The online Master’s of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program announced March 28 that it has expanded internationally to welcome students from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.

The program, which is a degree that is completed over 16 months online and includes two week-long, on-campus residencies, will now allow students residing in countries within three hours of the Eastern Time Zone to attend live classes virtually. International students can also now obtain a short-term student visa to attend the two in-person residency programs at Georgetown University, according to Babak Zafari, academic director of the MSBA program.

Zafari said the expansion marks a significant moment for the MSBA program and McDonough School of Business (MSB) as it opens students up to a global perspective and an opportunity to become better acquainted with the business world.

“This supports Georgetown McDonough’s commitment to building global-ready leaders in business, as a pivotal part of our students’ experience is the international perspectives they gain from peers and, eventually, fellow alumni,” Zafari wrote to The Hoya.

Tarek El-Amine (GRD ’24), a current student in the MSBA program, said that the recent international expansion of the program demonstrates a commitment to Georgetown’s core Jesuit values, especially those of diversity and inclusion. 

“Expanding access to a Georgetown education not only enhances our program but also underscores our core values,” El-Amine wrote. 

The inclusion of international students within the program follows the MSBA’s commitment to increasing diversity. In the Fall 2023 semester alone, the program saw an increased number of enrolled women, U.S. underrepresented minorities and military-affiliated students. 

El-Amine said the program’s expansion is grounded in a commitment to reducing educational barriers. 

“The recent decision by the MSBA program exemplifies Georgetown’s ongoing dedication to removing educational barriers, in line with John Carroll’s vision,” El-Amine wrote. 

El-Amine said that increasing diversity in the classroom is essential to his program and is in line with Georgetown’s institutional goals.

“I think part of what makes our program so special is the diverse opinions and ideas I hear in class from my peers,” El-Amine said. “Part of the reason I chose Georgetown was that I felt that it was a place that I would be accepted for who I am, my background.”

El-Amine said that the recent expansion helps to illustrate why Fortune ranked the MSBA program #2 in its 2024 rankings for Best Online Master’s in Business Analytics Programs.

According to El-Amine, the expansion has the ability to enable greater educational accessibility and equity, especially when aiming for an MSBA degree.

“By persistently championing greater accessibility, Georgetown reiterates its pledge to equitable and outstanding education, solidifying our role as catalysts for global change and honoring John Carroll’s enduring legacy,” El-Amine added. 

Zafari said that concurrently operating the program through an online format with its recent expansion also helps to enhance the program’s ability to attract students seeking a global learning experience.

“The online format of our MSBA program offers both flexibility and rigorous academic challenges, ideally suited for the next cohort of globally-minded individuals eager to advance their skills,” Zafari wrote.

Through providing greater accessibility to the program, the recent international expansion creates a wide range of opportunities for students to engage in deeper conversations in business analytics and attain a global perspective, according to Laura Venos, director of career services at the MSBA.

Venos said that from a career perspective, the MSBA’s expansion will create opportunities in new global markets with the addition of international students. 

Venos added that diversity and innovation continue to enhance the vision of the Georgetown MSBA program and propel it into the global sphere. 

“The program becomes more diverse and more innovative every year, and the addition of international applicants is an exciting next step,” Venos wrote.

Zafari said including more students across a spectrum of nationalities and backgrounds will enable new conversations to emerge in the MSBA classroom.

“By welcoming students from diverse time zones, we aim to enhance the international dimensions of our program, promoting a rich exchange of perspectives.”