Online Updated
Certificate Program in Business Analysis
Recently updated to version 2.0 of the IIBA® Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®).
The increasing need for trained business analysts who can successfully identify business needs and determine effective solutions has given rise to the Business Analysis Certificate Program. Begin or advance your career as a business analyst, and prepare to sit for the Certified Business Analysis Professional Certification examination. A recent salary survey notes business analysts can earn more than $100,000 a year, and the business analysis profession is among the top 20 most recession-proof careers.
The dependence on technology has created the need for individuals with the ability to bridge the gap between business and IT. Business analysts provide this crucial link between functional areas such as human resources, finance, marketing, research and development, and IT. Improve your ability to lead communication and collaboration efforts.
Gain practical knowledge that matters
- Explore the fundamental concepts and theory of business analysis.
- Learn to identify business opportunities and design solutions.
- Discover how to optimize your project investments.
- Develop strategies for gaining stakeholder approval.
Designed for professionals like you
This program is designed for professionals in the private and public sectors who seek solutions for process improvement and organizational change. Systems analysts who need to bridge the gap between business processes and technical requirements also benefit.
Certificate requirements
Courses may be taken individually or as part of a certificate program. You will be awarded a Certificate in Business Analysis upon the successful completion (with a grade of "C" or better) of six required courses (14 units) plus any two courses (each 1.5 units or more) in the Business and Leadership program area and submission of the application form and fee. Any approved course in Business and Management may be used to fulfill the elective course requirements. It is possible to complete this program in a year or less. Please call (530) 757-8895 for more information.
Tuition for the entire Business Analysis Certificate Program is $6,420 to $6,520, depending on when you enroll. The certificate application fee ($45), textbooks and parking are not included in the tuition fee.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | SU | ||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Business Analysis Fundamentals | 2.5 | 
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| Business Analysis: Planning and Monitoring | 2.5 |
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| Enterprise Analysis: Defining the Business Need | 2 |
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| Requirements Elicitation | 2 |
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| Requirements Analysis, Management and Communication | 3 |
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| Solution Assessment and Validation | 2 |
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| ELECTIVE COURSES | Systems Design, Implementation and Support for Today's Business Systems | 3 |
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| Fundamentals of Project Management | 2 |
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| Effective Negotiation Strategies | 3 | 
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| How to Work With Difficult People | 0.5 |
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| Collaborative Problem-Solving | 1.5 |
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F=Fall W=Winter SP=Spring SU=Summer;
Schedules subject to change
Classroom format
Online Learning format |
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Electives: Any two courses (each 1.5 units or more) in the Business & Management program area may apply.
Required Courses
Business Analysis Fundamentals
2.5 quarter units academic credit, X433.7. PDU Hours, CDU Hours
Develop the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a business analyst and enhance your ability to create solutions to business problems. Explore the fundamentals of business analysis using the International Institute of Business Analysis' (IIBA®) Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®).
Learn the techniques, methodologies and core competencies required of effective business analysts. Explore best practices, strategies, needs and opportunities, system requirements, and the implementation and operational support of business solutions.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-002.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Business Analysis Fundamentals
starts April 2
Business Analysis: Planning and Monitoring
2.5 quarter units academic credit, X433.9. 25 CDU Hours
Discover how to plan and monitor effective approaches for developing system solutions for business needs and opportunities. Examine the processes and activities to perform business analysis planning and monitoring, as defined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®). Learn the methodologies, tools and techniques that represent current business analysis best practices, both for traditional plan-driven methodologies and for contemporary change-driven methodologies.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-005.
Prerequisites:
Business Analysis Fundamentals.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Business Analysis: Planning and Monitoring starts January 9
Enterprise Analysis: Defining the Business Need
2 quarter units academic credit, X433.8. 20 CDU Hours
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the organizational framework of your projects, and learn techniques to help you create systems to support your entire enterprise. Learn to collect pre-project and early project data to capture an accurate and realistic view of business requirements and the necessary functional design work for any given initiative. Examine how to incorporate context into your short- and long-term plans. Explore investigative feasibility techniques to create business architecture and strategies in line with your projects themselves.
Determine optimal business solutions by developing a business case for your proposed solution, defining and documenting business requirements, and assessing the capability of your organization to meet needs and achieve your strategic goals.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-001.
Prerequisites:
Business Analysis Fundamentals, or equivalent experience.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Enterprise Analysis: Defining the Business Need starts January 9
Requirements Elicitation
2 quarter units academic credit, X433.4. CDU Hours
Learn to choose the appropriate technique for extracting necessary information critical to successful business analysis. Explore the most effective techniques for figuring out, or eliciting, project requirements and the steps involved with each technique.
Examine the most worthwhile techniques such as brainstorming, document
analysis, focus groups, interviewing, observation, prototyping,
workshops,
reverse engineering, and the best uses of surveys and questionnaires.
IIBA™
program ID number: E068-004.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Business Analysis, or equivalent experience.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Requirements Elicitation starts April 2
Requirements Analysis, Management and Communication
3 quarter units academic credit, X433.10. 30 CDU Hours
Gain a thorough understanding of the processes of requirements analysis, management and communication, following the International Institute of Business Analysis’® Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®). Learn to analyze and document stakeholder requirements for a solution to an identified business need or opportunity. Learn to transform a collection of raw elicited requirements statements into a complete and correct set of requirements that help you effectively guide the development of your system solution.
Discover how to analyze business requirements through modeling techniques to create a detailed set of requirements appropriate to guide the development of your business solution. Examine tools and techniques for modeling system requirements, negotiating controversial issues with stakeholders, documenting the requirements, and supporting the review and approval of the solution requirements. Upon completion you will know how to transform business requirements into a complete, correct and consistent set of solution requirements.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-007.
Prerequisites:
Business Analysis Fundamentals, or equivalent experience.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Solution Assessment and Validation
2 quarter units academic credit, X433.6. 20 CDU Hours
Learn to
facilitate the selection
of a solution; develop alternate solutions; ensure the usability of the
solution; and support the quality assurance process and the
implementation of
the solution. Business analysts are accountable for solutions that meet
defined
needs. They must also have the ability to assess projects after
implementation.
Find out how to evaluate technology options; to assess and validate
your
solution; to communicate the impacts of your solution; and to conduct
the
post-implementation review and assessment. Increase your ability to
assist your
technology team with its deliverables and help to build usability into
application software. In the case of purchased solutions, learn to
assist with
customization and interface decisions.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-006.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Business Analysis, or equivalent experience.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Elective Courses
Systems Design, Implementation and Support for Today's Business Systems
3 quarter units academic credit, X491.19. PDU Hours, 30 CDU Hours
Discover the
methods, tools and
techniques needed for the detailed design, implementation and
maintenance of
contemporary business information systems. Examine the design
considerations
and issues in creating client-server architectures for net-centric
systems.
IIBA™ program ID number: E068-007.
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Business Analysis.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
Fundamentals of Project Management
2 quarter units academic credit, X455.30. 20 PDU Hours
Explore the nine project management knowledge areas: project integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communication, and risk and procurement management. Being an effective project leader requires a clear understanding of the essential elements of the project management framework and processes.
Using the Project
Management Institute’s PMBOK®
Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge, learn the basic
characteristics of projects and
project management, with emphasis on the five process groups of
initiating,
planning, executing, controlling and closing. Understand the
terminology needed
as well as how all the project management processes link together.
Explore the
key areas of expertise, and discover the significance of project
stakeholders
and organizational influences.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Fundamentals of Project Management starts April 2
Effective Negotiation Strategies
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.10.
Anyone
negotiating with others who have
strong opinions knows how difficult it can be to reach a
mutually
beneficial resolution. Through the use of skill-building
exercises, case
studies and simulations, examine the interest-based negotiation model
through
practical and theoretical perspectives. Focus on the interest-based
process to address
the different values, priorities and goals of each party.
Discover how to
create effective strategies and achieve win-win
solutions.
Examine the
principles that won
President Jimmy Carter his Nobel Prize for Peace with the Camp
David
Accords and that create successful labor/management
negotiations and
enable complex multi-party, decision-making situations to be
successful.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Effective Negotiation Strategies starts February 25
How to Work With Difficult People
0.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.17.
Don’t let a difficult customer, co-worker or stranger ruin your day. Practice setting limits and saying “no” to protect yourself from problem people. Learn how to manage conflict with difficult people and move toward constructive problem-solving. Receive practical, positive approaches for dealing with conflict in your daily interactions with this interactive workshop.
Develop skills in:
- Learning how difficult people think, feel and act
- Creating realistic expectations to avoid conflict
- Responding to difficult people
- Defusing emotion and creating rapport
- Handling complaints, saying “no” and delivering bad news
- Setting limits, influencing others and resolving conflicts
- Staying calm and confident under fire
This course is not currently scheduled.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
1.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.13. 20 AICP Hours, 20 MCLE Hours
Discover
collaborative methods and techniques for problem solving and
conflict resolution. Learn to find mutually agreeable solutions to
challenging situations
between individuals and/or organizations so projects and programs
can move
forward. Examine the differences among interests, issues, options and
proposals, and the ways in which effective groups, facilitators and/or
mediators structure and guide problem-solving processes to create
acceptable
results for all parties involved.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Download a brochure
Business and Leadership courses
(2.3 MB)
Download a Business Analysis Certificate Program factsheet
(277 KB)
This program is endorsed by:
testimonials
"This Business Analysis Program has been instrumental in expanding my understanding of software development, the development lifecycle and the management of projects. Since my enrollment, I have been able to implement better change control and project tracking in my office and on my team. The only thing more valuable than the class activities are the class discussions—sharing perspectives with people more experienced than I am has been invaluable."
Geoff Lilley
