A new consulting report projects there will be a continuing severe shortage of analytics talent well into the decade: “By 2018, the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions.” The application of analytics Continue reading “Analytics Talent Shortage”
Author: Michael Rappa
Practicum Call for Proposals
The Institute invites organizations interested in sponsoring a student team project as part of the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Practicum for 2011-12 to submit a proposal. Sponsors identify challenging business problems and provide data for their team to analyze. The proposal submission period is open through July. To learn more, see the guidelines for Practicum sponsorship.
Employer Demand Hits Record Level
The continuing surge in demand for analytics professionals has earned the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2011 the distinction of being the Institute’s most sought-after cohort of graduates since its inception in 2007. Thirty-nine MSA students seeking employment logged a record-breaking 532 initial job interviews with 86 employers during the 90-day placement period preceding graduation—or 14 interviews per student—an increase of Continue reading “Employer Demand Hits Record Level”
4th Annual Commencement Ceremony
The Institute for Advanced Analytics held its annual commencement exercise for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2011. Diplomas were awarded to thirty-nine degree candidates. It was the Institute’s fourth commencement exercise since its inception in 2007. The new graduates join the Institute’s alumni community, which now numbers 136 graduates. The graduates and their family had much to celebrate, with over 90 percent of the class having already accepted a job in the analytics profession. Fast following in their footsteps are 40 members of the MSA Class of 2012. Congratulations and best wishes to this year’s graduates!
Silva Wins Director’s Prize
Arturo Silva is this year’s winner of the Director’s Prize for the top graduate in the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA). Arturo receives the prize in recognition of his superior performance throughout the 10-month program. Commenting on Arturo’s selection the Institute’s director stated “Arturo won the admiration and praise of his peers by upholding the highest level of professionalism as a team member. He exemplifies Continue reading “Silva Wins Director’s Prize”
Jernigan Earns Master’s Degree
Congratulations to the Institute’s Technology Coordinator, John Jernigan, on the successful completion of his degree in the Master of Science in Computer Engineering at NC State University. John, who joined the Institute at its inception, specializes in computer security and is responsible for the deployment of computing technology among faculty, staff, and students in the MSA program. John earned his B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from NC State, as well.
Class of 2012 Selected
After months of hard work and anticipation, the admissions process for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2012 has produced 40 talented candidates—the seating capacity of the program—who will begin studies shortly. The admissions committee reviewed 185 applications. About half of the applicants (94) were interviewed for admission by a four-person panel of faculty and staff. A total of 45 candidates were offered admission; three subsequently declined and two deferred. The process yielded an acceptance rate of 24-percent. Continue reading “Class of 2012 Selected”
Students Earn Predictive Modeling Certification
Congratulations to 10 members of the MSA Class of 2011 on their success in earning the SAS certification in Predictive Modeling today. Industry leading analytics software tools are an integral part of the MSA education, and SAS is a tool that is used extensively by students in their day-to-day work with large data sets. Given their hands-on experience with analytics tools, MSA students have the option of earning industry certifications while completing Continue reading “Students Earn Predictive Modeling Certification”
Sadiq Wins Best Paper Award
Congratulations to Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) 2011 degree candidate Sabah Sadiq, who garnered the best contributed paper award in the Operations Research section at SAS Global Forum this week. Sabah traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, to present the paper, which is titled The Final Frontier: A SAS® Approach to Data Envelopment Analysis. Upon graduation, Sabah will join Deloitte as a consultant. Also presenting a paper at SGF was MSA Class of 2008 alumnus, David Dobson. David’s paper is titled Understanding Drivers of Achieving Academic Success in University Students.
Benchmarking MSA Student Outcomes
The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) is not designed to emulate the MBA education. However, data collected as part of the national ranking of MBA programs offer an opportunity to compare MSA student outcomes relative to the widely taught graduate degree in business. Using data from the annual ranking of business schools by U.S. News and World Report, an assessment was conducted to determine where in the ranking the MSA might land based on three criteria: the admissions acceptance rate, base starting salaries, and placement rate by graduation. The cost of both resident and non-resident tuition (which covers 2 years for the MBA), is also compared. Continue reading “Benchmarking MSA Student Outcomes”