Business Analytics Certificate
Business problems need solutions based in data. And data analysis is rapidly becoming a required skill set for today’s managers. This certificate will teach you to summarize, visualize, and manage data within software environments that are commonly used in modern business settings. Benefit from techniques that help decision-makers reduce risk and identify opportunities that could provide a competitive advantage.
The coursework is practical and specifically designed to help students with no prior knowledge of business analytics, statistics, or computer programming.
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:
- Identify the proper methods for analyzing data for a variety of business scenarios
- Conduct an analysis by applying appropriate techniques in software environments that are commonly used in business
- Interpret and communicate the results of an analysis
- Develop strategies that an organization could use to improve its competitive advantage through data analysis
- Apply database management skills in a variety of business environments
- Qualify for the 807,300 management occupation jobs expected to be created between 2016 and 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Qualify for roles in business analytics with an average salary of $115,000 (NACE)
Expected completion time: Three 7-week courses, 21 weeks or 1.5 semesters.
Course Descriptions
Core Courses
MBA 6320 | Descriptive Analytics | 3 Credits |
Data analysis is rapidly becoming a required skill set for today’s managers in competitive environments. As a decision-maker in business, you are likely to be asked to conduct your own analysis of data or to interpret a report that has been derived by others. In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn how to summarize, visualize, and manage data within software environments that are commonly used in business today. Additionally, techniques that help decision-makers reduce risk and identify opportunities that would provide an individual or a company with a competitive advantage will be reviewed. |
MBA 6390 | Predictive Analytics | 3 Credits |
Predictive analytics encompasses a variety of statistical and machine learning techniques and applications within a business environment. The primary goal of predictive analytics is to discover and apply relationships found within historic datasets to make predictions about the future or otherwise unknown events. In this hands-on course, students will be introduced to concepts related to constructing, testing, and applying quantitative models in various business settings. From this perspective, students will utilize major software tools to conduct an analysis of continuous, classification, and clustering models. Upon completion of this course, students will gain insight into how models are constructed and how predictive models can improve business. |
Choose from ONE of the following TWO courses
MBA 6325 | Prescriptive Analytics | 3 Credits |
Some refer to analytics as the new science of winning. It refers to a commitment by top management to the extensive use of data, statistical and quantitative analysis, explanatory and predictive models and fact-based management to drive decisions and actions. This course provides an introduction to analytics and covers spreadsheet modeling for decision-making. It employs techniques from the classical disciplines of statistics and operations research, as well as more recently developed methodologies: data mining, executive information systems, digital dashboards, and online analytical processing. You will be expected to master, at an introductory level, techniques that are at the heart of the competitive posture of many successful organizations. |
MBA 6395 | Business Intelligence | 3 Credits |
This course provides a broad overview of business intelligence and data management including database fundamentals, business intelligence approaches, data management/data governance strategies, data mining, and other business/data analytics techniques. Our primary emphasis will be on the managerial perspective, focusing on how you can design, implement, and leverage business intelligence systems and strategies in a management role. |