Professional Certificate in Business Analytics and Applied AI
- Overview
- Academics
- What You'll Learn
Develop the analytics fluency and leadership skills to make smarter, AI-informed decisions across any business function. Learn how to lead teams through AI-driven change, interpret data and machine learning outputs with confidence, and apply practical analytics techniques using today's most relevant tools. Build the ability to evaluate AI-generated insights critically, communicate findings to stakeholders, and drive data-informed strategy in an organization where AI and analytics are reshaping how work gets done.
About MSU's Broad College of Business
Founded in 1855 on the ideals of democratization of knowledge, Michigan State University (MSU) is an inclusive, internationally recognized university with a mission of advancing knowledge and transforming lives. Michigan State University Online is the home to online programs from MSU's Eli Broad College of Business. These flexible programs are offered in a variety of structures and formats and designed for working professionals. Through the convenience of online, video-based e-learning with the added value of face-to-face networking in select programs, you can gain applicable industry knowledge and learn from the faculty thought leaders at one of the top research universities in the world.
Curriculum
Curriculum
- Understand how AI and machine learning are reshaping team workflows, roles, and daily operations — and learn practical leadership approaches to support team adaptation and maintain performance through change
- Explore strategies for building AI literacy, addressing resistance, and motivating teams through the adoption of new tools and ways of working using proven frameworks including Kolb's Learning Styles and Tuckman's team development model
- Learn how to evaluate AI opportunities at an organizational level, identify business problems suited to AI solutions, and build the cases needed to gain alignment across leadership and frontline teams
- Develop structured approaches for planning and implementing AI initiatives, overcoming bias and resistance, and scaling AI across teams with sustainable governance and continuous improvement frameworks
- Understand how machine learning methods — including clustering, classification, neural networks, and generative AI — produce outputs, and develop the judgment to evaluate when those outputs are trustworthy and actionable
- Build practical skills for interpreting, communicating, and commissioning analytics work — including how to use prompt engineering effectively and apply data-driven insights responsibly across business functions
- Learn to evaluate AI-assisted analytics, create and interpret data visualizations using Excel and Power BI, and apply techniques including regression, customer segmentation, A/B testing, and binary outcome prediction to real business scenarios
- Develop the ability to distinguish meaningful insights from misleading results and communicate analytical findings confidently across marketing, operations, finance, and customer strategy functions
What You'll Learn
- Can identify AI opportunities across business functions and evaluate when AI tools and analytical approaches are appropriate — and when they are not.
- Apply practical leadership frameworks for leading teams through AI-driven change, supporting workforce adaptation, and building the organizational alignment needed for successful AI adoption.
- Understand how to interpret machine learning outputs — including clustering, regression, classification, and generative AI — critically and responsibly, distinguishing meaningful insights from misleading results.
- Can evaluate AI-assisted analytics using tools such as Excel and Power BI, applying techniques including data visualization, customer segmentation, regression modeling, A/B testing, and binary outcome prediction to real business scenarios.
- Apply structured approaches for communicating data-driven insights to non-technical stakeholders and commissioning analytics work from technical teams with clarity and confidence.
- Understand how responsible AI principles, ethical considerations, and governance frameworks apply to data-driven decision-making across marketing, operations, finance, and customer strategy functions.
Program Details
- DegreeCertificate
- FormatOnline
- InstructionInstructor Led
- Courses3
- Credit Hours10.8 CEUs
- Duration16 weeks
- Weekly5 hours