Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
Business Analytics Graduate Certificate
Ten years ago, the term “data science” was virtually unknown. Now, we live in an information age where data is everywhere. From consumer transactions to Google searches, data is being generated at rates never before seen. Data is so ubiquitous that by 2025, 463 exabytes of data will be created each day globally (Raconteur).
With this much available data in the world, global business will see an increase in jobs requiring experience in data science. Organizations are looking for professionals with training and expertise in business analytics to take a data-driven approach for finding solutions in every industry.
Ranked top five in the U.S. for business analytics, the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business offers a 100% online, for-credit Business Analytics Graduate Certificate that teaches professional how to prepare, analyze, and interpret data to move business into the future.
Designed for professionals in any industry, the Business Analytics Graduate Certificate is a flexible, online program that allows you to set your own pace. Be a part of a bigger future as you balance work, life, and other commitments while earning an in-demand credential that you can apply toward a Georgia Tech master’s degree.
Program Format
Format
• Course content is 100% online and asynchronous with live weekly office hours
• Lessons can be viewed any time during the week once they’re released
• Exams use online proctoring system
Courses
Four courses total, taking up to two courses per semester
Timeline
Program is flexible and can be completed in as little as two semesters, and students may take semester breaks when needed
Program Curriculum
The courses for the Business Analytics Graduate Certificate are taught by Scheller’s renowned on-campus faculty. The curriculum for this interdisciplinary applied program includes math, statistics, and programming languages (including R and Python). This provides you with the ability to translate tools used in course exercises into your career with ease. All classes will provide coding and programming resources and support.
Certificate Courses
Business Analytics for Managers
MGT 6213, 3 credits
Sridhar Narasimhan, Gregory J. Owens Professor of IT Management
Learn about the overall analytics process to become a leader at your organization. This course covers the scientific process of moving from raw data to business insights. A key focus in the class is understanding how to correctly interpret the output of models used for business problems.
Machine Learning for Business
MGT 6452, 3 credits
Lizhen Xu, Associate Professor of IT Management
Machine learning serves as the foundation for much of the recent advancement in data science, and this course will expose you to popular machine learning techniques. You’ll build predictive models for targeted marketing, explore text with topic modeling, and use deep learning for image classification.
Business Data Preparation and Visualization
MGT 6655, 3 credits
Mingfeng Lin, Associate Professor of IT Management
Gain insights into the best practices for preparing visualizations that are useful for exploring data and the results of your analysis. Learn how to create dashboards that allow audiences to customize what they see in visualizations.
Analysis of Unstructured Data
MGT 8833, 3 credits
Robbie Moon, Thomas R. Williams – Wells Fargo Professor of Management
This course will teach students how to adapt analytical tools to deal with the unique features of textual data and how to convert text into an analyzable forms. You’ll work with data from web pages, learning the basics of extracting information from HTML or XML markup, as well as looking at social media, financial filings, and more.
Although I come from an accounting background and have familiarity with numbers, the Data Analytics for Managers class opened my eyes to how businesses use data to make decisions. I learned how data analytics can be applied to a diverse set of industries and different functions to impact a business.”
Ruchi Parekh, Evening MBA ‘22
Online Learning the Georgia Tech Way
The Business Analytics Graduate Certificate is designed for active and collaborative online learning. It’s based on our established graduate coursework in business analytics, backed by a dedicated team of advisors. Here are just some ways our learning and student experience approach stand out:
• Gain on-demand access to high-quality lecture videos and live virtual office hours with faculty and teaching assistants.
• Online collaboration tools make it easy for you to interact with other students and faculty and build your network.
• Undergo an onboarding program, which includes a live online orientation session that allows you to meet faculty, academic advisors, and more.
• Our dedicated team of academic advisors supports you throughout the duration of the program. We are available to connect by email, phone, or video conference as needed.
Earn Graduate-Level Credits
Look online and you’ll find many data science or business analytics programs. Most of them are not credit-earning programs. Our program is one of few credit-bearing online graduate certificates designed for business professionals.
You can apply select graduate credits earned to the Georgia Tech Fulltime MBA, Evening MBA, or OMS Analytics programs. MBA alumni can apply select credits from previous coursework to the certificate.
The Business Data Preparation and Visualization class gave me a deeper appreciation of how to advance business through the effective use of charts and visualizations to represent information in an intuitive and comprehensive manner.”
Pamela Buffington, Evening MBA ‘23
Advance or Pivot Your Career
Data is everywhere and so are the opportunities to leverage it.
With the Business Analytics Graduate Certificate, you’ll learn how to identify the data appropriate to answer questions, clean and organize that data in a “tidy” manner so it can be analyzed, and then select and execute the technique appropriate to the question.
Whether you’re a business analyst, consultant, project manager, or researcher, this certificate is ideal for professionals in all industries who work with data or plan to pivot into such a role. You’ll learn how to translate data into action, solve problems, and drive success for your organization.
$684B
The big data and business analytics market is projected to reach $684 billion by 2030 (Valuates).
A survey indicates 91% of organizations achieved measurable value from data and analytics investments in 2023 (NewVantage Partners) 91% $11.5M
11.5 million jobs will be created for data scientists by 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Application Process
Spring 2025 Start
Application standard deadline
August 1, 2024
Application final deadline
October 1, 2024
Classes start
January 6, 2025
Fall 2025 Start
Application standard deadline
March 1, 2025
Application final deadline
May 1, 2025
Classes start
August 18, 2025
Application Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Work experience strongly preferred
• No GMAT/GRE test requirement
• Georgia Tech online graduate admissions application:
• Unofficial transcripts
• Resume
• Statement of purpose
• Two letters of recommendation (names and email addresses of recommendation providers)
• International applicants: English language proficiency
Note: Currently enrolled Georgia Tech graduate students are not eligible to apply
Five Application Tips for You
Our team is committed to carefully reviewing all facets of your application in evaluating your potential for success in the program. Here are some of our tips for starting your application process.
Reach out to two letter of recommendation providers
• Recommenders can be colleagues, professors, supervisors, or others. Gain their support and make them aware of your future goals so they’re prepared to write a letter of support. They’ll receive a notification with instructions on how to upload their letter when you input their email in the online application.
Request your transcripts
• You will need a copy of unofficial transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate enrollment for your online application.
Update your resume
• Work experience is strongly preferred. Your resume format isn’t as important as the content. Help us understand the scope of your post-undergraduate work experience by quantifying your accomplishments.
Think about your statement of purpose
• This is your chance to talk about things we wouldn’t find in any other part of your application. Help us get to know you better by discussing your motivations and goals.
The GMAT or GRE is not required
• Take standardized exam considerations off your to-do list. We rely on your previous academic and work history to guide admissions decision-making.
Paying for Your Graduate Certificate
Tuition and
Fees
Georgia residents
$7,212 total ($601/credit hour, excluding fees)
Non-residents
$15,312 total ($1,276/credit hour, excluding fees)
Technology fee
$107 per semester when taking 4 credit hours or less
$440 per semester when taking 4 credit hours or more
Here are some considerations as you think about paying for the program:
Talk to your employer about tuition reimbursement
Many organizations have tuition reimbursement and professional development policies in place to help fund education for employees. Contact your HR representative, benefits administrator, or supervisor to find out what’s available to you.
Georgia Tech offers interest-free payment plans
The payment plan option is a great way to spread out the cost of tuition and avoid the interest that comes with loans.
Merit-based scholarships are available
A select number of merit-based scholarships are available for the Business Analytics Graduate Certificate and can fund a portion of tuition for the program. These scholarships are for applicants with strong previous academic performance, professional experience, and/or leadership potential. Applicants who apply by the standard admissions deadline receive priority consideration. No additional application materials are required for scholarship consideration, and a scholarship decision will be communicated with the admissions decision notification.
Your Next Steps
Have questions about the application process, onboarding, student experience, or anything in between? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Student Services - Online Graduate Certificates
Georgia Tech Professional Education
404.894.6266 Contact Us
Get in touch with a member of the student services team to get your question answered.
Attend an Info Session
Sign up for a live information session to learn about the program, meet faculty, get tips on submitting an application, and more.
Start Your Online Application
Now is the best time to invest in yourself and your career. In a year, you can walk away with a credential that speaks to your expertise in leveraging data to solve real business problems.
Apply Now
This certificate will help students learn the key strategies necessary to extract information from the vast amounts of data generated by businesses in today’s world. The coursework covers the full analytics cycle, allowing professionals to maximize insights and make more informed decisions.”
Robbie Moon, Analysis of Unstructured Data Professor