ALL THINGS WPC

he W. P. Carey Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BA) exposes students to knowledge that helps them develop an intuition on how to improve specific business functions. During the nine-month program, students dive into 10 courses culminating with an applied project.

“Over the past five years, we have worked on over 150 applied projects with 50 companies,” says Hina Arora, clinical assistant professor and MS-BA director of experiential analytics. “Many students go on to accept internships and full-time positions with the clients they work with. Forty percent of participating organizations have collaborated with us over multiple years, which we believe is a strong testament to the value of this partnership.”

Vivek Singh (MS-BA ’16) valued the experience as a student, and now as an alumni adviser. During spring 2018 and 2019, while working at Ports America, Singh facilitated and sponsored MS-BA applied projects and mentored more than 20 students. Each project gave students the chance to discover actionable insights that could help with predicting the future of business goals. At the end of the project, students presented to stakeholders on their results.

Singh enjoyed helping students learn from day one. “It was refreshing to see a mix of students with distinct minds from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences come together for a shared goal,” he says.

“As a data scientist in an era where data is money, the MS-BA program helped me to draw from technical and business intricacies and provide insights that act as a liaison between them,” he adds. “As a W. P. Carey student, I learned how to bridge the gap. This skill has translated in my current job as a data scientist at Discover Financial Services.”

The STEM-designated MS-BA program allows eligible graduates such as Singh the ability to access student visas on an Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension for up to 36 months. This longer work authorization visa gave him the opportunity to gain real-world skills and experiences in the U.S.

Singh reflects back on his time in the program with appreciation — because of the supportive community, and also because he believes it ultimately gave him an edge in his career and provided him with lifelong memories. He is grateful for the opportunity to give back and guide students as an alumnus.

“I am proud to have a lasting association with the university,” Singh says. “I found a home away from home and am reminded of my roots when I come back. ASU will always be a part of the journey.”

Industry clients who are interested in sponsoring a project can contact us throughout the year: wpcmsbaproject@asu.edu