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Online Business Analytics Certificate

Fast facts

Fact 1

Credit Hours

12

Fact 2

Per Credit

$760

Fact 3

Semesters

2

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Program Benefits

  • Digital Badging for all Graduate Certificate Courses
  • Apply Graduate Certificate Credits to an MS BIDA or MBA
  • No Prerequisite Courses or GRE/GMAT Required
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HomeOnline ProgramsBusiness Analytics Certificate

Prepare for the Business World of the Future

Business analytics drive strategy and innovation in organizations of all types, from top-level decision making to operations and processes. Learn to frame business problems, provide data-driven solutions, and improve business performance with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. This certificate is a part of Saint Mary’s Accelerators carefully crafted series of master's-level graduate certificates. Designed to advance your career to help you meet personal and professional goals, this program can be taken alone or you can apply your credits as a pathway toward a master's degree.

Broaden Your Skills in as Few as Five Months

The online Business Analytics Graduate Certificate combines topics in computer and data science, business, project management, and communication to prepare you for in-demand careers. You will learn to be an analyst who can operate effectively, communicate clearly, and lead project teams to success.

"Collecting and consuming data doesn’t mean anything if you can’t clearly visualize it to derive insights and tell a story that will ultimately make an impact," says Ellyn Vranicar, the manager of data analytics and reporting at W.W. Grainger in Lake Forest, Il., North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products.

The credits you earn in this certificate program can be applied toward our M.S. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics* or accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA).

When you complete your graduate certificate in business analytics, you will be able to optimize your company or organization by improving functional areas of the business through data science project application. You will know which tools are available, which to create, and how to use them to maximize success.

*Students in the M.S. in BIDA program are required to select an Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, or Healthcare Analytics certificate to complete 36 credits to confer a degree.

Saint Mary's Accelerators

Saint Mary's offers a selection of graduate certificate programs designed to accelerate your degree and help you achieve your goals faster. Customize your education and get a glimpse of graduate coursework by stacking Saint Mary's Accelerators, each of which requires the completion of 12 credits and adds only six additional credits to your degree program. Complete extra credentials and gain a competitive edge for your field while saving time and money.

Additionally, several certificate programs also offer Credly badging for each course. These badges serve as a graphic representation of the skills you gained by completing a specific course or graduate certificate program. They can be displayed on social media platforms like LinkedIn and your CV and resume to visually showcase your specific leadership knowledge and skills to current and potential employers, credentialing programs, and admissions offices.

One of the hallmarks of our “accelerators” is that they are stackable into or onto full degree programs. Students can pursue a graduate certificate and then decide to continue into a full degree program in the same or a different discipline.

-Michelle Wieser, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business and Technology

To learn more about Saint Mary's graduate certificates check out this interview with Michelle Wieser.

Curriculum

The online graduate certificate in Business Analytics from Saint Mary's combines the latest industry tools and approaches with coursework in data visualization, business modeling, geographic information systems, and more. Courses are taught by expert faculty who bring industry experience to the online classroom.

Featuring a project-based curriculum made up of 12 credits, this program gives you specialized training to solve business problems using data science methods.

Courses to Accelerate Your Education

With Saint Mary's Accelerators, you'll be awarded a course-level badge upon the successful completion of each of the graduate course offerings listed below. Additionally, you'll also be awarded the graduate certificate badge upon the successful completion of all coursework required for the Accelerator Graduate Certificate you choose. You may also stack Accelerators to customize your education and prepare for diverse professional opportunities while saving time and money.

BIA 630 Data Analysis and Business Modeling (3 credits)

This course provides an introduction to advanced concepts in predictive modeling and techniques to discover patterns in data, identify variables with the most predictive power, and develop predictive models. Students are introduced to descriptive, predictive, prescriptive analytics, and optimization models. The course utilizes Microsoft Excel to engineer and analyze business models. Students identify the proper use of and complete regression, optimization, and exponential smoothing models.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

  1. Utilize datasets to develop statistics and probability to predict future outcomes.
  2. Implement appropriate models needed to analyze and critically evaluate business objectives.
  3. Develop written and oral communication skills required to report on data-intensive business situations.
  4. Organize data-intensive content in a professional setting.
  5. Execute advanced analytics techniques.

BIA 640 Data Visualization and Storytelling (3 credits)

This course explores best-practice data visualization techniques. Professional storytelling and graphic design skills are introduced. Students study effective strategies and visualization tools to communicate with business decision-makers.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

  1. Source appropriate data to create effective visualizations.
  2. Construct a compelling story with data to drive business action.
  3. Design compelling data visualizations to communicate information to the viewer.
  4. Build visualizations that assist in error detection and data preparation.

BIA 645 Communications and Content Strategies (3 credits)

Prerequisites: BIA 630, MBA 633, DIGA 605, BIA 640

This course focuses on explaining complex datasets, models, and analysis to a variety of stakeholders, including internal and external organizations and personnel of various disciplines. Audience analysis and effective strategic communication are studied. Students identify and analyze problems. Professionalism in both oral and written communication is expected.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

  1. Conduct stakeholder analysis and communications results.
  2. Identify business problems and create analytical approaches to solve them.
  3. Write reports based on best-practice data analysis frameworks.
  4. Demonstrate best practice communication techniques to visualize, explore, and act on data science findings.

DIGA 605 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (3 credits)

This course introduces the concepts of spatial data creation, editing, and analysis using GIS software. Emphasis is placed on spatial concepts and understanding and utilizing standard operating procedures. Topics covered include coordinate systems, data creation, derivation, editing, metadata, proximity and overlay analysis, and cartography. Technical proficiency is a primary objective of the course, reinforced by significant practical exercises utilizing GIS software. Examples of how the geospatial industry provides location intelligence to a variety of disciplines are explored.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

  1. Apply knowledge of principles, theories, and concepts of spatial data analysis.
  2. Demonstrate standard techniques for creating, editing, storing, querying, and analyzing geospatial data.
  3. Use cartographic design principles for visual storytelling and effective communication.
  4. Implement practices to promote spatial data integrity based on an understanding of sources of error in spatial data.

Digital Badging

Now you can share your accomplishments with your professional network using our digital badging for each course completed throughout your course of study in the Business Analytics graduate certificate program. Learn More

graduate certificate business analytics saint mary's university of minnesota

Current Certificate Requirements

For current certificate requirements, visit the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota course catalog.

Program Outcomes

When you complete this program, you will be able to:

  1. Apply appropriate tools, data models, and ethical approaches to solve specific business problems.
  2. Demonstrate project management techniques through business analytics projects.
  3. Communicate with a variety of stakeholders and audiences.
  4. Evaluate ways that the organization can improve its operations through analytics.

Advance Your Career in a Growing Field

The online Business Analytics graduate certificate not only gives you the data science and analysis skill sets you need to design innovative data solutions, communicate with stakeholders, and lead project teams it also helps you prepare for the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) exam. When you complete the program, you will be qualified for roles such as:

  • Business Intelligence Architect: $112,449 median salary1
  • Business Analyst, IT: $68,824 median salary2
  • Data Scientist: $95,949 median salary3

Employment in computer and information technology occupations is on the rise and expected to grow much faster than the national average rate: 12% through 2028.4

Business and financial employment is also expected to see impressive growth during the same time period, due to factors like globalization and a changing regulatory environment.5 The graduate certificate in business analytics gives you interdisciplinary expertise for the next step in your career.

Certificate Completion

The online Business Analytics graduate certificate is designed to be completed in as few as five months and is financial aid eligible. No prerequisite coursework is required, and you don't need GRE/GMAT scores to apply.

For admission to the program, you'll need:

  • An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • A written statement: Your background and future goals all impact your success with Saint Mary's and inform your education. As you prepare your written statement, think about including previous experiences, education, and your strengths and interests. Share your motivations for earning the online graduate certificate in business analytics and how it will contribute to your career.
  • The names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who can serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
  • A current resume: Include both your educational and professional experience.

If your overall GPA is below 2.75, you may receive conditional status in the program at the discretion of the program director.

For more information about the online graduate certificate in Business Analytics, contact us or call 877-308-9954 to speak to an enrollment counselor.

Resources:

1PayScale, Average Business Intelligence (BI) Architect Salary, U.S. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Business_Intelligence_(BI)_Architect/Salary.

2PayScale, Average Business Analyst, IT Salary, U.S. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Business_Analyst_(Unspecified_Type)/Salary.

3Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes152098.htm.

4Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Technology Occupations. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm.

5Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business, and Financial Occupations. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm.