Business Analysis Extension Certificate

Classroom or Online
E-mail: cebusiness@mtroyal.ca
Information: 403.440.5069 or toll-free 1.888.392.3655
Register: Start here
Location: Lincoln Park Campus, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW

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This program provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills to effectively gather, assess, communicate, and verify business requirements. You will also gain exposure to a variety of best practices, proven tools and industry-recognized techniques that can be immediately applied in a broad range of business environments.

Who Should Attend
This certificate program is aimed at a foundational level and has been designed to introduce the skills of business analysis to:

• new business analysts
• experienced business analysts who need to update or formalize their credentials
• business professionals seeking to advance as business analysts
• consultants requiring a business analysis credential
• supervisors and managers
• researchers
• project managers whose jobs incorporate the business analysis role
• managers who interface with business analysts and/or project managers

How You Will Benefit

• Demand for qualified business analysts is growing.
• Skills acquired are suitable for immediate application.
• Certificate is available in the classroom or online.
• Online courses are interchangeable with classroom version.
• Mount Royal is an Endorsed Educational Provider (EEP™) of IIBA® (International Institute of Business Analysis).

Program Table

Please Note: The program can be completed in a minimum of two semesters or extended up to three years.

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Course Materials

Textbook (Required)
Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide, Version 2), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2009 - available through the BookStore. IIBA® members can download a complimentary PDF copy of the BABOK® Guide for their own personal and professional use from the IIBA website. Non-members can purchase a PDF copy for $29.95 USD.

Course Materials
All other required course materials are distributed online. To download required course materials, please visit the Business Analysis Resource Centre.

Technical Requirements
It is important that you are aware of the technical requirements for using the Blackboard online learning platform prior to registering for online courses. Please refer to the following link for more information: Blackboard Technical Requirements

Online Course Expectations
The listed course hours indicate the estimated time for students to review the online learning units. The actual time spent completing assignments will vary depending on each student’s particular learning style and level of study skills.

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Accreditation
The Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) designation is awarded through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®). The CBAP® is increasingly recognized as the benchmark of excellence for the business analysis professional.

Mount Royal University Continuing Education and Extension is proud to be an Endorsed Educational Provider (EEP™) of the IIBA^®. For an overview of the CBAP^® certification requirements, please visit www.theiiba.org.

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Course Schedule

Business Analysis: An Overview   
Position yourself for success in one of today’s most in-demand careers. Organizations seek qualified business analysts to help accurately define business needs, capture requirements and deliver solutions that will achieve business objectives. Be introduced to the role and responsibilities of today’s business analyst, including industry-recognized skills, tasks and knowledge areas.
Course Materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.

Gathering and Documenting Requirements
Business analysts need to be able to gather the right information, understand the business needs, document accurate requirements and make recommendations to help business area experts solve problems. Using real-life examples, explore communication and interviewing skills, reaching consensus and documentation models such as Use Cases, facilitation techniques and more.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.

Process and Workflow Modelling
People, processes, systems and structures can be captured in present state through diagrams that show how things work and what changes need to be made. Some of the many tools covered in this course are process mapping, process levelling, cross-functional and process decomposition diagrams, Use Case diagrams, deployment and more.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.
Note: This course is equivalent to Business Process Modelling & Analysis, XBPM 10002.

Enterprise Risk Management
Explore how to identify risk, learn what constitutes risk management, and determine how to assess the impacts and probabilities of risk. Once this knowledge is attained, develop an enterprise risk framework, score and rank risks, and gain insight into the cultural aspects of risk.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.
Note: This course is equivalent to Project Management: Risk and Procurement, XPRM 10005.

Solution Analysis
Business analysts play a key role in ensuring that proposed solutions meet the business needs and deliver maximum benefits to justify implementation. Discover how to evaluate solution options and solution performance, including techniques for identifying capability gaps, managing solution scope and assessing solutions through performance metrics and reporting.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.

Building a Business Case and Opportunity Evaluation
Business analysts must engage in strategic enterprise analysis to help organizations identify, understand, evaluate and prioritize potential opportunities, solutions and strategies for success. Discover key components and considerations in developing and effective business case. Be introduced to various techniques for evaluating opportunities and making a business case, including SWOT analysis, cost-benefit analysis, impact analysis and communicating ROI.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.

Solution Validation and Assessment
Business analysts determine how a solution is performing once implemented, and help to identify solution gaps or defects. This course examines the BA role in the context of solution validation, quality assurance and continuous improvement. Techniques such as test plans, root cause analysis, lessons learned practice and problem tracking are explored.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.

Project Management: An Overview
Project Management: An Overview is the only required Project Management course for the Business Analysis Certificate. Also note that the Project Management: An Overview course can be taken in class or online.
Note: Course materials are not available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Course Materials are approx. $25 and can be purchased at the Mount Royal BookStore.

Please select one of the following links to view the complete schedule and description.

Project Management: An Overview - CLASSROOM

Project Management Online, Module 1: Overview and Initiating Processes - ONLINE

BA Review and Preparation for the Final Assessment Paper
Review the BA role, core competencies and specific knowledge areas of the BABOK^® Guide. Re-examine various tools and techniques learned in the previous Business Analysis courses. Discuss and evaluate real-world examples and scenarios to prepare for the Final Assessment Paper.
Course materials: PDF versions available through the Business Analysis Resource Centre. Not required for online courses.
Note: This should be the final course you take before the Business Analysis: Final Assessment Paper. We strongly recommend that you do not take this course until after you complete the seven other required Business Analysis courses and one Project Management course. 

Business Analysis: Final Assessment Paper
Complete a case analysis paper (written feasibility report) to be critiqued and graded by qualified instructors. Your grade is based on your ability to incorporate the business analysis concepts, practices and principles acquired in the previous nine courses. Guidelines are provided to assist in your case report preparation.
Note: We strongly recommend completion of all previous courses before registering for the Final Assessment Paper.
Note: Deadline for submission is 12:00 p.m., June 25, 2013. No refunds after May 6, 2013.

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The IIBA EEP logo, IIBA, CBAP, Business Analysis Body of Knowledge and BABOK marks are wholly owned by IIBA and are used under license granted by IIBA.

Student Testimonials

“An outstanding way to start or further your career as a business analyst.”

- Mark Zipprick, Business Analysis graduate

“The workshop environment was very beneficial for learning from fellow classmates ... The interactive style of instruction was fun and educational.”

Tami Sutley, Business Analysis Certificate student

“...the courses provided a very good survey of BA concerns. I now know many more questions to ask.”

Sean Drysdale, Business Analysis graduate

“The Business Analysis program helps me in providing the link between IT and business for my organization, enabling better communication and understanding between the two groups.”

Joey Choi Yee Suen, Telus, Business Analysis graduate

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