Online Business Management Certificate Program Curriculum

We welcome participants of all levels and prior experience, though the coursework will be most beneficial to you if you have some professional experience. For example, many exercises ask you to draw on specific situations you have faced in your workplace.

This program is especially beneficial for working professionals who want to upgrade their skills, current and aspiring managers who want to increase their leadership capabilities, and recent graduates who want a strong introduction into the business world. Nearly all our participants have at least one year of professional experience. You can explore more info about our community on our participant profile page.

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree is recommended but not required. Please see our registration page for full details.

The classes are asynchronous, meaning you do not need to log in at a certain time or day. We do advise that you work through the lessons on a consistent, weekly schedule, as this allows you to better absorb and retain the lessons and stay on pace with your peers.

The discussion boards are available at all times, though we again encourage you to be a regular, active contributor. Not only is participation a required part of the courses, but these lively forums are excellent spaces for creating lasting professional connections.

Class content includes a mix of instructor-presented videos, short readings, projects, practice exercises, and occasional quizzes.

We recommend planning for 3 to 4 hours each week.
No, textbooks are not required. All readings will be posted within the learning management system.
These courses are delivered via eThink (Moodle). Internet access is required. If you require technical assistance, please contact Paula Varney at paula.varney@vanderbilt.edu.
The courses are taught on a pass/fail basis.
While we do not require you to move through the program in a set order, we strongly recommend the following sequence: Strategic Leadership, Finance and Accounting, Strategic Innovation, and then Strategy and Operations. This is the optimal course order for building your knowledge.

These are non-credit courses. You will earn 4.5 continuing education units (CEUs) if you complete all 4 certificate courses, however, CEUs cannot be transferred to another degree program such as an MBA.

Non-credit courses are a great way to upgrade your skills, stay up-to-date with industry trends, and expand your professional networks without the pressures or costs of a full degree program. By taking these courses and earning the CEUs, you have a way to showcase your accomplishments and demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are a way to measure non-credit, professional development experiences. They demonstrate that you have completed all required coursework and serve as a quantitative accomplishment to include on your resume. Some employers recognize CEUs as part of performance evaluations and/or may offer incentives such as tuition reimbursement to employees who earn these credits.

You will earn 4.5 continuing education units when you complete all 4 courses. We are certified by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training to award CEUs.

After you complete the last course in the certificate series, you must submit a written request to paula.varney@vanderbilt.edu in order to have the CEUs issued to you.

These classes are fully online only. However, the Owen Graduate School of Management is offering additional live, online programs at this time due to COVID-19 adjustments.

Participants complete the 4 courses in the certificate program in as little as 6 months.

We estimate that the total time you will spend on your courses is 56 hours. For estimated completion times for individual courses, please see our curriculum page.

Participants have two months to complete their individual course and may progress through the course as quickly (or as slowly) as they choose, as long as they finish prior to the cohort end date.

For example, if you sign up for the January cohort, you must finish by the end of March, before the next cohort begins.

If you register for two or three individual courses at the same time, you will need to complete all courses by the end of the cohort date. This does not apply to those taking the full certificate, as certificate participants have 12 months to complete all four courses.

You will be awarded the Vanderbilt Business Management Certificate, which is delivered via PDF. You can also receive 4.5 continuing education units, which will be issued to you after emailing a written request to paula.varney@vanderbilt.edu.

Registration

The next start date will be 10/2/2023. We offer 4 starts each year in January, April, July, and October.

You can start your registration here. This form will allow you to sign up for the full certificate or select individual courses. You will also be able to pay for your courses if you are planning to pay via credit card. (See our payment options page for more information on paying for the courses.)

You can register for the certificate or individual courses up until one week before the program start date. If you need any help registering, our career advisors are available to walk you through the process and answer questions. Contact them at business@onlinecertificatesac.vanderbilt.edu or 844-825-9663.

Yes, you may take a single course. However, we do offer a discount to those who enroll in the full 4-course certificate program. To view all options, please visit our registration page.
Each student is allowed one transfer to a later date during the program. Please see our policies page for details.
You must submit your cancellation request in writing via email. Please see our policies page for contact information and for cancellation fee details.

Tuition and Payment

The certificate costs $3,795, which includes the bundle discount. If the courses are taken individually, each course is $995. See our tuition page for more information.
Yes, you will save $185 on total tuition if you register for the full, 4-course certificate.
Because the business certificate courses are non-credit classes, they do not qualify for financial aid or scholarships. However, many of our participants receive partial or full reimbursement from their employer.

Usually, though it does depend on your employer’s policies. This certificate is non-credit bearing, but many participants receive tuition reimbursement through their organizations. We recommend the following tips when presenting this program to your HR representative or supervisor to receive reimbursement:

  1. Present the curriculum content from the Owen Graduate School of Management website. You can find the content on our curriculum page.
  2. Specify that this certificate is work related or for professional development, Vanderbilt University is an accredited institution, the program is rigorous, these concepts can be immediately applied to your current job, and this certificate contains projects with real-world applications.
Yes, there is a 20 percent discount for Vanderbilt alumni and staff. For questions about qualifying for this discount or to register for classes as alumni or staff, please contact business@onlinecertificatesac.vanderbilt.edu or 844-825-9663.

Request
Information

To learn more about the Vanderbilt Business Management Certificate, contact a career advisor at 844-825-9663 or fill out the form below to download a free brochure.

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