New MABA Program Offers Flexibility

The Carlson School’s newest graduate program puts working professionals first. Designed to accommodate busy schedules, the Master of Applied Business Analytics (MABA) focuses on developing data analysis skills with the latest tools and techniques. 

MABA, an online and part-time program that launched in Spring 2025, expands the school’s already robust business analytics portfolio, which also includes the popular Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA). While similar, the two master’s programs serve different purposes. 

“MABA is geared toward managers and applying analytics to existing managerial problems. The full-time MSBA is more technical, for an analytics professional who will be building out solutions for a company,” says Professor Alok Gupta, academic director of the MABA program. 

As data analysis technologies continue to grow, the training offered by MABA will become increasingly crucial, especially with the focus on integrating generative AI throughout the curriculum, Gupta says. “The idea is to enable not just business analysts, but even managers to be aware of this tool chest they can easily develop and apply to their problems.” 

MABA students can take more technical analytics courses if they’re interested—or they can explore other business topics. 

“Those courses are still available for students who want to go deeper. But you could also take MBA electives,” says Phil Miller, assistant dean of MBA & MS Programs. “It’s a little bit more ‘build your own basket.’ There’s still a core set of requirements, and you must do the experiential learning component that’s a signature part of our programs, but there’s also that flexibility to pursue the content you feel you need to be successful at work and in your career.”