Certificate in Business Analytics
Program Overview
The Certificate in Business Analytics is an intensive online program designed for business professionals and graduate students who want to transform terabytes of data into useful and timely business intelligence. Increase your impact at work and unlock new opportunities by developing your analytics skills.
Across a broad range of industries and roles, the ability to analyze data and communicate analytic insights is in high demand. Whether your career path is in marketing, operations, finance, strategy, international business or human resources, in the Business Analytics Certificate program you will learn how to use analytics to gain insights and make data-driven business decisions.
This four-course (12 unit) program is taught by SJSU College of Business faculty. The program consists of two required courses and two electives.*
|
All students must complete: () indicates when each class is offered
In addition to selecting two out of the following three electives:
|
The program is designed with a flexible schedule ideal for working professionals. Each course, with the exception of the optional elective course BUS 260 Managerial Decision Analysis, is delivered asynchronously online, over an eight-week period. Courses can be taken in any order. Students can begin the certificate in fall or spring semester and complete it in less than one calendar year. **The optional elective BUS 260 Managerial Decision Analysis meets in the evenings and weekends and includes a mix of online and in-person classes.
To complete the certificate, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the program as a whole. Only three units of "C" and 0 units of less than "C" coursework can be applied toward a certificate. Only three units of an entire program can be repeated (and can be repeated a single time only). If a course is repeated, both grades will be used in the computation of program GPA.
For students interested in pursuing an MBA from the Lucas Graduate School of Business, SJSU allows a transfer of up to 12 units for courses completed in the certificate or eligible graduate courses taken at another institution.
The completion of the certificate or any of its individual courses does not guarantee admission to the MBA program or eligibility to enroll in graduate courses outside of the certificate.
*Students who began work on the certificate prior to Fall 2022 may count BUS 235B
and BUS 235D towards their certificate and are not subject to the requirement to take
BUS 235E.
Admissions Requirements
This program is 100% online and can be completed from wherever you are located. SJSU will not issue an I-20 to secure an F-1 visa to enter the US for this program. This is not a STEM program.
NOTE: As of Fall 2025, this program is only available to currently enrolled students.
What are the admission requirements?
Educated Within the United States
4 year bachelor's degree from a US institution
A GPA of 3.0 or better with an absolute minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
There is no conditional admission to the certificate program.
Educated Outside the United States
If you earned a degree from a higher education institution outside the United States, you must take an English language proficiency exam. You must hold the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from a recognized institution if you earned your degree outside the US.
The Online Certificate in Business Analytics requires a minimum score of:
TOEFL (internet-based): 80
IELTS: 7.0
Pearson’s Test of English (PTE): 68
Visit the English Language Proficiency page waiver information
Does the certificate have prerequisites?
To enroll in the Business Analytics certificate, you must have completed a college-level statistics course with a grade of B (3.0) or better at an accredited college or university within five years prior to enrolling in our program.
If you have not yet met the statistics requirement, we recommend:
Straighterline or local community colleges (refer to the articulation page and search for BUS 90 equivalencies)
How much does the certificate cost?
Tuition is $3,033 per 3-unit course or $12,132 for the complete certificate.
The above costs do not include books, supplies, etc. Tuition fees are subject to change.
Registration Information
What are the registration steps?
Current SJSU MBA students register as you normally would via MySJSU.
What are the upcoming courses?
Fall 2025
Course: BUS 235F Forecasting for Business Analytics
Instructor: Michael Klein
Date: August 18 - October 11
Class Number: 49205
Units: 3
Cost*: $3,033
Course: BUS 235C Data Mining for Business Analytics
Instructor: Shaonan Tian
Date: October 13 - December 8
Class Number: 49207
Units: 3
Cost*: $3,033
Who should I contact with questions?
Catherine Dougherty
Program Coordinator
Email: catherine.dougherty@sjsu.edu
Dr. Mahboubeh Madadi
Program Director
Email: mahboubeh.madadi@sjsu.edu
What can I do with this certificate?
Business analytics skills are in big demand by all industries. Here are a few jobs that benefit from our program:
Market Research Analysts
Business Analysts
Corporate Managers
Small Business Owners
Sales Managers
Financial Analysts
Operations Managers
Non-Profit Managers
Billing Managers
Customer Service Managers
Web Behavior Analysts
Database Managers
In short, if you would like to develop business analytics skills, you will find employment at all levels of management – from entry-level database managers to any number of upper management jobs that involve tactical and strategic decision-making.
The Bay Area is home to an abundance of industries and companies in need of business analytics skills, so earning this certificate at SJSU will serve you well. However, because our program is offered online, you don’t have to live in the Bay Area to participate. The program is open to everyone, anywhere.
