Master's Certificate in Business Analysis Program

Program Overview:
Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business and PMCentersUSA have joined together to deliver a comprehensive series of business analysis courses leading to a Master’s Certificate in Business Analysis (BA). Each course in the track is a two-day class with the material designed for compliance with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK™). Courses offer the greatest benefit when delivered as a sequence, however, may be taken individually. The track contributes to success of a Business Analyst and prepares individuals for the International Institute of Business Analysts’ Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™) certification examination.

Unique Features:
PMCentersUSA is Endorsed Education Provider (E.E.P.™) of the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA™).1 All of our Business Analyst classes and services are closely aligned with the IIBA, the most widely accepted standard for best practices in business analysis worldwide. As an E.E.P., PMCentersUSA has agreed to abide by IIBA-established operational and educational criteria. We have developed our BA Program around the IIBA framework and thoroughly address each knowledge area established in the BABOK. All classes within the Master’s Certificate Track carry Professional Development Units (PDUs). We also offer a 2 day “Technical Skills class for the Business Analyst” class which addresses essential skills necessary to interact effectively with technical project team members.

Target Audience:
Our Master’s Certificate Program is designed for and attended by project managers, executives, functional managers, business analysts, programmers holding interest in expanding effectiveness and efficiency of their business, and any other individuals involved in project work.

Location:
Classes are held on Drexel University’s Philadelphia (32nd & Market Streets) or Malvern (2 West Liberty Boulevard, Malvern, PA) campuses. For more information or to register, contact PMCentersUSA at 888-PMCenters (1-888-762-3683) or visit www.pmcentersusa.com.

Program Focus:
PMCentersUSA is dedicated exclusively to providing excellence in corporate project management education. The Center leverages world-class instructors, state-of-the-art materials, interactive case studies, real-world examples and knowledge transfer techniques that provide students with the ability to make an immediate impact on their projects. PMCentersUSA has teamed with Drexel University and other universities across the country to deliver cross-industry and cross-functional IIBA aligned business analyst training.

Learning Objectives:
PMCentersUSA has crafted its program to align with the IIBA’s Body of Knowledge. This standard is divided into six major knowledge areas: Enterprise Analysis, Requirements Planning and Management, Requirements Elicitation, Requirements Analysis and Documentation, Requirements Communication, and Solution Assessment and Validation.

Introduction to Business Analysis
September 4-5, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the philosophy, methods and terminology of business analysis,
• Describe the six knowledge areas of the IIB’s Body of Knowledge,
• Understand the BA’s focus on requirements elicitation, documentation and communication
• Understand the importance of solution testing,
• Understand the depth of knowledge needed to be a BA.

Enterprise Analysis
October 2-3, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the interplay of the Enterprise Analysis components,
• Understand the importance of the efforts necessary to maintain the Business Architecture,
• Contribute significantly to a Feasibility Study,
• Understand the methodologies of Risk Assessment and Project Scoping, and
• Be able to assist in the preparation of the Business Case for a project

Requirements Planning and Management
October 16-17, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the team roles for the project,
• Determine requirements activities and planning steps,
• Understand requirements risk approaches,
• Estimate activities and manage the scope, and
• Manage change to requirements.

Requirements Elicitation
October 30-31, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand what requirements are,
• Understand business and functional  requirements,
• Be  able to utilize the many methods of elicitation,
• Understand the problems that face elicitation,  and
• Comprehend the  methods for requirements verification

Requirements Analysis
November 12-14, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the philosophy, methods and terminology of business analysis,
• Understand the importance and purpose of modeling during analysis,
• Work within the framework of the UML Use Case diagram,
• Be able to use Entity Relationship Diagrams and Process Flows to analyze requirements, and
• Use Class and Activity diagrams to analyze requirements.

Requirements Documentation and Communication
December 4-5, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the structure of the requirements package and the business domain model,
• Describe user, functional, and quality of service requirements,
• Understand the various documents that describe requirements at different stages of the development lifecycle,
• Successfully communicate requirements to all interested parties, and
• Conduct a formal requirements review.

Solution Assessment and Validation
December 11-12, 2008
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the purpose of looking at alternate solutions,
• Understand the steps needed to determine which is the correct solution,
• Prepare and supervise solution testing,
• Support the implementation of the solution, and
• Understand the post-implementation review process.

Technical Skills for Business Analysts
January 15-16, 2009
Drexel University's Philadelphia or Malvern campuses

• Understand the role that a BA must play in regards to the technical staff,
• Use elements of Structured Query Language to perform basic queries,
• Possess an understanding of computer processing, programming, and program flow control,
• Understand the basic history and structure of the web development environment, and
• Comprehend the methods and terms involved in software configuration management and version control

Master’s Certificate Track
Duration: 7 two-day classes
Credits: 98 PDUs and 9.8 CEUs
Cost: $5,572 – includes 20% savings

Advanced Track
Duration: 8 two-day classes
Credits: 112 PDUs and 11.2 CEUs
Cost: $6,368 – includes 20% savings

The Master’s Certificate in Project Management offers the greatest benefit when delivered as a sequence of classes. However, courses may be taken individually.

For more information or to register, contact PM Centers USA at 1-888-762-3683.


For more information, contact PM Centers USA at 1-888-762-3683 or visit www.pmcentersusa.com

¹ IIBA, IIBA Logo, BABOK, CBAP, and EEP trademarks belonging to the International Institute of Business Analysis