Business Analytics (BA) is a ridiculously rapidly growing field within finance. BA provides corporate leadership with data driven insights to manage and grow their businesses. In that sense, it essentially is a combination of in-house market research, data science and analytics, scenario building, projections etc. all rolled into one. Anything that can provide insights into how to better manage a business.
As you can probably imagine, Business Analysts thus require a lot of key skills. It’s not just enough to be able to crunch numbers anymore. The filed has grown organically and incorporated several adjacent functions. I would certainly place business acumen at the top of that skill list and increasingly, the data analytics skill bar for BA is getting higher and higher.
In order to succeed as a Business Analyst, or even to get hired as one, you need to build these skills and demonstrate to any potential employer that you posses these skills. Which is why this list of courses and certifications only includes the top course providers in the world with the intent of making your CV stand out in a crowd of applicants.
1. Business Analytics Nanodegree Program from Udacity
Why take this course?
- What I like most about this program is its exceptionally data-driven approach to Business Analytics. The focus is on the data, how to understand and mold it, using SQL to handle that data, and data visualization so that you can actually communicate your findings seamlessly. There is no fluff – just straight up business.
- Udacity also tends to provide better feedback and personalized guidance than most other course provides. You get access to a technical mentor who will answer your questions and career support like resume and online professional profile review. This is a full-service program.
- In terms of relevancy, this program has been obviously designed for more data-centric Business Analytics roles. Handling data would make up the bulk of the job profile of any business analyst anyway and if you fit in that bracket, then this is the program for you.
Summary
- Time to Complete: 3 months.
- Available fully online with technical mentor support.
2. Business Analytics Specialization from Wharton Online
Why take this course?
- When it comes to adding brand value to your CV, few can match up to Wharton. Which is why Wharton again tops this list for Business Analytics courses. If you want to make your CV stand out with an instantly recognizable brand, look no further.
- Course content, as expected, is excellent as well. We start off by looking at customer analytics and Wharton instructors take you through the process of recognizing buying patterns, analysing and tweaking loyalty program and so on. Other modules cover accounting analytics, operations analytics, people analytics – thus providing full-spectrum coverage of almost everything a Business Analyst is expected to come across.
- All of this learning is capped off by a Capstone project that provides all you future Business Analysts with some real-world practical applications of Business Analytics. On completion, you get a shareable certificate that can grace your LinekdIn profile and ought to be placed somewhere at the top of your Resume.
- Another great thing about this course is that it is suitable for beginners who have no prior analytics experience. Yet, it sill provides enough juice to be relevant even for advanced learners.
Summary
- Time to Complete: Around 45 hours.
- Available fully online and on-demand. Complete it on your own schedule.
- The best introductory course for Business Analytics with unmatched brand value.
3. MicroMasters® Program in Business Analytics from Columbia
Why take this course?
- If you are looking for a really chunky, instructor led, year-long Business Analytics program, then this is undoubtedly the best one out there. The smart folk over at Columbia have really pulled all stops for this one and it oozes quality.
- The program is made up of several full fledged courses covering topics like marketing analytics, demand and supply side analytics, data analytics, modelling for business analytics, and even the fundamentals of programming in Python because you need it when handling copious amounts of data. It’s pretty comprehensive and satisfying, all things considered.
- In addition to providing the most comprehensive business analytics education, you will also get a certificate of completion from one of the top universities in the world. Columbia uses the same quality standards for this program as they do for their MS programs and it definitely shows. This course will take you some time to complete, but I feel it is a worthwhile commitment.
Summary
- Time to Complete: 1 year (around 8 hours a week).
- Available fully online with instructor-led assignments and exams.
- The best advanced course for Business Analytics.
4. Advanced Business Analytics Specialization from the University of Colorado
Why take this course?
Another great course which does everything by the book and provides you with a very clear and well-structured look at business analytics. This particular specialization is better suited for mid-level business analysts and those who spend an appreciable amount of time on data presentation and communication. - Modules include predicative modeling, using business analytics for decision making, communicating results effectively and finally a capstone project. You learn to use simulations to make decisions and drive business decisions.
- I recommend this course not only to business analytics but to small business owners as well who need to use these techniques to drive their business performance ever higher.
Summary
- Time to Complete: Around 60 hours.
- Available fully online and on-demand. Make your own schedule.
5. Business Statistics and Analysis from Rice University
Why take this course?
- Another great beginner course for future Business analysts. Rice University has designed this course to equip learners with the tools and techniques to master business statistics and analysis. Rice a great brand to have on your CV and this is a friendly introduction to the subject matter.
- You learn everything ranging dorm spreadsheet functions, data measures relevant to businesses, data modeling, probability concepts, measuring and modeling uncertainty, data distributions, hypothesis testing, data descriptors, statistical distribution linear regression and making business decisions based on all of these skills.
- The course does have a slight statistical bend without feeling overwhelming which is what makes all the more relevant. Business Analysts do need to be at the top of their statistics game because because that is what the role requires.
- Your learning is capped off with a capstone project that requires you to apply all those concepts to real business problems. On successful completion, you get a shareable certificate that should be used to enhance your LinkedIn profile and CV.
Summary
- Time to Complete: Around 75 hours.
- Available fully online and on demand. Complete at your own pace.
- A statistics heavy course that does not feel overwhelming. Great for beginners.
6. Business Analytics Fundamentals for Leaders from Babson College
Why take this course?
- This is an executive program meant for Business Leaders. If you are in leadership position that requires you to interact frequently with data scientists and business analysts and make business decisions, then this is the course for you. It will help you better understand where they are coming from and how to make better decisions. I would also recommend this to bankers who have to make similar decisions based on data on a daily basis.
- This is also a foundational business analytics course which means it is well suited for those with little experience in the field. It aims to provide you hands on skills and practical knowledge to better analyse the information presented to you, better present your own finding, and make definite and meaningful conclusions about business problems. This is a strategic course.
- Babson College is well known for its entrepreneurial bend and that makes this course also well suited for business owners and startups that wish to use Business analytics in the high growth phase.
Summary
- Time to Complete: About 4 weeks.
- Available fully online and on-demand.
- Executive course on Business Analytics for bankers, managers or even business owners.
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