Gain the Analytics Skills You'll Need

By 2022, the World Economic Forum predicts 85 percent and 75 percent of US-based companies will have expanded their adoption of big data analytics and app-enabled markets, respectively. McKinsey and Company calls Artificial Intelligence (AI) the “transformational technology of the digital age” and predicts AI will add $13 trillion in economic activity by 2030.  

To provide individuals with the skills necessary to benefit from these booming fields, Bentley is launching four new graduate certificates beginning in the summer of 2020 that focus on IT foundations of and management with analytics, app development, and artificial intelligence.  

“We’ve heard from our corporate partners that technology is fundamentally changing the way business operates,” says Bill Read, dean of business and the Graduate School of Business at Bentley. “Business schools need to continue to innovate and think of ways of delivering these new skills to those already in the workforce. These certificates complement our graduate degree programs and provide another format for those interested in growing their technical abilities.” 

“It is very difficult to find an industry or an individual field of expertise that hasn’t been significantly affected by the transformative power of information technology,” says Heikki Topi, professor and chair of computer information systems and interim chair of information and process management. “The dramatic improvements in our ability to collect, store, process and analyze data real-time in large quantities have been particularly powerful.” 

He adds that mobile applications are another area of computing that is allowing a broad range of organizations to substantially change the way in which they operate. “Increasingly often, users are benefiting from the flexibility and freedom from place constraints by using mobile applications as a major way to access the systems that bring the IT capabilities together.” 

Bentley’s four graduate certificates provide an opportunity to complete a three-course program in less than a year and earn credits toward a future graduate degree at Bentley. The certificates respond to a job market that requires lifelong learning by employees as businesses continue to integrate advanced technology into the workforce.   

Each course in Bentley’s new graduate certificate program will be offered in a live virtual format, where students will meet once or twice per week over Zoom. Certificates include: 

• Technology Foundations for Data Analytics: Big data architects take No. 1 place among the top 10 emerging jobs in the U.S. Learn the foundational programming and data management skills needed to get ahead in this promising field.  
• Getting Started with Artificial Intelligence: Learn the basic building blocks to get started in this exciting and growing field, including how to speak the language of data manipulation and master the application of these skills to solving business problems.  
• Mobile App Development: Learn to develop interactive apps for mobile devices using algorithm development, logic reasoning skills and data manipulation. 
• Managing with Analytics: Managers who can harness the power of data-driven insights will significantly increase their effectiveness within an organization. Gain the knowledge needed to interface with data scientists and analysts, including what data to collect, and how to organize and use the data to make smarter, more useful decisions.  

“As professionals in knowledge intensive industries and leadership roles, we cannot stay in place, but we are expected to continually reinvent ourselves,” Topi says. “Bentley’s certificates are an outstanding way to enable this change process.” 

Students will be required to complete three courses per certificate. Certificate students who complete their program are eligible to waive many requirements for admission to our MBA or Master of Science (MS) programs.

Enrollment for certificates will be offered in summer and fall 2020 with a special offer of $1,000 for the first class (regularly $4,988). Alumni receive a 10 percent discount. Classes will be offered three times per year beginning 2021 (spring, summer and fall). Read additional program details and apply.