Ok, I'll look more closely at the Rutgers MBA.

Yes, Ralph is right - I want to understand how to leverage analytics more strategically - I'm an analyst right now and want to be able to move into more management type roles.

Would a general MBA be better? I wanted to focus on analytics because there are a lot of technological implications that I didn't think were taught in a general MBA program.

It's hard to say. I'm tempted to guess that since this is still an emerging field, it would be easier to grasp the essentials in an analytics-oriented position - in which case, an internship in a role like this during a general MBA program would be a good bet.

I would connect with people in the industries you're targeting, who are working in roles that you aspire for - and ask them about the current thinking in their organizations. Some may say that you need specific analytics-related degrees, but I'm just not sure.

Thanks! Ok, I'll try to find an internship in an analytics position when I do my MBA.

My brother in law was interested in analytics, and he looked at MBA programs but settled on a Masters in Financial Engineering at UCLA. He liked it because it was only one year long and was more quant-driven. Something to think about.

Pace University has a Analytics MS program that is directed to professionals and students who want to expand their skills in fact-based decision making and who acknowledge that marketing success comes only from a better understanding of the customer.
http://www.pace.edu/lubin/ms-in-customer-intelligence-analytics

Lubin's MBA in Information Systems isn't a bad choice for analytics-minded students either. However, I wonder why the school doesn't leverage some of its Analytics MS curriculum to create an MBA concentration in business analytics - it seems like that would be an appropriate move, especially since there aren't many analytics-oriented MBA programs in NYC.

Interesting thread... What's the current thinking on which of these is the best for the MBA program's concentration in business analytics:

Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Georgia (Terry)
Purdue

Purdue's a solid choice and the only one ranked by the FT, but there a lot of factors to consider.

Georgia is a solid value but salary stats leave something to be desired compared to the other two. Plus it took a huge hit in the Businessweek rankings this year.

With Notre Dame you probably have a better opportunity for salary growth, and it has a decent selections of analytics-themes electives.

What is it you would like to do with your MBA?

Cool, thanks - I work in a supply chain role for a small company right now and would like to transition into a higher level position in a multinational.

Would you say that the Purdue MBA in would be better for me than an MS program - like the MS in analytics at NYU?

Since most business schools which are in universities will allow you to take some electives in other departments, I think most top-tier universities offering MBAs will be able to provide that. Certainly the great concentration of finance in the Metro NYC area give all the business schools around there more scale.

I meant Strategy or Change Management, also I plan to enquire from the course advisers when I get in if I can choose elective in information Systems Management and Innovation department of the University when I get in whichever works better.

I think others on this thread have more to add than me. I don't think you should put too much attention on an MBA concentration. If you want a specialist degree, take a master of science. If you want an MBA-type role, then get into the best MBA you can. The technical skills are either easy to learn elsewhere, or they cannot be taught in an MBA.

Try my post: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

I have over 5years work experience which has been on managing data, change management. I have managed a couple of IT application projects, big and small projects in the past years.

Has anybody actually done one of these MBA programs? I have been reading a lot about programs with an analytics focus, and I'm considering one based on my background as an engineer, but I have two questions/concerns:

1. What kind of jobs are available for people with a management degree in analytics?
2. Are there other MBA programs outside of the U.S. which offer these programs? Europe or the UK maybe? I don't want to do my MBA program in the US.

I suppose that for people who need to dive deep into analytics - if they want to work in a quant-heavy functional area like operations, for instance - these focused programs do provide some value.

For others, who may just want a strategic overview of how analytics works in other types of management roles, perhaps just cobbling together a few important electives, in say data mining or IT strategy, might be a better approach.

Often, people coming from engineering backgrounds have strong quantitative skills already, and maybe just need to get a more strategic understanding of how analytics works. If you're in this category, perhaps just taking some electives in analytics while doing your MBA might be a thought.

So I suppose it depends on your background and what you hope to achieve with an MBA.

As far as MBA programs outside of the US which have an analytics focus, I can't think of a single one. There are some MSc programs in the UK - Manchester and Warwick for example - and then some MSc programs in Asia (CUHK) - but other than that I am not sure.

Ok, thanks for the detailed advice. My goal is to leverage my engineering experience to transition from an engineering into some kind of marketing role, and I thought that an analytics specific degree would give me some kind of edge in that field. But from what you are saying, maybe it's better to just do a regular MBA program and then take some electives.

I would like to go to school in the UK or in Europe, any school suggestions?

Did you see this list?

http://www.find-mba.com/specializations/21/marketing

You should probably start with HEC Paris and Manchester. Another strategy would be to get into the best school you can get into - just start with the FT rankings and work your way down: LBS, INSEAD, IESE, IMD...

Rather than MBA in business analytics I would suggest to go for MA ( informatics) or an SAP related certification and work experience which would open up a huge range of opportunities.

I have done some research and am very interested in the HEC Paris program. Do you think that it's better to apply for the January or September intake? It's basically 12 versus 16 months.

From what I understand about the HEC program, if you start in September you have access to more electives, as well as to a bigger variety of international exchanges.

More electives is obviously a selling point for people who either don't know what they want to do after graduation, or plan on making a large shift from where they are before the MBA. If you fall into either of these categories, I'd suggest the September intake.