Prescriptive Analytics - Specialization

Prescriptive Analytics

The tools used by an engineer in Business Analytics, are often grouped in:

  • Descriptive Analytics, which can answer the question “What has happened?”
  • Predictive Analytics, that focus more on finding out “What will happen?”
  • Prescriptive Analytics, where actions are taken and thus answers the question “What should we do?”

The MSc in Business Analytics builds upon this concept and offers three optional specializations, each allowing you to become a specialist in certain areas:

  • Predictive Analytics
  • Prescriptive Analytics
  • Transport Analytics

The specialization in Prescriptive Analytics will bring the student to focus on advanced optimisation methods. You will learn not only how to solve planning problems of any scale, but you will also be able to simulate their outcome.

Aside from the mandatory courses from the mandatory core competence courses, the specialization in Prescriptive Analytics requires you to select the core competence courses in the following matter.

Select the complementary courses to the one from the general competencies ( so that you will have taken all three courses): 

42112 Mathematical Programming Modelling 5 point January
42114 Integer Programming 5 point Autumn E4A (Tues 13-17)
42137 Optimization using metaheuristics 5 point Spring F2A (Mon 13-17)

and at least two of the following courses:

02435 Decision-Making Under Uncertainty 5 point Spring F4A (Tues 13-17)
42115 Network Optimization 5 point Autumn E4B (Fri 8-12)
42117 Transport Optimization 5 point Autumn E2B (Thurs 8-12)
42136 Large Scale Optimization using Decomposition 5 point Spring F2B (Thurs 8-12)
42417 Simulation in Operations Management 5 point June

Example study plans

Autumn start

Polytechnical foundation
Programme specific courses
Thesis
Electives
1.Semester
42577
Introduction to Business Analytics
5 point
42114
Integer Programming
5 point
42500
Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical... Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
12106
Quantitative Sustainability... Quantitative Sustainability (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
Electives
Electives
10 point
2.Semester
42576
From Analytics to Action
5 point
42578
Advanced Business Analytics
5 point
42137
Optimization using metaheuristics
5 point
42136
Large Scale Optimization using... Large Scale Optimization using Decomposition
5 point
02435
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
5 point
42417
Simulation in Operations Management
5 point
3.Semester
42115
Network Optimization
5 point
42112
Mathematical Programming Modelling
5 point
Electives II
Electives
20 point
4.Semester
Thesis
Thesis
30 point

Spring start

Spring start is a bit more complex, as most introductory courses will only be available on the second semester. The following study plan is an example of how a to follow the Prescriptive Analytics specialization with spring start.

Polytechnical foundation
Programme specific courses
Thesis
Electives
1.Semester
42137
Optimization using metaheuristics
5 point
42500
Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical... Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
12100
Quantitative Sustainability... Quantitative Sustainability (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
Electives I
Electives
15 point
2.Semester
42577
Introduction to Business Analytics
5 point
42114
Integer Programming
5 point
42115
Network Optimization
5 point
42112
Mathematical Programming Modelling
5 point
42417
Simulation in Operations Management
5 point
Electives
Electives
5 point
3.Semester
42578
Advanced Business Analytics
5 point
42576
From Analytics to Action
5 point
42136
Large Scale Optimization using... Large Scale Optimization using Decomposition
5 point
02435
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
5 point
Electives II
Electives
10 point
4.Semester
Thesis
Thesis
30 point

Specializations are merely recommended ways of choosing the courses in the curriculum. Applicants are not admitted to a specialization but to the programme and it is possible to choose among all the courses in the curriculum following the directions given. However, if a specialization has been fulfilled the title of the specialization may be added to the diploma.