Members of the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2011 took time away from study to enjoy an evening of art appreciation and music at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). Students were taken on a docent-led tour of the permanent collection. The NCMA recently underwent an ambitious expansion with the construction of a beautiful new wing to house its permanent collection.
Despite an uncertain economy and the slow growth in domestic employment, the MSA Class of 2011 has logged a record 469 job interviews (an average of 12 per student), and has exceeded last year’s record (378) a full ten weeks ahead of schedule in the 12-week job placement season. It is the fourth consecutive year since the Institute’s inception in 2007 in which employer demand for MSA graduates has increased. The Institute will host over 30 employers this spring, with many seeking to fill multiple positions for analytics professionals.
The review of applications for admission to the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program is ongoing. Prospective applicants who have not yet submitted their application are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Admissions decisions will commence in March and continue until the Class of 2012 cohort is full.
The Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, will co-chair the Analytics track at the Conference on Business Analytics and Operations Research, sponsored by the prestigious professional society, the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS). The conference agenda is aimed at practitioners and has a deep line-up of speakers drawn from some of the nation’s leading companies applying Analytics.
Today the Institute hosts a visiting delegation of academic officials from Mainland China here to learn about the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program. The delegation is headed by Mr. Yuan Wei, statistics professor and Executive Vice President of Renmin University. Professor Yuan was appointed as Deputy Director of China Master of Applied Statistics (MAS) Education Steering Committee. In addition, the delegation comprises the dean Continue reading “Institute Hosts China Delegation”
The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2011 has performed extremely well to date, and at the midpoint of the 10-month curriculum the class is by every measure setting a record pace of accomplishment. It was clear from the start the 2011 cohort was a highly capable group academically, and the students have proven themselves in meeting and exceeding the high expectations of faculty and staff. Continue reading “MSA Class of 2011 Reaches Midpoint”
Review of applications for the MSA Class of 2012 has begun. The pace of applications is ahead of prior years and we expect to review as many as 200 potential candidates before filling the 40 seats available for the 2012 cohort. Finalists will be interviewed for admission during the spring. Admissions decisions will begin around April 1.
Employers have begun lining up to recruit from the MSA Class of 2011 next spring. Campus interview dates are filling rapidly, and it looks to be a strong hiring season despite the slow economic recovery. Many employers are returning to campus this year after recruiting from earlier classes. There is also a growing number of new employers coming to the Institute for the first time. Indications are strong that MSA job placement will exceed 90-percent by graduation for the fourth straight year.
MSA students have the option of completing professional certifications in statistical programming in addition to their normal studies. SAS certifications are the most popular among our students: currently 95 percent of the class has earned the SAS Base certificate, and 33 percent have passed the SAS Advanced Programmer level. The industry journal, Computerworld, recently listed SAS certifications at the top as having the greatest value in the job market.
MSA Class of 2011 candidate Sabah Sadiq has been named a SAS Student Ambassador. The SAS Student Ambassador Program is a competitive program that recognizes and supports students who use SAS technologies in innovative ways that benefit their respective industries and fields of study. Sadiq is one of a small number of students selected for the honor from a global pool of candidates. She will present Continue reading “Student Named SAS Ambassador”