Skip to main content
Search
Open menu
  • Contact Us
  • Caesar
  • Graduate
  • Post-baccalaureate
  • Undergraduate
  • Professional Development
  • Summer
  • Pre-College
  • Center for Public Safety
  • OLLI
  • Request Information
SPS Logo
  • Academic Programs
    • Choose from a wide range of programs.

      Browse degree and certificate programs
      • Academic Programs A to Z
      • Graduate
      • Undergraduate
      • Certificates
        • Professional Development
        • Post-baccalaureate
        • Graduate
        • Advanced Graduate
      • Online
      • Summer Session
      • Pre-College
      • Center for Public Safety
      • Osher Lifelong Learning
  • Prospective Students
    • Learn more about the exceptional learning opportunities at SPS.

      Information for Prospective Students
      • Online Programs
      • Information Sessions
      • Search All Academic Programs
      • About Northwestern SPS
      • Admission
      • SPS Stories
      • Veteran Services
  • Current Students
    • Access the tools and information you need for success at Northwestern.

      Information for Current Students
      • Forms and Documents
      • Student Services
      • Student Rules and Regulations
      • Important Dates
      • Academic Resources
      • Career Resources
      • Scholarships
      • Symposium
      • Convocation
      • SPS Registrar
      • CAESAR Online Registration
      • Canvas login
  • Alumni
    • Find out what your classmates are up to and how you can stay involved with Northwestern.

      Go to alumni page
      • Welcome Alumni
      • SPS Stories
  • Faculty
    • Resources for Instructors

      Go to faculty page
      • Faculty Resources
      • Distance Learning
  • About SPS
    • Learn more about the School of Professional Studies.

      About SPS
      • About SPS
      • Locations and Contact
      • Academic Programs A to Z
      • SPS Stories
  • HOME
  • STORIES
  • SPS News
type: Academic topic: Science and Technology program: Data Science

What is the Value of an MS in Predictive Analytics Degree?

predictive analytics

Data science has become integral across almost every industry, but finding professionals to make sense of big data is an ongoing challenge for many organizations. A master’s in analytics prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities, including positions in data modeling, statistics, research, data science, and predictive analytics specializations in senior and managerial roles. Additionally, some director and executive positions in technology fields require a master’s in analytics or comparable graduate degree.

In the field of predictive analytics, the master’s degree value comes not only from learning to make sense of big data, but also in that students develop the business and leadership skills to help bridge information technology with other departments, and can create interdisciplinary strategies that allow an organization to make the most its data. Moreover, predictive analytics students learn to clean and interpret data to make educated projections about the future.

Currently, there’s an increasing demand for analysts in fields such as marketing, healthcare, and finance, which in turn has made a master’s in analytics more desirable. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increased demand for statisticians, research analysts, and management analysts by 2018.

As more companies look to fill skills gaps, a master’s degree in predictive analytics is a concrete way to demonstrate a high level of theoretical and practical expertise.

The Master of Science in Predictive Analytics (MSPA) program at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies is part-time, online, and designed for professionals interested in data science careers. Most students continue working while they attend classes and many apply their learnings directly to their current jobs.

The MSPA program was also recently ranked one of “The 6 Best Data Science Master's Degree Courses in the US” by Forbes.

Additionally, the online predictive analytics program offers specialized elective classes for students in various fields, including marketing analytics, risk analytics, text analytics, web and network data science, decision analytics, financial market models and time series forecasting, sports analytics, geographical information systems, operations management, mathematical programming, simulation methods and analytics for total quality management. 

MSPA graduates have gone on to work at numerous high profile organizations, including Amazon, NASA, Adobe, IBM, Nike, and Apple.

tags:
July 3, 2017
Northwestern University logo
  • © Northwestern University
  • Campus Emergency Information
  • Careers
  • Contact Northwestern University
  • Disclaimer
  • Report an Accessibility Issue
  • University Policies
  • Address
  • SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
  • 339 EAST CHICAGO AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60611
  • 405 CHURCH STREET, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201
  • (in-person meetings by appointment only)
  • Phone number
  • CHICAGO
  • (312) 503-6950
  • EVANSTON
  • (847) 491-5611
  • FAX
  • (312) 503-4942

Social Media

FacebookTwitterLinkedin
YouTubeInstagram
  • Part-Time Undergraduate Degrees
  • Master's Degrees
  • Advanced Graduate Certificates
  • Professional Development Programs
  • Post-Baccalaureate Programs
  • Professional Health Programs
  • Summer Session
  • Program Search
  • Sitemap