Brandeis University’s division of Graduate Professional Studies announced today it has launched a new Master of Science degree in strategic analytics.

The online program is designed to harness the proliferation of data in all aspects of business using advanced analytic tools. With the advent of “big data,” businesses can reduce risk and improve performance through better-informed decision-making in areas such as revenue management, dynamic pricing and business modeling.

“At leading businesses, analytics is now core to driving strategy, and the demand for expertise in analytics is continuing to blossom,” said Eric Siegel, founder of Predictive Analytics World and author of “Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie, or Die.”

The new comprehensive program includes courses focusing on how data are collected, stored, secured, mined and analyzed, along with courses on how analyzed data can be translated into valuable business information to drive strategic decision-making. The program will provide the academic rigor needed to help business leaders and analysts understand how to collect, deploy, analyze and implement data-based decision-making in all phases of their business.

Seven core courses and three electives are required (a total of 30 graduate credits). Students may enroll in up to two courses before officially applying for admission.

“Strategic analytics are critical to the strategic management of any business or organization,” said Leanne Bateman, who chairs the new program. “The management, analysis and use of large data sets at the foundation of any business drive the strategic decisions that increase revenue and reduce costs for the organization.”

Program graduates will be able to:

• Evaluate and apply analytic tools and techniques to manage large sets of data, distributed data, and cloud-based data
• Integrate leadership and communication skills with information technology, information management, and data science to maximize business intelligence and decision-making
• Design innovative, cross-functional data analytics solutions for applied business strategies
• Identify and assess the opportunities, needs and constraints for data collection, measurement, tracking, analysis, reporting and overall management within a strategic organizational context
• Identify ways in which data can be analyzed, interpreted, reported and applied to solve or prevent existing or emerging business problems
• Communicate the value of strategic analytics as it relates to an organization’s bottom line through both revenue increase and expense reduction
• Bridge the gap between data and the business by effectively communicating analysis results to drive strategic decisions and direction
• Lead analytics teams and projects