The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison added three new specialized master’s programs last week, expanding its menu of educational offerings to match changing workforce needs.
Based on feedback from students and employers, as well as analysis of employment trends, the School now offers M.S. programs in business analytics, real estate, and supply chain management, in addition to its nationally recognized undergraduate, MBA, Ph.D., and professional development programs.
Designed as one-year programs, the new M.S. offerings will let students who already hold undergraduate degrees gain targeted expertise and valuable contemporary skills to boost near-term employment prospects, long-term career trajectory, and earnings potential.
“These innovative programs address a market need and broaden the menu of undergraduate and graduate offerings at UW–Madison,” says WSB’s interim Albert O. Nicholas Dean Barry Gerhart. “We identified a strong demand for these three new programs by working with employers, students, advisory board members, and industry leaders.” Taken together with the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA, Wisconsin Evening MBA, Wisconsin Executive MBA, and master of accountancy degrees, the School now offers an even wider array of master’s degree opportunities to meet the different needs of diverse students.
“These fields show strong demand across a number of metrics and are built on a rich history of top-ranked, specialized offerings at WSB,” Gerhart says.
WSB’s supply chain management and real estate offerings are built on a strong legacy, with both programs ranked nationally in the top ten. Gartner ranks the WSB supply chain MBA specialization #10 in the U.S., while U.S. News & World Report ranks the real estate undergraduate program #2.
More recently, the School built new expertise in the area of business analytics, creating eight new courses to launch the first face-to-face business analytics program in Wisconsin.
Accessible to business and nonbusiness students alike, the M.S. programs deliver a focused, intensive education for high-demand fields in Wisconsin and beyond. Students will complete 30 credits, with 21 required credits and nine elective credits over ten months.
“The specialized master’s programs provide undergraduate students the opportunity to take one additional year to enhance their skills and will enable working professionals to redirect their careers,” says Enno Siemsen, associate dean for MBA and master’s programs. “The curriculum will provide students with intensive career preparation and real-world learning experiences.”
Both the business analytics and supply chain M.S. programs are designated as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, recognizing the critical need for students to develop technical skills to succeed in the workforce. The learning outcomes for all three programs were designed with employer input:
- In business analytics, students will be prepared to enter the workforce and leverage data to answer complex business decisions. They will study topics such as data visualization, machine learning, and project management, and will gain experience in live consulting projects with businesses in Wisconsin and beyond.
- In real estate, students will be trained to handle the complexities of commercial real estate transactions. They will develop knowledge in areas such as real estate finance, urban planning, valuation, and development.
- In supply chain, students will gain expert training to guide cross-functional business processes, learning about operations, marketing, analytics/information management, and risk management.
By supplementing their undergraduate degrees, students can enter the workforce poised to succeed as analysts, managers, and associates across many companies and industries. WSB’s current corporate partners include Fortune 500 companies, global businesses, tech startups, and local corporations.
“There is an important need for professionals with a business background and effective, focused expertise,” says Siemsen. “We connected with global companies and current employers to understand the skills needed for students to succeed.”
Working with corporate partners and industry leaders helped inform WSB offerings and will enrich students’ experiences while at WSB. “Partnering with and listening to corporate partners helps the School meet students’ career aspirations. We are proud to already produce high-performing, collaborative professionals who move organizations forward,” says Siemsen. “These new M.S. programs will enable us to support an increasing number of students who aspire to careers in business.”
Applications for the new M.S. programs are open for Fall 2019 enrollment.
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