On your transcript
The Registrar adds the award to your official transcript, so employers and graduate programs see it when they check your record.
Why it's worth it
Proof that you can work with data, in writing.
Lots of résumés say "data-driven." This one comes with a university certificate and a transcript notation behind it.
Connect the dots
In your hands
A printed certificate from the University at Albany arrives with your diploma.
Skills employers ask for
A working toolkit, built across five courses:
ExcelStatisticsRegressionSQLDatabasesPredictive analytics
Open to every major
Add analytics to whatever you already study. Business students may already have some of these courses in their plan, and ISBA concentrators take all five.
It recognizes strong work
It takes a 3.25 GPA to get in and a B or better in every required course to keep it, so the designation means something.
Where ISBA graduates have gone
- Albany Medical Center
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- General Electric
- KPMG
- Price Chopper
- PwC
- SABIC
- State of New York
The courses
Five required courses, 15 credits.
In the order most students take them. Tick off the ones you've finished with a B or better.
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BITM 215
Information Technologies for Business
Spreadsheet analysis in Excel.
Sophomore yearCourse description
The role of information systems and data analytics in solving business problems. You'll build business applications in Microsoft Excel at a comprehensive, advanced level, as a base for information systems and analytics work in business, accounting and other areas. Topics may include IT fundamentals, trends in data analytics, customer relationship management, supply chain management, e-business and information security.
Good to know: not open to first-year students. Offered fall and spring.
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BITM 330
Improving Business Performance with Information Technologies
Data management, databases and SQL.
Junior year, fall works bestCourse description
Database design and development, including theory, modeling, normalization, management and administration. You'll build business applications with relational database tools and learn SQL to power them. The course is hands-on, with extensive computer work in class, in homework and in projects.
Prerequisites: BITM 215 and AMAT 108 or AECO 320 (or equivalent), and junior or senior standing. Offered fall, spring and some summers.
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BITM 322
Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions
Statistics, hypothesis testing and regression.
Spring of junior yearCourse description
How to make business decisions under uncertainty. Covers the basics of business statistics: data collection and presentation, measures of centrality and dispersion, probability and probability distributions, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.
Prerequisites: declared School of Business major; BITM 215, AMAT 106, 111 or 112, and AMAT 108.
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BITM 415
Data Analytics in Business
Data management and predictive analytics.
Fall of senior yearCourse description
Builds skills in data modeling and predictive analytics: the practices and tools for analyzing data and building models that help businesses decide better. You'll use data mining, data visualization and data analysis to turn large data sets into information for tactical and strategic decisions, with hands-on work in exploration, classification and prediction.
Prerequisites: declared School of Business major; BITM 322 and 330.
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BITM 416
Topics in Business Analytics
Additional analytical techniques, building on BITM 415.
Spring of senior year, after BITM 415Course description
Selected topics in business analytics, such as social network analysis, business intelligence and managing analytics projects, with software for analyzing data from marketing, sales, human resources and other areas. You'll finish able to analyze large data sets with modern tools and help plan and organize predictive analytics projects.
Prerequisites: declared School of Business major; BITM 415. Offered spring only.
Descriptions are adapted from the BITM course descriptions in the University at Albany Undergraduate Bulletin, which has the full text for every course. Official certificate requirements are on the Bulletin's business program page.
Timeline
How to plan your academic career
Timing is the part that trips people up. BITM 322 belongs in junior spring and BITM 416 in senior spring, so a late start can push the certificate past graduation. Pick your year to see what's next.
Your next step
Fall
Meet your advisor and mention the certificate early.
Spring
Plan BITM 215 for sophomore year. It isn't open to first-year students.
Fall or spring
CourseBITM 215Excel and spreadsheet analysis
All year
Keep your GPA at 3.25 or above. You'll need it to apply next year.
Fall
ApplyJunior standing and a 3.25 GPA? Submit the application.
CourseBITM 330Databases and SQL (needs junior standing)
Spring
CourseBITM 322Statistics and hypothesis testing
Fall
DeadlineApplication due by the start of senior year
CourseBITM 415Predictive analytics (needs 322 and 330)
Spring
CourseBITM 416Spring only. Register during fall registration.
AwardRegistrar review at graduation. Certificate arrives with your diploma.
Why this order: BITM 330 needs junior standing, BITM 415 needs both 322 and 330, and BITM 416 is offered in spring only. Confirm your sequence with your advisor before each registration period.
Eligibility
Who can apply
3.25
Minimum GPA to be admitted. Your overall GPA at the time you apply.
Jr.
Junior standing, or equivalent achievement in an associate's degree. First- and second-year students can plan ahead now.
B
B or better in each required course to keep your eligibility, all the way through BITM 416.
Sr.
Apply no later than the start of senior year. Earlier is better: it leaves room for BITM 322, 415 and 416.
How to apply
Four steps to get the certificate
Talk with your advisor
Check how the five courses fit your degree. Business majors: Massry Undergraduate Student Services. Other majors: your department advisor or the ISBA department chair.
Fill out the application
Use the form below, or scan the QR code. Enter your UAlbany email so our reply reaches you.
Hear back by email
The department reviews your record and confirms your status in writing, with instructions for the courses you still need.
Finish strong
Keep a B or better in each course and register for BITM 416 in senior spring. At graduation, the Registrar verifies everything and posts the award.
Certificate application
Takes a few minutes. Have your UAlbany email and student ID handy.
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Open the application formWhat you receive
The certificate itself
- A printed certificate from the State University of New York, University at Albany, mailed with your diploma.
- A transcript notation, which is also the official proof of the award.
- A line for your résumé and LinkedIn: Undergraduate Certificate in Business Analytics, University at Albany.
Sample shown with a placeholder name.
FAQ
Some frequently asked questions before you email us
Do I have to be a business major?
No. The certificate is open to qualified UAlbany students in any major. Several BITM courses list a declared School of Business major as a prerequisite, so if you're in another major, ask your advisor or email us about registration before you build your plan.
Will I need five extra courses?
Not necessarily. Business students may already have some of these courses in their degree plan, and ISBA concentrators take all five. Your advisor can tell you which ones would be extra for you.
Is this the same as the ISBA concentration?
No. The certificate is a separate recognition with its own application and grade requirements. ISBA concentrators take all five courses anyway, but they still need to apply to receive the certificate.
I'm a first-year or sophomore. Is it too early?
It's the right time to plan. Formal admission generally needs junior standing, but planning now is how you keep junior spring open for BITM 322 and senior spring for BITM 416.
I'm already a senior. Can I still do it?
Applications are due by the start of senior year, and BITM 322 and 416 are both spring courses. If you've already applied and you're in BITM 415 this fall, register for BITM 416 for spring. If you haven't applied, email us now and we'll look at your situation.
If I take all five courses, do I get the certificate automatically?
No. You need to apply. The certificate goes to admitted students who complete the courses with a B or better in each and meet the GPA requirement.
What if I get a grade below a B?
A B or better in each required course is needed to keep your eligibility. If it happens, email us before you change your plans so we can talk it through.
I took one of these courses at another school.
Email us with the course name and school. Transfer courses are reviewed individually.
My certificate didn't arrive with my diploma.
Contact the Registrar's office. The transcript notation is the official proof of the award, and the Registrar has reprinted certificates before.
Questions
Ask us anything.
Write to the certificate inbox, or directly to the program director.
Certificate inbox
Business Analytics Certificate
Applications, eligibility and general questions.
Program director
Prof. Nim Dvir
Information Systems and Business Analytics, Massry School of Business.