Tabor Graduate Certificates

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
Analytics is a buzzword in business today. It has become a new label for evidence-based management. Data is everywhere and there is an urgent need to collect and preserve it; what we do with it is an important part of improving business, decision making, and providing an edge over competitors. Data Analytics is focused on why an event happened and what will happen in the future.
Data Analytics is the systemic computational analysis of data or statistics. It is used to:
- Discover patterns, relationships, or stories in data,
- Interpret data sets or information to determine causation or correlation, and
- Communicate data, patterns, information, or observations using data.
Millikin’s Data Analytics & Business Intelligence Graduate Certificate will prepare students to start processing data that organizations produce and turn it into usable information, using the latest statistical & modeling tools to serve stakeholders’ interests.
Who should enroll?
Suitable for any industry, this graduate certificate is for those who wish to learn how to use data to solve complex and sophisticated problems that will give your business a competitive advantage. It will prepare you to become a leader who:
- Knows how to apply and use data strategically,
- Designs tools that assist in making high-value, high-stake decisions, and
- Effectively combines the power of instinct and experience with the science of data and analytics.
Program features:
- Starts every June
- 6 months completion time
- Evening, in-person classes
- Classes meet once a week for 3.5 hours
MB535. Business AnalyticsBusiness analytics is focused on taking insights derived from data and applying them “on the ground” by making data-driven business decisions, including collecting, managing, and analyzing datasets, forming inferences and predictions from data, and making optimal and robust decisions. Business analytics makes extensive use of statistical analysis, and the applications of business analytics span all functional areas. (3 credits) |
MB536. Business Forecasting & PlanningBusiness forecasting is an estimate or prediction of future developments in business, such as sales, expenditures, and profits. Given the swings in economic activity and the drastic effects these fluctuations can have on profit margins, it is not surprising that business forecasting has emerged as one of the most important aspects of planning. Forecasting has become an invaluable tool for managers and business people to anticipate economic trends and plan accordingly. Good business forecasts can help business owners and managers plan and adapt to a changing economy. (3 credits) |
MB537. Data Visualization for Business ApplicationData visualization is the graphic representation of data. It involves stripping data down to its most important structures and then using the best techniques to convey the data for effective communication, decision-making, and persuasion. This course will develop a vocabulary and framework for discussing, critiquing, assessing, and designing visual displays of quantitative and qualitative data. This entails awareness of human perception and cognition, the use of best design practices in visualization of data, and storytelling with data. (3 credits)
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MB538. Data MiningData mining is a process used to extract usable data, or patterns, from a larger set of data for business application using statistical analysis. This course provides students with an appreciation of the uses of data mining in solving business decision problems. Students will gain knowledge of theoretical backgrounds to several of the commonly used data mining techniques and will learn about the application of data mining, as well as acquiring practical skills in the use of data mining. (3 credits) |
Application deadline:
- June 1 of each year
How do I apply?
Data Management
Information Systems Data Management
This graduate certificate provides students a focus on the collection, organization, storage, analysis, and transformation of vast amounts of data. In data-driven organization, skills are needed in the areas of data modeling, querying, optimization, and administration for analysis of data that is growing at exponential rates. Students will not only understand the business value of data, but also the tools available to discover meaningful relationships amongst data. Students with this certificate will be able to interpret and articulate data requirements to technical staff, design a relational database and data warehouse as well as analyze large amounts of data in various forms and data models using a variety of software platforms. Students in the graduate certificate program will be leaders in performance learning client projects and will demonstrate their skills by building, testing, and implementing systems to design specifications.
Required courses
IS511. IT InfrastructureThis course provides an introduction to IT infrastructure issues for students |
IS560. Database Application DevelopmentFocus on the database approach to information resource management and application development. Skills developed include SQL, data modeling, transaction management, and administration. Emphasis in this course will be application of data modeling and usage of tools for application development provided by database management systems. Performance Learning initiatives include developing a full-featured database application for use by a client in the community. Pre-requisite: IS511 or consent of instructor. (3 credits) |
IS570. Business Intelligence & Big DataAn in-depth study of various aspects of data collection, data extraction, and analysis of massive databases. Students will learn methods for extracting, transforming, and loading data from various sources into software used for data warehousing applications. Additional software tools and languages will be explored to develop executive dashboards and analytics. Pre-requisite: IS560 or consent of instructor. (3 credits) |
Project Management
Project Management
This graduate certificate provides students a focus on how to carefully plan an organized effort to accomplish a specific (and usually) one-time effort, for example: construction of a building, event planning, or implementing a new computer system. Project Management is a skill which must be developed and practiced to be successful. The objective of this certificate is to master the principles of scope definition, work-breakdown-structure development, assignment of logical activity relationships, resource and time constraint planning, construction of a budget and monitoring of planned versus actual progress using a variety of mathematical indices, within a defined timeframe and cost estimate. The concepts and techniques will be presented in the context of business operations and its efforts to perform continuous improvement.
Required courses
MG567. Process ImprovementThe lifeblood of any organization is its ability to keep up with what our customers want and demand from our organization. In order to keep up with the continually changing customer needs and the environment in which we must provide them it is important to identify and improve our processes. These processes extend beyond the manufacturing processes but include the processes of how we interface with our customers both before and after delivery. To be effective every member of the organization must understand what they provide and who they provide this product or service to, whether inside or outside the company. The student will gather current data and receive feedback from the process owner as to thoroughness and feasibility of the solution. (3 credits) |
MG570. Operations ManagementA practical study of the decisions required to design, operate and control a manufacturing or service operations. This course explores the various relationships between these organizational decisions, operations and other disciplines within the organization. The relationships are discussed and documented through the use of business process management and Visio. The organizational decisions explored include forecasting, planning of personnel and equipment, inventory planning and control, scheduling, project management, theory of constraints, and quality assurance. The MBA student will demonstrate mastery of the course through the application of one or more topics in a detailed workplace analysis. The student will gather current data and receive feedback from the process owner as to thoroughness and feasibility of solution. (3 credits) |
MG575. Project ManagementThe objective of this course is to master the principles of efficient project planning and control - needs analysis, work breakdown, scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, and performance tracking and evaluation - within the timeframe and cost projection stated in the overview section. Concepts and techniques will be developed by navigating through a recent textbook in project management and through a popular project management software package. The MBA student will demonstrate mastery of the course through the application of one or more topics in a detailed workplace analysis. The student will gather current data and receive feedback from the process owner as to thoroughness and feasibility of solution. Pre-requisite: MG570. (3 credits) |
FAQs
What are the certificate programs like?
- In-person classes that meet once a week for 3.5 hours
- Learn from faculty with executive C-Suite knowledge
- Small class sizes that build teamwork and support networking
- Attend class remotely when "life happens!" Our MBA classroom, designed with high-tech equipment, allows MBA students the flexibility to attend class virtually, as well as watch the recording of class.
- **Please keep in mind this is not to be used as a permanent arrangement.**
- Graduate certificate program credits will transfer to the MBA program if a student wishes to pursue an MBA upon completion of a certificate program.
What are the admission requirements and how do I apply?
- Students must hold a bachelor's degree before applying for a graduate certificate.
- Complete the non-degree seeking online application
- Submit your official transcripts from all undergraduate/graduate institutions from which you've obtained a degree.
How much do the certificate programs cost?
- $6,000
Questions?
- Contact Jaclyn Cantwell, Director of the MBA Program, at 217-424-3503 or jcantwell@millikin.edu