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A business certificate from �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� is an alternative, fast track to advancing your career, filling in knowledge gaps and increasing your earning potential. Both of our certificate options will boost your résumé on their own, and if you decide to go further, you can apply the courses toward the full �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� MBA degree.

Choose from 100% online, on-campus or hybrid course options for maximum schedule flexibility with no sacrifice in quality. In both of our business certificate programs, you’ll find a challenging, values-based environment where you will engage with faculty to learn real-world skills that prepare you to thrive in a fulfilling career.

Business Essentials Certificate

In one semester you can gain a fundamental understanding of the social, legal and economic environments of corporations and nonprofit organizations.

• Four to six courses: Foundations in Management and between three and five additional MBA foundation courses
• These foundation courses carry no credits but can be used to satisfy prerequisites for the MBA program and elective courses
• All foundation courses are self-paced and 100% online.

Graduate Business Certificate

In as little as one semester, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of key business themes, such as leadership and ethics, from our core modules. You’ll also have the option to combine a core graduate business course with graduate electives in accounting, data analytics (fully online), finance, health care administration (fully online), leadership, international business, or marketing.

• Two courses (6 credit hours): Complete an MBA core module, or choose one core course and one MBA elective
• Students can also design their own certificate by choosing two MBA electives
• Credits can be applied toward completion of the full MBA degree
• The Brennan Executive Discount scholarship is awarded to all admitted students
• Core classes are offered every semester; electives are offered on a rotating basis throughout the year

Take the next step toward business leadership.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

In both of our respected on-campus and online business certificate programs, you’ll find an ideal learning environment. In small classes, you’ll work side-by-side with an outstanding business faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and top-level professionals from across the industry spectrum. You’ll prepare for leadership alongside committed students who reflect the diversity of today’s corporate teams. You’ll enjoy the convenience of evening classes on our beautiful campus west of Chicago. You also can complete the business certificate curriculum entirely online, or enjoy the best of both worlds in a hybrid program. You’ll master business fundamentals and acquire the essential skills that top employers demand. See our full business certificate course listings: ;

Business Certificate Courses

You’ll choose classes from the MBA course listing that will help you better understand and advance in an area that interests you and suits your career goals. In the Graduate Business Certificate program, you can complete any of our two-course core modules:

• Leadership and Ethics
• Business Problem Solving, Negotiation and Strategy
• Financial Decision Making
• Markets and Consumers
• Analytics and Operations

Or you can choose to pair one core course with an elective. Sample combinations include:

• Accounting and Data Analytics
• Finance and Investments
• Leadership and Healthcare Administration
• Marketing and International Business

In consultation with the Brennan School of Business’s director of graduate programs, students may also design their own certificate by completing two MBA elective courses.

Related Degree Programs

Our business certificate programs offer a great way to explore �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼����’s outstanding business education at the graduate level without the commitment of a full degree program. If you do decide to take your education further, you can apply your certificate courses toward a full master’s degree program. In addition to the MBA and Master of Science in Accounting, we offer several dual-degree programs customized to meet specific career goals:

• MBA with a Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics: Prepare to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) while positioning yourself for leadership roles in nutrition-related industries.
• MBA and a Master of Social Work (MSW): Earn a degree that will help you make a difference in individual lives and communities, while preparing you to influence change in nonprofit, for-profit and government agencies.
• MBA and a Master of Library and Information Sciences (MLIS): Gain skills for leadership in large libraries and complex information centers in this cutting-edge program.

What to Expect as You Earn Your Business Certificate

Your network of successful business leaders will grow in all of our business programs—starting in Brennan School of Business classrooms, with our faculty and your fellow students. Our classes are small and our students bring varied background perspectives, resulting in a rich, immersive learning experience whether online or on our campus.

Tap into our large community of alumni working in top corporations, agencies and organizations in Chicago and beyond. We have graduates who currently work at Allstate Insurance, Discover, Groupon, Kraft Heinz Company, McDonald’s Corporation, Northwestern Mutual and many more top companies.

A Top-Ranked Education from the Brennan School of Business

The Brennan School of Business is AACSB-accredited, a distinction earned by fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide. AACSB schools are evaluated on a number of factors, including intellectual contributions and impact, student progression and career development and teaching effectiveness. Accreditation is a mark of a strong return on your investment with higher-caliber academics. See what sets us apart

Alumni Networking and Career Support Resources

Draw on career resources both as an active student and long after graduation. We offer everything from one-on-one career mentoring and advising through our Executives in Residence program to an e-recruiting platform that can help you find your next career opportunity. Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why earn a business certificate?

Maybe you’re a career-changer looking to get up to speed in business. Or perhaps you’re an experienced business professional seeking to update your knowledge or specialize in a new area. A certificate program is a great way to do it—and do it fast. You’ll close gaps in knowledge that may be holding you back from achieving your goals, and at the same time you’ll increase your earning potential and chances for promotion.

Business degree vs. certificate

At �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼����, we believe in opening up multiple pathways to professional development, continued education and career advancement. In some cases, a certificate program may offer a more efficient way for business professionals to update their skills, stay ahead of emerging trends and enhance their résumés and prospects for promotion. Certificate programs, however, are not meant to substitute for a full degree program, which provides a much broader range of knowledge and experience. Furthermore, a full master’s degree is a requirement for some professional licenses and career paths.

For those who may want to go further but are unsure about taking on the commitment of a full MBA program, a business certificate offers a great way to “try out” the program and see if it is right for you. That’s why we designed our certificate coursework to lead seamlessly into a full degree program for students who decide to move on to more advanced studies.

How do I apply?

To apply, you will need:

• A bachelor’s degree in any field
• A personal statement
• Course prerequisites (for the Advanced Business Certificate)

Ready to take the next step?

Do Business Better with a Certificate from �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼����