An master's degree for early-career professionals looking to immerse themselves in full-time study to help grow their careers in this in-demand field. The MS in Business Analytics & AI program offers high quality education with tailored professional development.
On this page:
- Class participation
- Degree completion pathways
- Prequisite requirements
- New student orientation
- Core courses & electives
- Concentrations
- Professional development
- Meet your professors
- Optional internships
Lehigh University’s College of Business offers a STEM-designated master's degree in business analytics and AI. The MSBAi program is a 34-credit, full-time program that includes 25 credits of core coursework and 9 elective credits. Courses cover all core aspects of business analytics from programming in business analytics to data management, data modeling, and data communications. Data ethics and security, as well as the effective use of AI, round out the curriculum. Students may pursue a concentration or use electives to explore areas aligned with their career goals.
The MSBAi program is completed with a capstone project that gives students real-world experience in applying what they learn in the classroom.
A Full-Time, In-Person Format
Students are required to attend classes on campus and enroll full-time in the program.
Request more information about our MSBAi program.
How Long Does the MSBAi Take?
Depending on the chosen track, students typically complete the program in 10-16 months.
The standard track offers the fastest path to degree completion, and the extended track is ideal for students who feel they need more time to focus on graduate school and chart their future career path, or for students wishing to pursue an internship. Lehigh also offers a variety of internship opportunities during the regular academic semesters that may replace electives.
Students begin classes in late August and can expect to graduate in August of the following year.
Summer Bootcamp (2.5 credits)
- Analytics Foundations
- Computational Foundations
- AI Readiness (co-curriculum)
- Career Readiness (co-curriculum)
Fall (15 credits)
- BUAN 415 Introduction to Generative AI (3 credits)
- BUAN 446 Python Applications for Business (3 credits)
- BUAN 448 Predictive Analysis in Business (3 credits)
- BIS 458 Data Management for Managers (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Spring (16.5 credits)
Students begin classes in late August and can expect to graduate in December of the following year. Summer internships are available with this track.
Summer Bootcamp (2.5 credits)
- Analytics Foundations
- Computational Foundations
- AI Readiness (co-curriculum)
- Career Readiness (co-curriculum)
Fall (15 credits)
- BUAN 415 Introduction to Generative AI (3 credits)
- BUAN 446 Python Applications for Business (3 credits)
- BUAN 448 Predictive Analysis in Business (3 credits)
- BIS 458 Data Management for Managers (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Spring (13.5 credits)
- BUAN 452 Business Analytics and Modeling (3 credits)
- BUAN 457 Artificial Intelligence for Business (3 credits)
- BIS 412 Data Ethics and Security in Business (1.5 credits)
- BIS 415 Capstone Project (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Summer or Fall (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Lehigh University will certify international students as full-time students during the final semester.
What to Expect in the MSBAi Program
The MS in Business Analytics & AI program is designed to be completed in one year, helping you advance your career sooner. Explore the sections below to learn more about orientation, curriculum and other professional development aspects of the program.
Required Prerequisites
- Calculus (Math 021 or Math 081 or equivalent)
- Economics (ECO 001 or equivalent)
- Statistics (ECO 045 or equivalent)
- Python (Coursera)
Strongly Recommended
- Basic R Programming (edX)
Don't have some or all of these prerequisites? That is ok! Please contact business@lehigh.edu to learn about different pathways to fulfill these prerequisites.
Before classes begin, incoming MSBAi students attend a mandatory orientation to help ease the transition into graduate business school. You'll work through a collaborative case study that introduces the kind of complex, cross-functional issues you'll tackle throughout the program, while getting to know your new cohort. Orientation dates are included in your admission materials if you're offered a spot in the program.
Core Courses (25 credits)
- Analytics Foundations & Computational Foundations (2.5 credits)
- BUAN 415 Introduction to Generative AI (3 credits)
- BUAN 446 Python Applications for Business (3 credits)
- BUAN 448 Predictive Analysis in Business (3 credits)
- BIS 458 Data Management for Managers (3 credits)
- BUAN 452 Business Analytics and Modeling (3 credits)
- BUAN 457 Artificial Intelligence for Business (3 credits)
- BIS 412 Data Ethics and Security in Business (1.5 credits)
- BIS 415 Capstone Project (3 credits)
Electives (9 credits)
Students select 9 elective credit hours at the 400 level. Electives can be taken freely or structured around one of 6 concentration areas.
Two distinctive co-curricular tracks—Career Readiness and AI Readiness—complement the program by building professional skills and technological fluency from day one. This structure reflects direct employer feedback emphasizing the need for strong analytical capability, AI adaptability, and effective communication.
Concentrations and Electives (9 credits)
Students may choose to specialize in one of 6 MSBAi concentration areas, each requiring 9 elective credit hours. A concentration does not need to be declared at the time of application; many students complete the MSBAi without a concentration.
Available concentrations:
- Accounting
- Data Science
- Financial Engineering Analytics
- Information Technology
- Marketing Analytics
- Supply Chain Analytics
This concentration has tracks for both Accounting and non-Accounting degree holders. Students with a non-accounting degree will need to have introductory coursework in areas such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Statistics, Finance and Information Systems. The more courses a non-Accounting degree holder has taken in these subjects will expand the course options within this concentration.
Select 3 of the following courses:
- ACCT 310 Essential Tax Planning for Business Strategies (3 credits)
- ACCT 311 Accounting Information Systems (3 credits)
- ACCT 330 Accounting Analytics and AI (3 credits)
- ACCT 340 Investment Banking and Capital Markets Accounting (3 credits)
- ACCT 432 Accounting for Managers (3 credits)
- GBUS 401 Financial Reporting for Managers and Investors (3 credits)
Select 3 of the following courses:
Prerequisites are waived for the courses listed in this concentration.
Select 3 of the following courses:
Select 3 of the following courses:
Prerequisites are waived for the courses listed in this concentration.
Select 3 of the following courses:
Prerequisites are waived for the courses listed in this concentration.
Select 3 of the following courses:
- ACCT 310 Essential Tax Planning for Business Strategies
- ACCT 311 Accounting Information Systems
- ACCT 330 Accounting Analytics and AI
- ACCT 340 Investment Banking and Capital Markets Accounting
- ACCT 432 Accounting for Managers
- BIS 333 Enterprise Security and Risk Management
- BIS 334 Business Data Networks and Security
- BIS 335 Application Development for Business
- BIS 342 e-Business Enterprise Applications
- BIS 344 Cloud Computing for Business
- DSCI 321 Algorithms and Software Foundations
- DSCI 411 Data Management for Big Data
- DSCI 421 Accelerated Computing for Machine Learning
- DSCI 431 Introduction to Statistical Models
- DSCI 441 Statistical and Machine Learning
- ECO 404 Applied Microeconometrics
- ECO 415 Econometrics I
- FIN 377 Advanced Topics in Investments – Financial Data Science
- GBUS 401 Financial Reporting for Managers and Investors
- GBUS 421 Advanced Investments
- GBUS 422 Derivatives and Risk Management
- GBUS 432 Demand and Supply Chain Planning
- GBUS 449 Talent Analytics
- GBUS 461 Marketing Analytics
- GBUS 466 Marketing Research and Analysis
- ISE 426 Optimization Models and Applications
- ISE 447 Financial Optimization
- MACC 419 Auditing
- MACC 430 Data Analytics for Accountants
- MATH 312 Statistical Computing and Applications
- MKT 312 Marketing Research*
- MKT 319 Innovation and Marketing of New Products
- MKT 325 Consumer Insights through Data Analysis
- MKT 326 Marketing Analytics in a Digital Space
- PMGT 409 Project Management Fundamentals
- SCM 330 Analytics for Service Operations
- SCM 345 Analytical Approaches to Supply Chain Management
- STAT 410 Random Processes and Applications
*Students taking MKT 312 will not receive credit for GBUS 466
Built-In Professional Development and Career Support
Career development at Lehigh is included in your degree as a co-curriculum, meaning it runs alongside your coursework and does not require separate enrollment.
Through the NextYOU program, MSBAi students receive structured coaching, job-search strategy support, and access to Lehigh's professional network throughout the degree program and beyond.
The MS in Business Analytics & AI courses are taught by Lehigh Business faculty members with deep expertise in their disciplines and a commitment to applied, relevant instruction. With a rotating roster each semester, students engage with a variety of professors across the core curriculum and elective offerings.
Professors
- Bilal Khan, Ph.D., City University of New York
Associate Professors
- Dawei (David) Zhang, Ph.D., University of Calgary (MSBA Co-Director)
Assistant Professors
- Kofi Arhin, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Michael Rivera, Ph.D., Purdue University
Teaching Assistant Professors
- Burak Eskici, Ph.D., Harvard University
- Sun Tae Kim, Ph.D., Louisiana State University
- Yaqin Sun, Ph.D., Drexel University
Adjunct Professors
- Steve Lewis, M.S., Carnegie Mellon University
- Jean Nonnemaker, Ph.D., Lehigh University
- Rudolph Surovcik, M.B.A., Lehigh University
- Eric Zematis, M.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Professional Development
- Anne-Mette Halvorson, M.B.A., Simmons University
Connect With Lehigh MSBAi Students & Staff
Curious about campus culture, student organizations or life at Lehigh? Connect with a current student! Questions about admissions, tuition, or the application process? Our team is here to help.
Internship & Experiential Opportunities
Lehigh offers students the opportunity to pursue summer internships, as well as participate in part-time internships during the regular academic semesters that may replace electives. Explore the different options below.
An internship is not required for this curriculum.
The fall and summer extended tracks allow students the space to pursue a traditional 10-week summer internship. With our campus proximity and alumni network in large metropolitan areas such as New York City and Philadelphia, students should begin working with Graduate Career Services early in the program to identify internal career resources such as Handshake, Interstride, Lehigh Connects and more to identify potential companies for internships.
Spend your summer in San Francisco, CA! Startup Academy is a cutting-edge, fully-funded academic program that immerses students in full-time, real-world internships with startups in Silicon Valley. Students will be required to take a concurrent class.
This high-impact, experiential learning opportunity is for Lehigh students seeking an integrated, real-world internship experience in entrepreneurship, innovation or social impact. The part-time internship is remote and can be completed during the fall or spring semesters and count as a 3-credit elective. Students will be required to take a concurrent class.
The Baker Institute's flagship program immerses students in the Bay Area entrepreneurial ecosystem. This one-week program can be completed during the winter semester and count as a 3-credit elective. Additional fees apply.