Andrew Mannion Senior Writer
On Jan. 8, Manhattan University (MU) announced the addition of three new graduate programs. These added programs are mainly focused on analytics, but are also targeted towards undergraduate students looking to enter professions driven by data and its comprehension.
The new degrees offered include business analytics, financial analytics and healthcare informatics. Healthcare informatics extends MU’s STEM portfolio in the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences. This degree, targeted towards healthcare workers, will focus on using data in healthcare to provide high-quality care and more efficient patient outcomes.
Business analytics can be applied across many industries, including marketing, finance and supply chain. This program will lead students into careers in data science, operations analysis and analytics consulting. Financial analytics will follow a similar design, focusing on predictive modeling and data applications. This degree is more geared towards a financial data scientist or portfolio risk analyst.
There is plenty of excitement regarding the addition of the new degrees. Hany Guirguis, dean of the O’Malley School of Business, spoke on how he believes these new degrees benefit MU and students alike.
“Having a variety of graduate programs greatly enhances our school’s credibility, as it shows that the O’Malley School of Business is ready and capable of meeting the challenging needs of today’s business,” Guirguis said. “It also reflects our ability to offer depth and specialization, while staying responsive to industry trends and preparing students for leadership in emerging fields.”
The design of these degrees has been crafted with the intention of enabling the specific professional development a student is seeking. Ann Clarkson, the executive director of online learning, spoke about how the degrees were curated to build better professionals and equip them to thrive in various roles.
“Each degree is structured to enable students to apply their knowledge immediately upon graduation,” Clarkson said. “While the programs address relevant theories and multiple perspectives, they place a strong emphasis on practical applications. This approach ensures that graduates are well prepared to enter, or advance within, their professions with confidence and competence.”
Students have also seen this program as a positive addition to the degrees offered at MU. Dominic Visconti ‘25, currently pursuing his MBA, shared how he feels fulfilled by the program he is in.
“Over this past half year, I can see the difference in my studies,” Visconti said. “It’s a continuation of my undergraduate studies and can be much more specific about what I want to do for my career. Adding more programs could help other students find specificity in what they want to continue to study, and that’s a great thing.”
These new programs have brought a sense of excitement to MU, as administration and students alike find high value in pursuing a master’s degree. In a competitive business industry, the university has further advanced its programs, the goal being to put its students on top. Guirguis elaborated further on how a graduate degree gives students a unique set of knowledge.
“A graduate degree benefits students by deepening their knowledge and critical thinking while providing advanced skills like analytics and AI [artificial intelligence],” Guirguis said. “Professionally, it opens doors to high-demand, high-paying roles, often exceeding $100,000 annually, with strong growth projections. It signals expertise and leadership potential, positioning graduates for success in a rapidly evolving business landscape.”