Graduate Certificates: Business Data Analytics

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Featured Online Certificates in Business Data Analytics

Boston University

Boston University offers an online applied business analytics graduate certificate. This program is available online as well as on campus, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of data analytics techniques. The program also serves as a stepping stone to Metropolitan College management degree programs. Program faculty members include professors with extensive real-world experience.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from a fully accredited institution, completion of the pre-analytics laboratory module (or possession of equivalent knowledge), an official transcript, and a grade point average of 3.0.

Offered completely online, the hands-on pre-analytics laboratory provides students with the fundamental knowledge in business analysis, data modeling, and decision-support tools necessary for focused study of business analytics foundations, enterprise risk analytics, and subsequent courses.

​Made up of 16​ credit-hours, the curriculum of the certificate program covers advanced software functions and tools such as text and data mining, predictive modeling, visual analytics, OLAP tables, and simulations. Course topics include ​business analytics foundations, enterprise risk analytics, marketing analytics, and web analytics for business.

Students enrolled in this program learn how to analyze business processes, choose the right analytical methods for monitoring performance issues, and come up with solutions backed by data. Graduates can pursue work as mathematicians and statisticians, as well as analyst positions in finance and operations or market research.

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: Nine months
  • Estimated Tuition: $480 per credit-hour to $905 per credit-hour, depending upon the course

Pennsylvania State University Global Campus -Smeal College of Business

The Pennsylvania State University offers an online graduate certificate in business analytics. This fully online program teaches students how to make data-driven and informed business decisions. The program is offered in partnership with the Penn State Smeal College of Business, an AACSB-accredited institution. The faculty is the same as that of other Smeal programs.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (or a tertiary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree), official transcripts from each institution attended, a grade point average of 3.0, a current resume, statement of intent, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE or GMAT test scores are not required, but they are encouraged.

​Comprising nine credit-hours, the curriculum teaches students to analyze and explore large data sets, analyze all aspects of a problem before reaching a conclusion, and build new strategies for business.

Students not only learn how to use forecasting and optimization techniques, but also develop valuable skills in areas such as marketing, supply chain management, risk management, and operations.

  • Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
  • Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Expected Time to Completion: Nine to 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $1,046 per credit-hour

University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus offers an online graduate certificate in the foundations in business analytics. All courses in the program are available online. The program teaches students how to manipulate and manage data and make informed decisions. The curriculum is designed with input from leading employers, giving students a competitive edge in the job market.

The major admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited degree-granting university or college and proof of industry certification, such as IBM certification in Cognos, Risk Analytics, SPSS, and SAS certification. In addition, an official transcript reflecting completion of coursework at the 200-level or higher in statistics and computer programming (with a minimum grade of B) from a regionally accredited college or university is required of all applicants.

​Consisting of 12​ credit-hours, the curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. It includes courses such as decision management systems, and data management and visualization.

Students learn how to transform large amounts of data into actionable steps, take up projects related to data analytics, devise new business and leadership strategies, and use data mining and warehousing methods.

The program opens up numerous opportunities in data warehousing, database design, data mining, predictive analytics, data modeling and more, for graduates.

  • Location: Adelphi, Maryland
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: Nine to 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $694 per credit-hour

Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University Global offers an online graduate certificate in business analytics. This fully online program is ideal for modern learners who wish to advance their knowledge and manage data at the enterprise level. With the expertise in business analytics students gain in this program, they can identify organizational needs and provide solutions based on real-world information.

In order to be accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, grade point average of 3.0, a statement of purpose, professional resume, and official transcripts. International applicants must submit documentation of English proficiency.

​The program comprises 12​ credit-hours. The curriculum consists of courses such as foundations of data analytics, data mining and visualization, predictive analytics, and business analytics.

The program equips students with skills such as applying data-analytics techniques and providing results, designing and implementing analytics solutions that align with organizational strategies, and demonstrating the principles of predictive, prescriptive, and descriptive analytics. Graduates can pursue opportunities in a variety of settings on completion of the program.

  • Location: Aurora, Colorado
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
  • Expected Time to Completion: Seven months
  • Estimated Tuition: $6,432 for the program

Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers an online undergraduate certificate in applied business data analytics. This program is available both on campus and online. The program explores techniques used to streamline business processes and decision-making with data. The program is ideal for students who aspire to work with large amounts of data using software and computers.

Admission requirements for the program include a high school diploma, grade point average of 3.0 in competency courses, completed online application, official transcripts from each educational institution attended, and ACT or SAT scores. International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency by submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores.

The program is ​made up of 18​ credit-hours. Course topics include ​computer applications and information technology, advanced excel in business, business process management, business project management, and business intelligence.

Students become adept at working with big data for making decisions about process designs, projects, and tasks. They learn how to collect, organize, and analyze large sets of data, decipher patterns and useful information, and use their findings for achieving a competitive advantage in any industry or field.

Graduates of the program will be well-equipped to work as statisticians, auditors, management analysts, database administrators, and search engine strategists.

  • Location: Tempe, Arizona
  • Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
  • Expected Time to Completion: Nine to 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $530 per credit-hour

University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska offers a fully online graduate certificate in business analytics. The program prepares business leaders to solve problems by leveraging data.

The major admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree, completion of an introductory statistics course with a satisfactory grade, and official transcripts, among others.

The program consists of 12​ credit-hours and credits earned for the certificate may be applied toward the MBA program. As part of the program, students delve into topics such as an introduction to econometrics, business analytics, data mining applications, and strategic database marketing.

Students will understand the importance and use of business analytics, how data can help them make better decisions, and the importance of data mining in solving problems. The program opens up a wide range of opportunities related to data analytics and mining for students.

  • Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Expected Time to Completion: Nine to 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $630 per credit-hour

Professors to Know in Business Data Analytics

Özgür M. Araz, PhD – University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Dr. Özgür M. Araz is an associate professor in the department of supply chain management and analytics at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln’s College of Business. He teaches courses such as predictive analytics, supply chain planning and control systems, database management and organization, and supply chain decision making models. Presently, his research focuses on business analytics, public health policy, systems simulation, and healthcare operations management.

A member of professional organizations such as INFORMS, the Decision Sciences Institute, HIMSS, and the System Dynamics Society, Dr. Araz’s research has been published in prominent journals such as the Journal of System Science and System Engineering, the Journal of Medical Systems, and the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. He completed his PhD at Arizona State University, his MS at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a BS at Istanbul Technical University.

Christopher J. Solo, PhD – Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Christopher J. Solo serves as a clinical assistant professor of supply chain and analytics at The Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business. He teaches classes on business strategies for data analytics, supply chain analytics, and introduction to business information systems.

Notably, professor Solo has also served in leadership positions in the US Air Force and as an Air Force faculty member, teaching courses on simulation, decision analysis, and probability. He earned his PhD from Penn State University, an MS from the United States Air Force Institute of Technology, and a BS from Penn State.

Vladimir Zlatev, PhD – Boston University

Dr. Vladimir Zlatev is an associate professor of the practice of administrative sciences at Boston University. He teaches courses such as business analytics foundations, quantitative and qualitative decision-making, doing business in North America, international trade and logistics, and international marketing strategy. His research efforts are focused on implementing strategies related to import and export in addition to various aspects of management (program, project, performance, and process).

Dr. Zlatev is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Business Competition and Growth. His latest publications focus on industry tools for teaching applied business analytics in virtual laboratories and business analysis for IT practitioners. He completed his PhD, MS, and BS from Dresden University of Technology.