What is a Data Scientist? That was the question put to the Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, in a recent interview with Forbes contributing writer, Dan Woods. Data science has emerged as the latest way to describe the ongoing quest to master the skill of drawing insights from vast quantities and varieties of data—sometimes called “big data”—which is core to the mission of the Institute. The interview with Dr. Rappa is the latest in a Forbes series on the subject with the country’s leading thinkers and practitioners in data science.
Author: Michael Rappa
Director Gives Invited Talk at GWU
The century-old mainstay of business education may be showing its age, says the Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa. In the following presentation based on a talk delivered at George Washington University School of Business, Dr. Rappa makes the case for why the generic MBA degree may be out of sync with the skill sets needed to compete in a rapidly changing business world. Contrasting the recent demise of Kodak, an exemplar of the past, with emerging companies like Facebook, Dr. Rappa argues that value creation in the future will be a function of how well companies leverage their data. He sees the emergence of graduate degrees in analytics, such as the Institute’s pioneering Master of Science in Analytics (MSA), as a disruptive innovation in education that offers greater relevancy in addressing the challenges of a future where successful businesses will thrive on a data-driven culture.
MSA Class of 2012 Salary Offers Up 10%
Record high salary offers have earned the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2012 the distinction of being the most sought-after MSA cohort since the Institute’s inception in 2007. Thirty-eight candidates seeking employment logged a record-breaking 591 initial job interviews with 54 employers during the placement period that started in January—an average of 15 interviews per student. Ninety-seven percent of the Class of 2012 received one or more offers of employment, and most have already accepted their new positions. This marks the fifth straight year the Institute will place over 90-percent of its graduates by commencement despite hard economic times. The average base salary offer registered an increase of 10-percent to $89,300. Continue reading “MSA Class of 2012 Salary Offers Up 10%”
MSA Applications Up 100% YTD
Applications for admission to the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program are up 100-percent over the same period last year, as of December 31. The Institute has begun reviewing applications and interviewing candidates, and decisions are being issued. Individuals who are considering applying for admission in 2012 are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
Become an Analytics Professional
The Institute is now accepting applications for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program’s Class of 2013, which is set to begin studies next June. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply early. Learn about the 10-month MSA, including how to apply, course prerequisites, and its proven 4-year track record for placing graduates in the Analytics profession.
Employer Demand Remains Strong
Next month the Institute will begin job placement for 38 candidates in the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2012. Already 40 employers have scheduled dates to visit the Institute to interview students in January alone. About two-thirds of the employers are returning to the Institute once again after recruiting MSA graduates in previous class years. The employers represent many sectors of the economy, including banking and financial services, consulting, energy, healthcare, Internet and social media, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, retail, telecom and computers. Continue reading “Employer Demand Remains Strong”
Students Named SAS Ambassadors
Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree candidates Patrick Hall and Ryan Snyder have been named SAS Student Ambassadors. Hall and Snyder were recognized for their work in combining Base SAS data step programming with the Java Processing Graphics library to create a scalable, flexible protocol for generating data-driven graphics. The SAS Student Ambassador Program recognizes and supports students who use Continue reading “Students Named SAS Ambassadors”
Monsanto Scholarships Announced
The Institute, in cooperation with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Monsanto Company announced today a $500,000 grant to train the next generation of plant breeding professionals with skills in analytics. The Monsanto Scholarships in Advanced Analytics will be awarded to six degree candidates in the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) program beginning in 2012. “Encouraging and enabling the development of future plant breeders is and will continue to be an integral part of making agriculture more productive,” said Sam Eathington, Monsanto VP Continue reading “Monsanto Scholarships Announced”
Institute Welcomes Applicants for MSA
The Institute has begun accepting applications for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program’s Class of 2013, which is set to begin studies next June. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply early. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis as soon as complete. Our enrollment capacity for the new class will be expanded to accommodate up to 80 students. To maintain a small classroom setting, students will complete the 10-month Continue reading “Institute Welcomes Applicants for MSA”
Institute Highlighted by Accenture
A newly published study by Accenture highlights the Institute for Advanced Analytics as one example of what is being done to address the growing mismatch between labor markets and needs of employers for skilled professionals in areas like analytics. Continue reading “Institute Highlighted by Accenture”