MSBA Student Experience

Main page content

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

The MSBA Program allows students to become T-shaped analytical thinkers & adaptive innovators who can collaborate with smart machines (Collaborating Intelligence = Humans + Smart Machines) efficiently & effectively.

Look at our students' past work

Students listening to presentations at desks nearby an open window streaming light through it.

2019/2020 Program Goals To provide an opportunity for MSBA (Masters of Science in Business Analytics) students to partner with a mid-career/senior female professional in the South Sound community to share experience and wisdom and to enhance the future of the mentees and mentors through one-on-one meetings and group networking sessions.

Mutual Expectations
Mentors and mentees are expected to make a one-year commitment to the program. Nearly all activities will occur in the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. The structured time commitment includes one evening group session in each the Fall and Spring, and two Saturday group sessions, one in the Fall and another in Winter. The first evening session in Fall quarter will be an orientation for mentors and mentees, to the program and curriculum. The evening session in Spring quarter will be a program wrap-up and thank you to all participants. The two Saturday group sessions will involve more structured discussions of curriculum readings and will last approximately 1.5 hours over the lunch hour. Both mentors and mentees are expected to be familiar with the assigned readings. Mentors and mentees will also be expected to meet at least once per month during the academic year in whatever manner and time is mutually agreeable. Throughout the year, mentors and mentees will be asked to complete short surveys about their experiences, to help the program continuously improve. Note: all discussions in group or individual sessions are confidential.

From the first day of the program, students will join a team to tackle real-world analytics projects with companies. Students (as analytics consultants) have the opportunity to apply concepts, principles and methods associated with business analytics to solve complex problems in an application domain associated with their area of interest (e.g. analytics specialization in marketing, HR, ERP/supply chain, logistics, operations, manufacturing, sales, advertising, finance, retail, education, healthcare, sports, e-commerce, IT, telecommunications, hospitality/tourism, public services, utilities and more).

download applied project brochure

APPLIED PROJECT SHOWCASE

The culmination of students’ hard work is showcased through live demo/poster style sessions open to public viewing. Each team is represented and is able to discuss the analytics methodology followed to co-create the digital solution, specifically highlighting the tools and techniques they used to discover, plan, develop and deploy their working prototype analytics solutions.

  • During AY 17-18, students have worked with a diverse range of 9 industry partners including Boeing, CHI Franciscan Health, DataCentral, Delta Airlines, Metro Parks, South Sound Military Community Partnership, Stellar Industrial Supply, and Turnover Intelligence.
  • During AY 18-19, students have worked on 8 projects with a diverse range of 7 industry partners including Microsoft, CHI Franciscan Health, City of Tacoma, Columbia Bank, Metro Parks, and Harbor Wholesale Foods.
  • During AY 19-20, two cohorts of 77 MSBA student consultants are working with 18 industry partners including CHI Franciscan, Communities in Schools of Tacoma, Costco Whole Sale, Delta Air Lines INC., Harbor Wholesale Foods, Inc., IBM, Metropolitan Appliance, MultiCare Health System, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport, Point Defiance Zoo, Providence St Joseph Health, Sound Credit Union, South Sound Military & Communities Partnership, Stellar Industrial Supply, Tacoma Power, Tacoma Public Schools, TCS World Travel, Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Unique, hands-on applied virtual software solutions through Milgard's Center for Business Analytics Virtual Analytics Innovation Lab.

download center for business analytics brochure

SPEAKER SERIES & EXPERT WORKSHOPS

  • The Milgard School of Business invite leaders who bring fresh insights and perspectives on range across topics in leadership, innovation, decision making, analytics, smart solutions, emerging solutions and others.
  • Center for Business Analytics brings experts to deliver workshops to strenthen students skills & knowledge in team building, communications, negotiation, story telling, and others. Please review CBA Events & News for past and future workshops.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

  • INFORMS STUDENT CHAPTER: By leading and participating in the INFORMS Student Chapter at University of Washington Tacoma, MSBA students have opportunuties to further develop professsional and academic knowledge, and to co-create value with other students, faculty and staff at the University of Washington System in the area of analytics, operations research and management science.
  • VALUE NETWORKS: During their MSBA study, students become members of the following professional and academic organizations, and will have opportunities to use sample list of resources to advance their hands-on learning for no additional cost.

https://www.informs.org/

https://www.pmi.org/

http://www.issip.org/

https://www.teradatauniversitynetwork.com/

https://www.datacamp.com/

https://cloud.google.com/

https://www.ibm.com/cloud/

https://aws.amazon.com/grants/