Sharpen your competitive edge and learn to leverage the power of big data with methods courses designed to help you solve real business problems and improve decision-making.

As big data and new technologies continue to transform business, there’s growing demand for individuals with experience in managing and analyzing data. The Certificate in Business Analytics will equip you with the skills necessary to be successful in this dynamic environment. Designed to build on any background, the 8-week courses are mobile-optimized and delivered 100 percent online, providing flexibility. While you pursue this certificate, you’ll engage with Big Ten faculty and gain access to a leading career center.

The curriculum consists of four methods courses taught by faculty with experience in the use of analytics techniques to solve real business problems. You’ll gain exposure to cutting-edge software, programming languages such as R and SQL, and the techniques used by industry to analyze data and make decisions, including statistics, data mining and simulation. With two core courses and several electives to choose from, you can tailor the certificate to fit your needs. The skills you’ll gain have broad appeal for employers and are applicable to virtually any industry, providing an edge in today’s competitive job market. Since the course credits you’ll earn are transferable, you can also roll your credits into a master’s program, including our M.S. in Business Analytics.

Courses

MBA students wishing to pursue the certificate will not be subject to additional screening. Students seeking just a certificate will be reviewed by a faculty committee based on:

• Bachelor’s degree: 3.0 GPA recommended*, but we will review candidates holistically (see below). 
• Professional Résumé: Your résumé should include relevant work experience, education, skills, professional and community involvement, and other professional credentials.
• Prerequisites: You are expected to have developed proficiency in using Microsoft Excel before you begin the program.

* We recommend that you have relevant work experience. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA, but who have substantial relevant professional experience, will still be considered for the certificate program. 

Certificate programs are not considered degree programs, additionally, coursework for this program is delivered primarily online, so international students should be aware that admission to this program is ineligible for immigration forms for an F-1 student visa.

July 1 for Fall. November 1 for Spring. April 1 for Summer.