Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificates are competency-based qualifications designed to provide you with specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. Successful completion of a graduate certificate is stackable to a Katz MBA or a related MS degree program.

Intended for working professionals, courses are offered in the evenings and weekends, and may be available in either on-campus or online format. Graduate Certificates typically require successful completion of 15 credits and some may require pre-requisite coursework. Each is designed to be completed in 2-3 terms. Start your Graduate Certificate in the Fall, Spring or Summer and take up to three years to complete.

Upon successful completion of a graduate certificate, students receive a certificate and recognition of their achievement noted on their University of Pittsburgh transcript. Graduate certificates offer immediate value to current employers and demonstrate mastery of in-demand business skills to potential future employers. If you are considering an MBA or MS degree program, but are not ready to commit, graduate certificates may be right for you.

Do any of the Katz PhD Program Areas of Study qualify as STEM Degrees?

No, regardless of your specific area of study, our doctoral program is classified as a PhD in Business Administration and so it is not considered to be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program.

Graduate Certificate in Accounting

Basic Requirements

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Certificate in Accounting. Any Pitt graduate student is eligible to pursue the certificate in addition to their declared degree program.

Curriculum:

Required Course (3 credits):

  • BACC 2401 Financial Accounting

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 12 credits from the below)

  • BACC 2510 Intermediate Financial Reporting 1
  • BACC 2511 Intermediate Financial Reporting 2
  • BACC 2525 Financial Statement Analysis
  • BACC 2528 Managerial Accounting
  • BACC 2466 Risk Management & Compliance
  • BACC 2537 Taxes & Management Decisions
  • BACC 2529 Strategic Cost Analysis

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  • A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Vicky B. Hoffman
Professor of Business Administration
Area Director for Accounting

Barry Jay Epstein
Faculty Fellow

 

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics

The rise of the internet, multimedia, and social media is fueling data growth at an exponential speed—and business analytics is the next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity. Professionals who can grasp the implications of data through business analytics will improve their firms’ competiveness and unlock new levels of productivity and growth.

This 15-credit certificate is designed to equip students with the quantitative skills to collect and evaluate data, and the qualitative skills to communicate the findings. Students will learn how to conduct data mining, database management, data programming, and other forms of advanced data analysis. Ultimately, students will be able to use data as a strategic asset to make better decisions and drive results.

Basic Requirements

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics. Any Pitt graduate student is eligible to pursue the certificate in addition to their declared degree program.

Career Opportunities

The immediate need for professionals versed in data analytics is fueled by the explosion of data generated online. Data ranges from social networks and mobile devices to real-time sensors and purchase transactions, and the pace of data generation doubles every three years. Currently, salaries in Business Analytics range from $65,000 to $160,000.

Sample Job Titles

  • Risk Analyst
  • Credit Card Customer Behavior Analyst
  • Advanced Analytics Managing Consultant
  • Marketing / Campaign Management Strategy Consultant
  • Senior Data Modeler
  • Senior Managing Analytics Consultant
  • Strategy Managing Consultant
  • Healthcare Analyst
  • Technical Project Manager
  • Business Intelligence and Performance Management: Project Manager
  • Content Analytics Lead Consultant
  • Business Analytics and Optimization Consultant
  • Business Intelligence and Performance Management Consultant
  • Advanced Analytics and Optimization Consultant
  • Social Media Networks Analyst
  • Enterprise Content Management Consultant

Curriculum:

Admissions to the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics may be conditional pending successful completion of the following pre-requisite coursework:

  • BQOM 2401 Statistical Analysis*
  • BQOM 2421 Decision Technologies in Manufacturing and Operations Management**

*Students must earn a grade of B+ or better

**Students must earn a grade of B or better

Required Course (12 credits):

  • BQOM 2512 Advanced Decision Technologies
  • BQOM 2557 Multivariate Data Analysis
  • BQOM 2578 Data Mining
  • BMIS 2588 Database Management
  • Either BMIS 2542 Data Programming Essentials with Python OR BMIS 2526 Advanced Data Programming with R

 

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 3 credits from the below)

  • Either BMIS 2542 Data Programming Essentials with Python OR BMIS 2526 Advanced Data Programming with R
  • BQOM 2537 Forecasting
  • BQOM 2559 Applied Simulation & Optimization
  • BACC 2523 Accounting Data Analytics
  • BMKT 2544 Shopper Analytics
  • BMKT 2551 Digital & Social Media Analytics

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  • A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Jennifer Shang
Professor of Business Administration
Area Director for Business Analytics and Operations
230 Mervis Hall
shang@katz.pitt.edu

 

Graduate Certificate in Finance

Basic Requirements

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Certificate in Finance. Any Pitt graduate student is eligible to pursue the certificate in addition to their declared degree program.

Required Courses and Electives

Curriculum:

Required Courses (3 credits total):

  • BFIN 2409 Financial Management 1
  • BFIN 2410 Financial Management 2

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 12 credits from the below)

  • BFIN 2015 Short-Term Finance
  • BFIN 2036 Corporate Finance
  • BFIN 2030 Valuation 1
  • BFIN 2130 Valuation 2
  • BFIN 2039 Investment Management/Capital Markets
  • BFIN 2068 Markets & Trading

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  • A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Chad J. Zutter
Professor of Business Administration
Area Director for Finance

 

 

Graduate Certificate in Management Consulting

Basic Requirements

The Management Consulting certificate enables students to become familiar with the structure and workings of the management consulting industry and the essential toolkit of a consultant, while including at least one (required) and possibly multiple (elective) project-based courses in which students apply that knowledge to working on a real-life client consulting project.

Required Courses and Electives

Curriculum:

Required Courses (6 credits total):

  • BSPP 2409 Strategic Management
  • BSEO 2570 Fundamentals of the Management Consulting Process
  • BIND 2024 Consulting Field Project

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 9 credits from the below)

  • BOAH 2532 Negotiations, Teamwork, and Change
  • BSPP 2112 Leading Organizations to Innovate Smarter
  • BSEO 2538 Strategic Leadership
  • BSEO 2509 Business and Politics
  • BSEO 2553 Strategic Management of Acquisitions and Divestments
  • BENV 2115 Market Manipulations
  • BSEO 2511 Management of Strategic Alliances
  • BIND 2421 Integrated Learning Academy
  • BSPP 2111 Commercializing New Technologies
  • BSPP 2328 The Business of Humanity: Strategic Management in the Era of Globalization, Innovation, and Shared Value

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  •  A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Tom Davis
Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Administration

 

Graduate Certificate in Management Science

Supply Chain & Operations Management

Business operations involve the processes of delivering services and products to its customers.  How well a company manages its operations has significant implications on its productivity, quality, delivery, customer experience and profitability. The Graduate Certificate in Management Science covers Operations and Supply Chain Analytics.  Professionals with strong management science skills can help businesses control their operational systems and achieve strategic goals in meeting customer expectations.

In this 15-credit certificate program, students will learn to employ management science techniques such as optimization, simulation, and statistics to deploy minimum resources to achieve maximum outcomes.  They will receive interdisciplinary training of problem solving and decision making, with strong emphasis on management, business, consulting, marketing, finance, and other fields. Operations endeavor is omnipresent and cuts across every sector and industry.  By completing this certificate program, students can enhance their knowledge and skills to improve organization’s performance.

Basic Requirements

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Certificate in Management Science. Any Pitt graduate student is eligible to pursue the certificate in addition to their declared degree program.

Required Courses and Electives

Total Credits: 15 credits

Required Courses (4.5 credits):

Course Credits
BQOM 2401* Statistical Analysis 3.0
BQOM 2421* Decision Technologies 1.5

*Students must earn a grade of 3.0 (B) or better

Electives (10.5 credits); choose from the following, others with the permission of Area Faculty Director

Course Credits
BQOM 2512 Advanced Decision Technologies 1.5
BQOM 2557 Multivariate Data Analysis 1 1.5
BQOM 2559 Applied Simulation & Optimization 1.5
BQOM 2523 Process Engineering 1.5
BQOM 2524 Production Management & Process Improvement 1.5
BQOM 2531 Global Supply Chain Management 1.5
BQOM 2578 Data Mining 3.0

Students are awarded the Graduate Certificate when all of the following criteria are satisfied:

Required Course (4.5 credits):

  • BQOM 2401 Statistical Analysis*
  • BQOM 2421 Decision Technologies in Manufacturing and Operations Management*

*Students must earn a grade of B or better

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 10.5 credits from the below)

  • BQOM 2512 Advanced Decision Technologies
  • BQOM 2557 Multivariate Data Analysis
  • BQOM 2559 Applied Simulation & Optimization
  • BQOM 2523 Process Engineering
  • BQOM 2525 Production Management & Process Improvement
  • BQOM 2533 Global Supply Chain Management
  • BQOM 2578 Data Mining

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  • A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A B or better in both BQOM 2401 and BQOM 2421
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Jennifer Shang
Professor of Business Administration
Area Director for Business Analytics and Operations
230 Mervis Hall
shang@katz.pitt.edu

 

Graduate Certificate in Technology Management

Basic Requirements

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Certificate in Technology Management. Any Pitt graduate student is eligible to pursue the certificate in addition to their declared degree program.

Required Courses and Electives

Total Credits: 15 credits

Required Courses (1.5 credits):

Course Credits
BMIS 2409 Information Systems Management 1.5

Electives (13.5 credits); choose from the following, others with permission of Area Faculty Director:

Course Credits
BMIS 2053 Designing the User Experience 3.0
BMIS 2525 Current Issues in Computing 1.5
BMIS 2588 Database Management 3.0
BMIS 2542 Programming Essentials with Python 3.0
BMIS 2526 Advanced Data Programming with R 3.0
BMIS 2551 Project Management Concepts & Processes 3.0
BMIS 2679 Technology Innovation, Adoption & Diffusion 3.0
BMIS 2689 Technology Enabled Business Transformation 3.0
BSPP 2111 Commercializing New Technologies 3.0

Students are awarded the Graduate Certificate when all of the following criteria are satisfied:

Required Course (1.5 credits):

  • BMIS 2409 Information Systems Management

Electives Course Options (must choose at least 13.5 credits from the below)

  • BMIS 2053 Human Factors in IS Design
  • BMIS 2525 Current Issues in Computing
  • BMIS 2588 Database Management
  • BMIS 2542 Programming Essentials with Python
  • BMIS 2526 Advanced Data Programming with R
  • BMIS 2551 Project Management Concepts & Processes
  • BMIS 2679 Technology, Innovations, Adoption, and Diffusion
  • BSPP 2111 Commercializing New Technologies

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Certificate to be awarded:

  • A minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate-level coursework
  • The appropriate distribution of required courses
  • A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0

Faculty Contact

Chris F. Kemerer
Professor of Business Administration
Area Director for Information Systems & Technology Management

David. M. Roderick Professor of Information Systems

 

 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

It is incredible how quickly your network can expand and how many opportunities you are presented with through the Katz MBA Program. I had always heard that an MBA, for those who are all in, is life changing. After receiving my degree from Katz, I realize that is certainly the case.

Luiz Henrique Badalotti De Geroni

MBA '17

It’s more than just a career plan. It will help you evaluate what kind of professional you want to be, what kind of skills you want to develop. You are not just bringing home a certificate, but you are a better professional and a better person.

Sabine Rossi

MBA '19