Business Administration BS - General Management Concentration/Business Analytics MS

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University at Buffalo SUNY

Program Overview

The Business Administration BS with a General Management concentration combined with the MS in Business Analytics gives students a broad foundation in business while adding advanced analytical and technical skills for data-driven decision-making. This pathway is designed for students who want to understand how organizations are managed while also developing the ability to use business analytics to solve complex problems and support strategic decisions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by building the core knowledge required for business administration, including economics, accounting, quantitative analysis and communication. Early coursework establishes the foundation for later management study while developing the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills expected throughout the School of Management curriculum. UB notes that business administration students study key areas including marketing, finance, operations, management, technology and data analytics.

Year 2: Students progress through the business core and develop a broader understanding of how organizations operate, including management, finance, marketing, information systems and operations. The General Management pathway gives students flexibility to select upper-level management coursework that complements their professional interests, while maintaining the academic requirements needed to continue in the major.

Year 3: Students move into upper-level management study and begin connecting business concepts with practical organizational challenges. General Management students complete upper-level management electives outside the core management requirements, giving them the opportunity to build knowledge in areas such as leadership, human resources, consulting, operations or other management-related subjects.

Year 4: Students complete their BS requirements while progressing toward the combined graduate pathway. The 4+1 structure is designed to allow eligible students to move efficiently into graduate-level Business Analytics study, where advanced coursework develops capabilities in areas such as Database Management Systems (MGS 613), Statistical Foundations of Analytics (MGQ 606), Predictive Analytics (MGS 616) and Data Visualization for Business Insights (MGS 628).

Graduate stage – MS in Business Analytics: The master's component adds technical, analytical and managerial depth through a 30-credit curriculum. Core study includes Database Management Systems, Foundations of AI and Society, Mathematical and Computational Fundamentals for AI and Society, Statistical Foundations of Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Applied AI for Managers, Data Visualization for Business Insights and an AI Capstone.

Focus areas: General management, leadership, organizational decision-making, business strategy, business analytics, statistical analysis, predictive analytics, database management, data visualization, artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making

Learning outcomes: Develop broad managerial knowledge, analyze organizational and business problems, communicate effectively in professional environments, apply quantitative methods to business decisions, manage and interpret business data, use predictive and visualization techniques, and connect analytical insights with strategic management decisions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University at Buffalo School of Management's business programs are accredited by AACSB International, providing an internationally recognized quality framework for business education. The combined pathway also adds a graduate-level analytics qualification, including a STEM-designated MS in Business Analytics and Applied AI.

Reputation (employability): UB reports that its undergraduate Business Administration graduates have strong employment and graduate-school outcomes, with the School of Management providing dedicated career preparation, employment statistics, internship opportunities and employer engagement. UB's 4+1 model is specifically designed to combine broad undergraduate preparation with the specialized technical skills employers seek from a master's degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in this pathway can combine the School of Management's undergraduate business experiences with graduate-level applied analytics. The MS in Business Analytics and Applied AI is specifically structured to leave room for action learning, career planning, leadership development, networking and community involvement, while its curriculum applies analytics to areas such as marketing, finance, supply chains and health care.

The pathway provides several opportunities to turn management and analytics concepts into practical skills:

Action learning: The MS program incorporates action-learning opportunities so students can apply analytics and management knowledge beyond traditional classroom study.
Data and analytics tools: Graduate coursework includes Database Management Systems, Statistical Foundations of Analytics, Predictive Analytics and Data Visualization for Business Insights, building practical capabilities for handling and communicating business data.
AI applications: Students study Applied AI for Managers and complete an AI Capstone, connecting artificial-intelligence concepts with managerial and business applications.
Analytics applications: Students can develop expertise in areas including Supply Chain Analytics, Business Forecasting, Healthcare Analytics, Cybersecurity Analytics, Social Network Analytics and eCommerce Web Analytics, depending on course availability.
Career preparation: UB's School of Management Career Resource Center provides career education, job and internship opportunities, employment statistics, workshops and functional-area career research for students.
Internship opportunities: The School of Management maintains dedicated internship resources, including opportunities and guidance for areas such as General Management, Management Consulting, Marketing, Finance, International Business and other business functions.
Global and professional experiences: The MS program highlights opportunities for networking, cultural exploration and career experiences in Buffalo, New York City, Toronto and other locations across North America.
Industry-connected learning: The School of Management's career ecosystem includes employer recruiting, internships, career fairs and professional networking designed to connect students with organizations seeking business and analytics talent.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The combined BS/MS pathway gives graduates both general management preparation and advanced business analytics expertise, creating opportunities across management, consulting, analytics, technology and data-driven business functions. The graduate component is designed to develop technical, managerial and communication skills that can support progression into roles where professionals translate data into actionable business decisions.

Typical career roles include:

Business Analyst
Management Analyst
Business Intelligence Analyst
Data Analyst

Key career-development and progression opportunities include:

Career Resource Center: UB's School of Management Career Resource Center provides career education, job and internship opportunities, workshops, employment statistics and specialized career research resources.
Graduate-level analytics preparation: The MS curriculum develops skills in databases, statistics, predictive analytics, visualization and applied AI, allowing graduates to combine management knowledge with technical analytics capabilities.
Industry exposure: UB provides employer-facing opportunities through recruiting, internships, career fairs and professional networking across multiple business functions.
STEM designation: UB states that the MS in Business Analytics and Applied AI is STEM designated, which can provide eligible international F-1 students with an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training after the standard OPT period, subject to applicable immigration requirements.
4+1 advantage: Entering first-year students who join a UB 4+1 pathway can receive guaranteed admission to the corresponding MS program when they meet the stated overall, UB and management undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.25. The pathway is intended to reduce traditional barriers such as separate graduate admission testing and application costs.
Analytics career applications: UB's graduate analytics curriculum can be applied to marketing, finance, supply chains, health care and other business areas, allowing graduates to connect their management background with a specialized analytics domain.
Accreditation: AACSB accreditation of the School of Management provides an established international quality framework for business education and supports the long-term value of the business qualification.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the combined BS/MS pathway, graduates already hold a master's-level qualification in Business Analytics and can pursue additional graduate or professional education according to their career goals, including doctoral study, specialized analytics education, an MBA or other advanced management and business programs. The MS curriculum also provides a foundation for deeper specialization in areas such as AI, predictive analytics, supply chain analytics, healthcare analytics, cybersecurity analytics and digital marketing analytics.