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Total Courses6 required courses and 1 elective (from 3 options)
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CEUs | Contact Hours6.0 CEUs | 60 contact hours
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Cost$4,530–$4,580
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FormatFully online
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Time to CompleteAs little as 3 months
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Funding Resources
Find Business Solutions That Matter
Business analysts examine the key factors that affect business performance. They are responsible for understanding business goals and customer needs, and finding the right balance of technology upgrades and process improvement to meet both. They look at key data and metrics to help organizations make informed decisions about how to improve operations, increase profits, and stay competitive.
"Good business analysis is not about being an expert in the latest tools and techniques. It's about being a good listener, a good communicator, and having a solid understanding of the business context."
—Kathleen Barret, Ex-CEO, Institute of Business Analysis
In the U’s Business Analysis Certificate program, you’ll learn how to identify key business metrics, analyze financial data, and develop actionable insights that can drive business growth. You’ll also learn how to communicate your findings to key stakeholders. During this program, you’ll learn how to:
- identify business needs and the costs and benefits of addressing them technically.
- plan business specifications to develop and put technical solutions in place.
- bridge the gap between business and IT with common project definitions and requirements.
- use data modeling techniques to analyze and improve business processes.
Career Outlook
Business Analysis Core Courses
You'll take six core Business Analysis courses and one elective (choices below) to complete 54 contact hours. We recommend starting with Introduction to Business Analysis. See the FAQs for the complete recommended sequence.
Recommended Course Order
- Introduction to Business Analysis
- Identifying Opportunities: Strategic Analysis, Building Business Case & Solution Scoping
- Collaborating for Success: Stakeholder Analysis & Eliciting Requirements
- Analyzing & Modeling Requirements
- Modern Requirements Communication, Documentation and Validation
- Business Analysis Planning & Estimating
Electives
Choose one to complete the certificate.
Funding and Discounts
The U's professional development programs are affordable because they can be completed in relatively short order—sometimes within a few months—which can save you both time and money. What's more, there are other opportunities you can explore to potentially bring the cost down even further.
Funding
- CCAPS offers scholarships of $500 to $2,500 to Minnesota residents who meet eligibility requirements.
- If you're not employed, you may be able to take advantage of federal or state funding. Contact your CareerForce center to inquire.
- Your organization may have funds set aside for employee education. Read about the benefits of employer investment in career development.
Discounts
- When you register and pay for all courses in the certificate at once, you'll receive up to a 10% discount.
- University of Minnesota Alumni Association members receive a 10% discount.
- U of M staff get 50% off most professional development programs.
See Discounts, Scholarships, and Other Funding for more information and possible exclusions to discounts.
Enroll
The cost of the Business Analysis Certificate is $4,530–4,580, depending on which elective you choose. But if you register and pay for all courses at once, we'll give you up to a 10% discount! (Discount can range from $410 to $460 based on course selection.)
If you have questions about the registration process, payment options, or need to transfer or cancel your registration, contact the registration team:
Option 1
Enroll, Register, and Pay for All Courses Now
- Earn up to a 10% discount
- Enroll for free
- Register and pay now, make needed changes later
- Get program updates
Option 2
Enroll in Certificate Now, Register and Pay for Courses Individually
- Enroll for free
- Register and pay for courses at your convenience
- Get program updates
- U of M employees: choose this option to receive your discount
Enrollment Advisor
Shanta Bhoelai
I can help you choose which professional development programs are the best fit to meet your career goals. I am here to answer your questions regarding specific programs, courses, or other career topics you have on your mind.
Don’t hesitate to send me an email or schedule an online appointment. I'm here for YOU!
Business Analysis Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to complete the courses in a certain order?
If you are new to business analysis, yes. Each required course builds on the topics addressed in the previous class. Here's the sequence:
- Introduction to Business Analysis
- Identifying Opportunities: Strategic Analysis, Building Business Case, and Solution Scoping
- Collaborating for Success: Stakeholder Analysis and Eliciting Requirements
- Analyzing and Modeling Requirements
- Modern Requirements Communication, Documentation, and Validation
- Business Analysis Planning and Estimating.
If you are an experienced business analyst, the order is less critical. The elective course can be taken at any time.
If I complete this certificate, will I be ready to sit for the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) exam?
No. The CBAP exam is a rigorous test of your knowledge of the Guide to Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK™). Our program provides practical skills that BAs can put into practice immediately. Earning the CBAP credential could be the next step in your BA journey.
Are classes offered at night?
Not at this time. The business analysis classes are currently offered only during the day.
Is this program recognized by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)?
Yes. All our courses are reviewed for alignment with the current version of BABOK™. We are an Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) with the IIBA.
What is business analysis?
Business analysis is a disciplined approach for introducing and managing change to processes within organizations, whether from a technology or business and operations point of view, and ranging from strategic analysis to specific tactical goals.
What does a business analyst do?
A business analyst works with an organization to identify needs aligned to corporate strategy and recommend solutions that can improve business or technology performance. Effective business analysts possess a mix of soft and hard skills in areas such as analytical thinking, problem solving, communication skills, and organizational skills, and have a detail-oriented nature.
What are the business analysis techniques?
There are a number of analysis techniques that can help organizations identify problems or opportunities, set goals, and determine strategy. The business analyst can choose the technique based on their needs.
Once the domain and problem or opportunity are understood, a change initiative or project is started. There are dozens of techniques, including process analysis, business modeling, data analysis, user experience, that the business analyst can use to further explore and define stakeholder needs and solution options.
What is the value of a business analysis?
Business analysis helps to identify problems, define solutions, and evaluate whether those solutions are being implemented effectively. Business analysis initiatives help companies bridge communication gaps that can occur when needs or desires are not understood by all parties, or when conflicting needs arise among the many stakeholders impacted by a project.
What are the stages of Business Analysis?
There are five primary stages in the business analysis process that can be applied to any initiative. These stages can vary or expand depending on the needs and/or objectives of the project. Here are the basic phases of the business analysis process.
- Defining the objective. The first step is determining any challenges to face, problems to solve, or improvements to make.
- Elicitation and working with stakeholders. Identify the people and departments that may be impacted by any change initiative, then gather information and needs from those stakeholders to determine any and all possible strategies to achieve the business goals.
- Analyze requirements and solution options. Once stakeholder needs are understood, work with solution development teams to identify viable solution approaches that could meet the project’s objectives.
- Implement the solution and analyze the results. The analyst supports the implementation process and works with the organization to ensure the expected value of the solution is fully realized.
How can I get started as a business analyst?
A Business Analysis Certificate from The University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies can prepare you to take on the challenges of improving organizational performance—complete your certificate in a little as three months!
Sources
- What is a Business Analysis and What does a Business Analyst Do (SimpliLearn)
- Business Analysis Tools and Techniques Everyone Should Know (Why Change.com)
- Business Analysis Certificate (CCAPS)
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