Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Finance
Transform Data into Strategic Financial Decisions
CBU’s Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Finance combines cutting-edge analytical skills with financial expertise, preparing you to make data-informed decisions that drive business value. Offered by the CBU School in Business in Memphis, Tennessee, the program blends financial management principles with practical data analytics training. In today’s data-driven business world, success depends on the ability to extract meaningful insights from financial and operational data. CBU’s Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Finance combines cutting-edge analytical skills with financial expertise, preparing you to make data-informed decisions that drive business value.
Memphis professionals take note: this is one of the only graduate certificate programs in business analytics available in the Memphis area, offered through a nationally accredited institution with a 150-year history of educating business leaders.
Why Choose CBU’s Business Analytics Certificate in Memphis?
Memphis is home to a growing data-driven economy, from logistics giants like FedEx and Nike to healthcare systems and financial institutions. CBU graduates enter this ecosystem equipped with the exact skills local employers need: financial statement analysis, data visualization, and predictive modeling.
Here’s what makes CBU’s program different from fully online certificate options:
- Small class sizes averaging 10-15 students per course, ensuring direct access to faculty and peers.
- Weekly live sessions, on campus in Memphis or virtual, so you stay connected to a professional cohort.
- Faculty who bring real-world accounting, finance, and data analytics experience into every session
- Flexibility that respects your schedule: asynchronous coursework you complete when it works for you
- Credits that count toward CBU’s MBA, giving you a clear path to a full graduate degree
Unlike many certificate programs that exist only as self-paced modules, CBU’s graduate certificate in business analytics maintains the community, mentorship, and real-time engagement of a traditional graduate program, without sacrificing the flexibility working professionals need.
What You’ll Learn: Core Skills in Business Data Analytics
CBU’s business analytics and finance certificate develops competencies across two interconnected disciplines:
Data Analytics Skills
- Data analysis techniques using industry-standard tools
- Data visualization and dashboard design
- Predictive analytics and statistical modeling
- Translating complex datasets into actionable business insights
Financial Skills
- Financial statement analysis and interpretation
- Financial management principles and capital allocation
- Budgeting, forecasting, and pricing strategy
- Data-driven financial decision-making
These skills combine to give you what neither a pure finance credential nor a pure data science certificate provides: the ability to move fluently between financial language and analytical tools.
Modern business demands professionals who can:
- Transform raw data into actionable insights
- Make data-driven financial decisions
- Identify market opportunities through analytics
- Drive ROI through data-backed strategies
Who Should Pursue This Business Analytics Certificate?
CBU’s graduate certificate in business analytics and finance is built for working professionals who want to advance without pressing pause on their careers. It’s a strong fit if you’re:
- A financial analyst or accounting professional who wants to add data analytics capabilities to your toolkit
- A data analyst seeking deeper fluency in financial concepts to move into higher-impact roles
- A manager or director who needs to interpret data more confidently and communicate findings to leadership
- An entrepreneur or business owner building systems to make smarter, data-backed decisions
- A professional exploring an MBA who wants to test graduate-level coursework with a credential you’ll earn along the way
If you’ve been searching for business analytics classes near you that fit a professional schedule, CBU’s program offers a path that’s challenging, practical, and designed specifically for people with careers and lives outside the classroom.
Ready to Lead with Data-Driven Financial Decisions? Discover more about the CBU Advantage
Applied Learning Approach
- Real-world case studies
- Hands-on strategic projects
- Interactive workshops
- Practical tools and templates
The Perfect Balance of Flexibility and Community
Unlike many programs that have moved entirely online, CBU’s graduate certificates maintain the vital community aspect of business education while providing modern flexibility. Our approach combines:
- Weekly two-hour sessions (either on campus or virtual)
- Asynchronous online content you complete on your schedule
- Small class sizes averaging 10-15 students
- Strong student-professor relationships
- Expert faculty with extensive professional experience
Graduate Certificate Required Courses
- CMBA 603 Accounting Principles for Financial Statement Analysis – – This course builds the foundation for interpreting and analyzing financial statements. Students gain fluency in reading income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, and in using that data to evaluate organizational health and drive informed financial decisions. No prior accounting background is required.
- CMBA 604 Financial Management – Students explore core financial management concepts including capital budgeting, cost of capital, risk assessment, and valuation. The course emphasizes applying financial theory to real-world business scenarios, equipping students to make sound decisions and resource allocation, investment, and organizational growth.
- CMBA 655 Data Analytics and Visualization – This hands-on course introduces students to data analysis tools and visualization techniques used across industries. Students work with real datasets, build dashboards, and develop the ability to present complex analytical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. Practical tools and templates are provided for immediate workplace application.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements to the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Finance program are based on an overall evaluation of your educational needs and career objectives. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
A complete application consists of the following:
- GRADUATE PROGRAM APPLICATION
Select Graduate for Application Type
Select Graduate Special/Non-Degree Seeking for Student Type
Select “Yes” to indicate you will pursue a certificate
Select the “Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Finance” - OFFICIAL COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY TRANSCRIPT SHOWING BACHELOR’S DEGREE AWARDED (AND MASTER’S DEGREE AWARDED IF APPLICABLE)
- CURRENT RESUME/CV
Meet the Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a graduate certificate in business analytics?
A graduate certificate in business analytics is a short-term, credit-bearing credential that trains professionals in data analysis, financial modeling, and data-driven decision-making. CBU’s program consists of three graduate-level courses totaling 9 credit hours and can be completed in two to three 8-week terms.
How long does it take to complete CBU’s business analytics certificate?
CBU’s graduate certificate in business analytics is available both on campus and virtually. Students attend one two-hour session per week, either in person at CBU’s Memphis campus or via a live virtual format, and complete additional coursework asynchronously on their own schedule.
Can I apply this certificate toward an MBA?
Yes. All three courses in CBU’s business analytics graduate certificate are eligible to apply toward CBU’s MBA program. This makes the certificate an ideal first step for professionals considering a full graduate business degree.
What are the admission requirements for CBU’s business analytics certificate?
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. No GMAT is required. A complete application includes the CBU graduate program application, official transcripts, and a current resume or CV.
What jobs can you get with a graduate certificate in business analytics?
Graduates of business analytics certificate programs pursue roles such as data analyst, financial analyst, business intelligence analyst, operations manager, and strategy consultant. The credential signals to employers that you can apply data tools to financial and operational decisions.
