Business Analysis Extension Certificate NEWLY REVISED!

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

Required Courses | Student Testimonials

 71% of Business Analysis Extension Certificate graduates surveyed received an increase in income after completing the certificate.

All courses in this program are offered each semester

Business analysis is one of today’s most in-demand careers. Qualified business analysts are sought to define business needs, identify solutions, manage requirements and support continuous improvement efforts for organizational success.

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 range of business environments.

Mount Royal’s Business Analysis Certificate has been revised to reflect updates to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® (BABOK^® Guide, Version 2.0).

Who Should Take this Program
This certificate program is aimed at a foundational level and is designed to introduce the business professional to the Business Analyst’s skill requirements. The skills acquired throughout this program can be applied to your professional business environment.

Highly Recommended
Complete Business Analysis: An Overview prior to the remaining courses.

Business Analysis Resource Centre
The Business Analysis Resource Centre is designed to provide students with additional resources beyond the contents of the classroom environment. You will have access to Required Course Materials, past Final Assessment submissions, Information Guides, Tools and Templates, Weblinks to BA Communities, Articles, Tips/Tricks and more.

The Resource Centre is an evolving environment; meaning, the content and information available will change and adapt over time. Our aim is to provide you, the student, with helpful, interesting, and valuable tools to assist you in your growing business analysis career.

Please note: You will need to provide your MyMRU username and password to access the Business Analysis Resource Centre. To create a username and password, you need to activate your account through MyMRU. For instructions on how to create your login information, please check Activating and Logging in to MyMRU.

Textbook (Required)
Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK^® Guide, Version 2), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2009, approx. $70. Available through the BookStore or www.theiiba.org. 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 required course materials are distributed online. To download required course materials, please visit the Business Analysis Resource Centre.
Please note: To ensure accuracy of information, classroom course materials should be downloaded approx. 2 weeks prior to the course start date. Failure to do so may result in misalignment of materials in the classroom.
***PLEASE NOTE: ONLINE AND CLASSROOM COURSE MATERIALS ARE UNIQUE — BE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE CORRECT VERSION.***

Earning Your Extension Certificate
Complete the following courses (155 hours) either online or in class with a minimum of 75% attendance in each course:

• Nine required courses (eight Business Analysis courses plus one Project Management course)
• Final Assessment Paper (minimum grade of C or 70%)
• Note: We strongly recommend completion of all courses before registering for the Final Assessment Paper.

The program can be completed within two semesters but may be extended over three years.

Online Learners
The Business Analysis online courses are interchangeable with the classroom courses. To successfully complete each online course, you must actively participate in the online environment via discussion boards, self-assessment quizzes and group activities. Your final mark is based on your participation throughout the course.

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^®. Courses in Mount Royal University's certificate are aligned with IIBA®’s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®) and can be used towards the CBAP^® designation. For an overview of the CBAP^® certification requirements, please visit theiiba.org.

Career Outlook
Completion of the Business Analysis Extension Certificate may qualify you for an entry-level position as a business analyst, depending on personal and professional suitability for the field, or build upon the business analysis skills you currently possess in your existing role.

Required Courses

All courses in this program are offered each semester

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
(Formerly Data Analysis for Decision Making)
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     NEWLY REVISED!
(Formerly Financial Analysis 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
(Formerly Quality and Testing Management)
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       NEWLY REVISED!
(Formerly Life Cycle and Business Case)
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       NEWLY REVISED!
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.
Download a PDF of the Final Assessment Guidelines and submission details.

Note: We strongly recommend completion of all previous courses before registering for the Final Assessment Paper.
Note: Deadline for submission is 4:30 p.m., June 28, 2012. No refunds after May 2, 2012.

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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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