The Master of Business Administration program and the Department of Business Analytics and Statistics offer a coordinated dual program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Business Administration  degree with a major in Business Administration and the Master of Science  degree with a major in Business Analytics. The dual program saves the student approximately 15 credit hours (one semester) over the time that would be required to earn both degrees independently.

The establishment of the dual program recognizes the increasingly complex world of business and the importance of technical and analytical skills in using data to make strategic and tactical business decisions, the complementary nature of the graduate MBA program and MS Business Analytics program, and the intellectual benefits inherent in concurrent study of both business modeling and analytical tools.

Option Available

Business Analytics — Course Only without Comprehensive Exams

Business Administration — Course Only without Comprehensive Exams

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Applicants for the MBA-MS Business Analytics program must make separate application to and be accepted by the Office of Graduate Admissions for the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science with a major in Business Analytics.
  • Students should indicate on both applications the intent to pursue the dual MBA-MS program.
• After the MBA application deadline of February 1, applications by United States citizens and permanent residents will be considered as space allows.
  • Additional information is required and different application dates are established by Graduate Admissions for international students.
• The MBA Program requires a GMAT score for admissions consideration.

Academic Standards

• Students accepted for both the MBA and MS degree programs will be assigned to an advisor from the MBA program and another from the business analytics MS program.
• These advisors will be responsible for course approval and supervision of the students’ progress through the dual program.
• A grade of D or below in any core course is grounds for dismissal from the Master’s in Business Analytics Program.

Credit Hours Required

• 62 graduate credit hours
• Dual Course Requirements
  • The Department of Business Analytics and Statistics will award up to 9 credit hours toward the MS Business Analytics  for acceptable performance in approved courses offered in the Master of Business Administration .
  • The Master of Business Administration will award up to 15 credit hours toward the MBA for acceptable performance in approved graduate-level courses offered in the MS Business Analytics Program.
  • The approval of courses is the responsibility of the student and the student’s assigned advisors.

Required Courses

• Core Requirements for Business Analytics (29 credit hours)
  • BZAN 530  
  • BZAN 531  
  • BZAN 533  
  • BZAN 535  
  • BZAN 540  
  • BZAN 542  
  • BZAN 543  
  • BZAN 544  
  • BZAN 545  
  • BZAN 550  
  • BZAN 548  
• Core Requirements for MBA (24 credit hours)
  • ACCT 505  
  • ACCT 506  
  • BULW 505 
  • BZAN 505 
  • ECON 505  
  • ECON 506  
  • FINC 505  
  • FINC 506  
  • MGT 505  
  • MGT 506  
  • MARK 505  
  • MARK 506  
  • SCM 505 
  • SCM 506 
  • BUAD 516  
  • BUAD 518 
• Six additional hours of BZAN 500-level courses approved by the advisor and for which the student is eligible to register
• Three additional hours of Haslam College of Business 500-level courses approved by the advisor and for which the student is eligible to register

Non-Course Requirements

• Program Enrollment
  • Students may begin their studies in either the MS Business Analytics or the MBA program, but may not enroll in MS Business Analytics course work while completing the first year of the MBA curriculum.
  • During the first year in the MBA program, students register as Master of Business Administration program students. After the first year, any term in which students take a mixture of MBA and MS Business Analytics courses, they are classified and registered as MS Business Analytics students.
• Graduation Requirements
  • A dual program candidate must satisfy the graduation requirements of both the MS in Business Analytics and the Master of Business Administration.
  • Students withdrawing from the dual program before completing both degrees will not receive credit toward graduation in either degree program for courses taken in the other degree program, except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual degree program.
  • The MS and the MBA degrees will be awarded upon successful completion of the requirements of the dual program.