Certifications and Resources for Business Students
The world of business is constantly evolving; those who work in any aspect of the profession must always be ready to gain new skills to stay relevant in the industry. Online business certificate programs can be a good way for busy professionals to earn the knowledge, skills and credentials they need without sacrificing time away from the office. Depending upon the program, graduates might be able to advance their career, seek out a raise or even change paths to try something new and different. This guide focuses on the various options for online business certificate programs, including low-cost or free options.
Types of Online Business Certificates
There are more than a few reasons to earn a certificate in a particular area of business, and even more reasons to earn that certificate online. Whether the end goal is to enhance a knowledge area, build a new skill set, aim for a management position or even change lanes to find a new career, a business certificate might be able to help. Here are a few good reasons why online business certificate programs make sense.
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Augment Current Business Credentials
Those who want to boost their resume or learn the skills that could lead to a promotion can turn to the huge variety of online business programs to find the one that suits their future plans. From boosting their management prowess to learning more about marketing projects to establishing a baseline of knowledge in finance, these certificates can be a boost to everyday work. They can also open doors to areas that might not have been considered before, such as a manager moving into a financial area of their company.
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2
Prove the Ability to Handle New Expectations
Those who are moving up in the business world need to prove they know their stuff. Online business certificate programs offer a wealth of in-depth knowledge, from simply brushing up on the theories and principles learned during college or introducing something entirely new. By constantly being open to learning, business professionals prove that they can rise to any occasion, fulfill and exceed the expectations of their supervisors, and otherwise demonstrate that they have the kind of knowledge that is put to good use in businesses today.
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3
Learn About New and Emerging Technologies
By taking a course online, students can get hands-on experience with new technologies that might help them with their day-to-day work. Online education is delivered through various platforms, all of which include video chats, lectures, message boards, quizzes and the like. By using these new technologies, enterprising business students might be able to find ways to incorporate them into their own work, thus setting the stage for a smoother workflow â and of course, for that coveted promotion.
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Move into a New Sector
Speaking of opening new doors, some business certifications might qualify a professional to move into an entirely new career path. Business encompasses so many disciplines, such as marketing, finance, advertising, and more; by choosing to expand a base of knowledge and skills, a business professional with numerous certifications might be qualified to move into other areas of the field.
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5
Cast a Wider Networking Net
In the world of business, âwho you knowâ matters just as much as what you know. An online course allows the perfect opportunity to network with other students, professors and advisors, thus casting a wider net â and that can eventually lead to new, exciting and even lucrative partnerships. It helps that the students in the course are all looking for the same educational experience, which means they might be working at the same levels; for instance, a course for managers will likely draw either managers or aspiring managers.
Spotlight: 10 Great Online Business Certificate Programs
There are thousands of business certificates to choose from, ranging from those that are suitable for students who simply want a bit of extra knowledge to graduate certificates designed for those who are already deep into working in a business-related field. The following certificates are excellent examples of what is out there for aspiring students to choose from.
Sales Growth
Offered by: Cornell University
Cost: $3,600
Length: 3 months (5 two-week courses)
Format: Online
Outcome: Certificate in Sales GrowthDesigned for those working in sales, this program looks at key frontline sales concepts that can help grow the bottom line, conducting micro-market analysis, strategies for streamlining, increasing face times and growing conversion rates. Organizational leaders can use this course to bring training back to their front line workers.
Database Management and Business Intelligence
Offered by: Boston University
Cost: $14,240
Length: 16 credits (8-12 months)
Format: Online
Outcome: Graduate Certificate in Database Management and Business IntelligenceThis program provides students with a wealth of information on how manage the data coming into a business, including handling various databases (including those for data mining), designing and implementing specialized databases, ‘crunching the numbers' of data sets, and incorporating and maintaining large business intelligence systems.
Business and Law of Sport
Offered by: Villanova University
Cost: $4,995
Length:About 8 weeks
Format: Video-based online learning
Outcome: Master Certificate in Business and Law of SportsThis program focuses on the business of sports and how the law surrounding sports events and teams is constantly changing. Courses take students into the legal aspects of professional sports, representation of players and teams, regulations in the sports industry, and advanced topics that have legal implications, such as concussions, rules compliance, illegal gambling and more.
Certificate Program in Business Administration
Offered by: UC Berkeley Extension
Cost: $5,350
Length: 15 semester units (18 months to 2 years)
Format: Most courses available online; required Principles of Management Accounting must be completed on campus
Outcome: Certificate; Certificate of Distinction is earned by those with a 3.7 GPA or higherThis program is suitable for those who want a broad-based foundation in business administration, touching on the basic underlying areas: economics, marketing, finance, management and accounting. One chosen elective allows students to delve even deeper into areas of the program that hold the most interest.
Certificate Program in Financial Planning and Analysis
Offered by: UC Berkeley Extension
Cost: $6,345
Length: 16 semester units (240 hours of instruction)
Format: Required courses entirely online; some electives must be taken in person
Outcome: Certificate; Certificate of Distinction awarded to those with a 3.7 GPA or higherStudents will get a strong understanding of economic decision making through courses on statement analysis, risk management, financial analysis and modeling and international finance. Electives on quantitative data, mergers and acquisitions and business valuation can further expand the knowledge gained in the program.
Nonprofit Management Certificate
Offered by: Harvard Extension School
Cost: $10,200
Length: Four courses completed within 3 years
Format: Online
Outcome: Certificate in Nonprofit ManagementGraduates of this certificate program will learn about the intricate needs of nonprofit organizations, including budgeting, strategic planning, analysis, reporting, fund accounting, capital funding and more. Graduates will know how to leverage fundraising techniques and principles to provide the best possible cash flow situation for nonprofits.
Organizational Behavior Certificate
Offered by: Harvard Extension School
Cost: $10,200
Length: Four courses completed within 3 years
Format: Online
Outcome: Certificate in Organizational BehaviorA deeper understanding of human behavior in the organizational setting is offered through this program, which includes courses in organizational behavior, conflict management, human resource management, negotiation, change management and more. The certificate might transfer to credit toward the master's degree, if desired.
Advanced Business Certification of Professional Achievement
Offered by: Columbia University
Cost: $1,808 per ‘point'
Length: 24 ‘points' (usually completed within three years)
Format: Synchronous online learning
Outcome: Advanced Certificate in BusinessDesigned for bachelor degree holders or working professionals, this program focuses on introductions to finance and marketing, financial accounting, managing human behavior in organizations, corporate finance, marketing strategy, options and futures and security analysis. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to complete the program.
Executive Certificate in Negotiation
Offered by: University of Notre Dame
Cost: $4,995
Length: About eight weeks
Format: Three courses completed online
Outcome: Executive Certificate in NegotiationThis program strongly targets building negotiation skills, preparing the student for more effective one-on-one work, team building, interpersonal skills, conflict management, verbal and non-verbal communications, working with difficult people and situations, and handling negotiations across cultural divides.
Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
Offered by: Penn State World Campus
Cost: $930 per credit
Length: 9 credits (about one year)
Format: Online only
Outcome: Graduate Certificate in Business AnalyticsWorking professionals can brush up on several key points during this program, including data, marketing and prescriptive analytics, problem-solving strategies based on those analytics, decision-making in modern enterprises, risk assessment and management, business supply side decisions and more. Graduates will be capable of analyzing large data sets and coming to a conclusion on what that data means for their business.
MOOCs and Free Certification Courses for Business
Some certifications can be earned through massive open online courses, or through free options available through a variety of colleges and universities across the nation. The chart below lists several options for free certification courses that students might find helpful.
| Course | Offered by | Length | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Business Process Management | ALISON | 15-20 hours | Diploma |
| Diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship | ALISON | 15-20 hours | Diploma |
| Business English: Making Presentations | Coursera/University of Washington | Four weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |
| Coaching Conversations | Coursera/University of California, Davis | A few weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |
| Inferential and Predictive Statistics for Business | Coursera/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Four weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |
| Determine Your Readiness for MBA Studies | Canvas/Keiser University Graduate University | Four weeks | Badge or Certificate |
| International Business I | Coursera/University of New Mexico | Six weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |
| New Models of Business in Society | Coursera/University of Virginia | Four weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |
| Starting a Business | FutureLearn/University of Leeds | Twelve weeks | Certificate |
| Applications of Everyday Leadership | Coursera/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Four weeks | Certificate or Verified Certificate |