you reduce or remove some of these costs completely. For example, the tuition fees are often cheaper, you do not have to travel to classes every day or rent campus accommodation, and you may still be eligible for financial support from the institution you are studying with. Furthermore, the ability to continue working while you learn means that you can earn money and study at the same time, and do not have to put the rest of your life on hold.
Location
Your physical location can limit the institutions and courses that you can attend in person, which means that if your local university or college does not offer what you need, you may have to choose something else or not study at all. Not only does this cause a delay in your career advancement, it can also be a waste of time and money. The online business analytical masters are studied 100% online and this means that you can study whenever and wherever you want, opening up this level of education to a wider range of people. You also have more control over your learning environment when you study at home. Creating a productive learning environment at home can help you understand how you learn best and give you the chance to develop productive learning habits that you can take forward with you in the future.
Flexibility
One of the main benefits of online learning is the flexibility it can afford you. You can learn from any location, have more control over your pace and schedule, and make the course fit around the rest of your life. Self-paced and flexible learning can help you enjoy the process more, and make it seem less intimidating or overwhelming. You can take as much time as you need over certain areas and topics, and ask as many questions as you need. Furthermore, you will be able to learn more about the type of learning styles and techniques that work best for you. This is very useful as a business analyst, as you will constantly be learning new technologies and ideas as the industries develop and progress. A willingness to learn and an ability to efficiently absorb new information is very valuable in these roles, and an online business analytical masters can help you develop the skills needed to be able to do this.
An online business analytical masters can combine your personal and technical skills in order to help you become a competent analyst that people want to work with. You will need to be able to work as a team, as well as having a great level of technical knowledge. If you enjoy looking at the smaller details, analyzing data, problem solving and having an impact on the future of a company, then this course can help prepare you to do all of those things and much more, all from the comfort of your own home and your own pace.