Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam Reimagines Business Analytics Master’s Program for the AI Era

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how organizations operate, the role of the analytics professional is rapidly evolving. Anticipating industry needs, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business reimagined its business analytics master’s program as the Master of Science in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (MSBAi). The change reflects the growing centrality of AI in modern business decision-making.

Haslam’s STEM-designated MSBAi program, in the college’s Department of Business Analytics and Statistics (BAS), delivers an interactive learning experience that produces problem solvers who will meet the surging demand for business analytics professionals with high AI proficiency.

Anticipating AI Needs

According to program leaders, companies now expect analytics professionals to build and manage an entire solution conduit, from analysis to managing the full data-to-decision process, including collecting and interpreting data, developing solutions and communicating insights that drive business decisions. This work is frequently expected to take the form of fully functional apps and custom-trained AI agents. Based on feedback from alumni and corporate partners, the MSBAi curriculum was redesigned to reflect how analytics work is performed in industry today.

Bogdan Bichescu, MSBAi program director, associate professor and Southern-Peters Research Fellow, explains that the MSBAi curriculum prepares graduates to deliver these total-process solutions.

“With its strong focus on practical uses of AI to solve real‑business problems, Haslam is empowering its MSBAi students to anticipate tomorrow’s business needs now,” Bichescu says.

Kevin Carter, production planning and controls director at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 National Security Complex and BAS corporate partner and advisory board member, says the facility values knowledgeable professionals who can translate big data into actionable insights.

“As AI continues to reshape how we approach complex problems, our method of solving these problems must also evolve,” Carter explains. “The MSBAi program’s emphasis on applied AI, data management and communication is exactly what we need to tackle the problems of tomorrow and deliver for America.”

Innovative Curriculum, Real-Business Challenges

To support the future of analytics, Haslam’s MSBAi curriculum is designed to develop “full-stack” analytics professionals, combining technical depth with real-world business application. The program includes:

• Significant hands-on work with data management tools such as Python and SQL
• An experiential-learning class in developing apps and agents using both code-based and low-code/no-code approaches
• Advanced coverage of AI techniques with classes in generative AI and reinforcement learning
• A natural language processing course that includes rigorous coverage of graph analytics techniques, foundational for many machine learning and AI applications
• New causal inference and A/B testing classes centered on evaluating the causal impact of business policies, decisions, marketing campaigns and more
• Redesigned professional communications emphasis, with increased focus on data storytelling, visualization and communication
• A new data storytelling course that will enhance graduates’ abilities to present results persuasively

Haslam’s MSBAi program culminates with a capstone project that puts students in charge of finding end-to-end solutions for a business problem presented by a BAS corporate partner.

Student teams engage with company representatives, working within real-world ambiguity and stakeholder constraints, to assess the company’s issue and develop solutions. Synthesizing all they have absorbed from the program — analytics, AI and communication skills — the students then deliver the stakeholders end-to-end, ready-to-implement options.

John Golliher (HCB, ’20; MSBA, ’21), senior AI machine learning (AI/ML) engineer with ABS Group, says his company seeks recruits who can move AI/ML problems from concept to production, and Haslam’s business analytics graduates have consistently been strong candidates.

“The MSBAi redesign signals what the industry is asking for: generative AI workflows, custom ML pipelines and the communication skills to present findings to stakeholders,” he says.

Building on History, Evolving for the Future

Haslam’s graduate analytics program has a strong record of success. Nearly 90 percent of its alumni accept job offers within six months of graduation in a wide range of job functions and industries, with a median annual salary of more than $87,000. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting a 34 percent job growth rate for data-science-related jobs from 2024 to 2034, MSBAi graduates continue to enter the job market with strong salary potential and a wide range of career opportunities.

By emphasizing end-to-end solution development, the program prepares graduates to adapt as analytics roles evolve and AI becomes a baseline expectation across industries.

“With the training to understand and manage the entire analytics workflow, our graduates are prepared to adapt to changing analytics needs and offer higher flexibility and productivity to employers,” Bichescu says. “Through this skillset, they can bridge technical and business-related aspects of analytics projects, distinguishing themselves in the marketplace and opening career trajectories.” 

Future-Proofed Careers

Carrie Beth Cahoon (HCB, ’22; MSBA, ’23), a supply chain management analyst with Nissan North America, experienced firsthand how Haslam’s analytics master’s program prepares graduates to create value.

“AI is now a core component of modern analytics roles, shifting expectations from reporting on data to delivering forward-looking insights and strategic decisions,” she explains. “The program’s evolution to the MSBAi reflects that shift directly, and the blend of analytics, AI and practical problem solving it develops is exactly what organizations like Nissan are looking for in analytics professionals.”

As AI continues to reshape business, demand is growing for professionals who can move from data to deployed solutions. Haslam’s accelerated, 10-month MSBAi equips graduates with technical skills and the ability to turn data into business impact, preparing them for in-demand careers across industries. Begin your journey to a future-proofed career in the industry of your choice today by applying for the Haslam MSBAi program.

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CONTACT:

Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu