Business & Management Graduate Certificates Areas of Interest

Updated: Jul 29, 2024

A Business & Management Graduate Certificate is a program that can be taken after the successful completion of a bachelor’s or master's degree. These programs also go by several other names, including post-bachelor’s certificates, post-graduate certificates, or post-master's certificates. These certificates are designed to enhance the existing graduate education and train the student in a niche area to open doors otherwise restricted or closed within the business field. The student gains superior knowledge, experience, and training in these niche areas.

Before embarking on such a certificate, it is vital to know some key points:

  • Graduate Business and Management Certificates usually take a single academic year to complete (one year comprising two semesters)
  • However, part-time students may complete their grad certificate over two years
  • Colleges and universities vary in the number of credits required for a business & management post-grad certificate. However, a certificate usually requires between 12 and 18 credits. Should the student later decide to pursue a Ph.D. in business, these credits may be used to support
  • Universities normally ask that applicants have a minimum 3.0 GPA, but prestigious schools may require a higher minimum GPA

Why Get an Online Graduate Certificate in Business & Management?

A Business and Management Graduate Certificate will:

  • Provide in-depth, specialist knowledge of a niche subject area
  • Give you access to more job roles requiring specialist training and/or licensure
  • Teach students niche business and management skills, opening the door to careers that are highly in demand
  • Business & Management Graduate Certification holders usually experience higher pay and more job security
  • Signify to employers that you are a lifelong learner with a commitment to acquiring specialized business knowledge
  • It may be another step towards doctorate-level pursuits

Online Business & Management Graduate Certificate Specializations

The following specialties and focus areas are available as Business and Management Graduate Certificates:

Graduate Certificate in Accounting

An Accounting Graduate Certificate is for finance and math professionals to develop advanced training and specialized skills. This includes access to more senior roles, professional positions, or the background for a freelance/independent accounting career.

Graduate Certificate in Acquisition & Contract Management

Those interested in managing government acquisitions and contracts, as well as engaging in planning and logistics, can pursue an Acquisition & Contract Management Graduate Certificate to learn the skills needed to succeed in this field of business.

Graduate Certificate in Actuarial Science

Graduate Certificates in Actuarial Science help graduates with math degrees specialize in this statistics niche area. It involves advanced statistical processes and detailed data. The main application is risk calculation; graduates may work in investment and insurance or other corporate roles.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics

Applied Economics Graduate Certificates enable students to dive deeper into the world of economics. Economists help governments and businesses plan and forecast regarding strategic planning and business analytics. Career options include government positions and corporate roles in finance and investment strategy.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Global Stability

Applied global stability graduate certificates prepare you for a career in many emerging fields. See more details here.

Graduate Certificate in Arts & Culture Management

Arts & Culture Management Graduate Certificates are for those who have experience in the arts or business and seek to work on the management side of the arts, entertainment, and tourism areas.

Graduate Certificate in Athletic Administration

The athletic administration graduate certificate prepares students for taking on administrative roles within the athletic world, such as sports management, media relations, and sports marketing.

Graduate Certificate in Auditing

An Auditing Graduate Certificate is for students with relevant business degrees who wish to enter business analysis. Auditors examine a business’ day-to-day management as third parties ahead of accounting. This grad cert will also help students achieve advanced licensing and examinations such as CPA, CIA, and CFE for higher-level job roles.

Graduate Certificate in Business Administration

Business Administration Graduate Certificates are useful across all types of business and in the charitable sector. Students will learn modern business administration, HR, marketing, and more, making them candidates for executive-level roles in most business applications.

Graduate Certificate in Business Economics

A Business Economics Graduate Certificate is for students who wish to take their business administration or economics qualifications into the corporate world. This certificate is suitable for executive-level roles, examining both the economic impact on the business and planning for future events.

Business Information Systems Grad Certificates
Graduate Certificate in Business Information Systems

Earning a graduate degree in business information systems is the first step to starting a rewarding career. Find out how here.

Business Intelligence Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificate in Business Intelligence

Business Intelligence is a growing field. Here are the steps needed to pursue a successful career, starting with a graduate certificate.

Business Management Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificate in Business Management

You've decided on a business management graduate certificate, but what are the next steps?

Graduate Certificate in Construction Management

From managing on-the-ground resources and people to regional developments for big projects, formal qualifications such as a Grad Certificate in Construction Management help construction professionals improve their on-the-job skills.

Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics

Data Analytics Graduate Certificates develop your skills in data science and statistics for application in the real world. Typically, this is for business – areas such as finance and insurance – examining actual data for decision making and applying that knowledge to solve common business challenges.

Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management

The Emergency and Disaster Management Graduate Certificate is a great option for those looking to learn about managing emergency and natural disaster response teams. It equips students with the skills to predict and assess emergencies and disasters, and organize responses to ensure safety of all those involved.

Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificates are for graduates considering starting up a business. This certificate will advance your business skills to cover both advanced theory and practical applications. Entrepreneurs need a range of skills for their ventures including strategic management, marketing, and legal knowledge.

Graduate Certificate in Finance

Finance Graduate Certificates allow those with mathematics, business, and other related degrees to advance their careers toward financial modeling and strategizing for individuals and companies. This is a popular grad certificate for those working in accounts and bookkeeping, investments, and insurance.

Graduate Certificate in Human Resources

Human Resources Graduate Certificates are for business graduates who want to enter a career in HR working with internal company employees. With this certificate, you can manage employee processes such as mediation, payroll, benefits, and more.

Graduate Certificate in International Business

International Business Graduate Certificates are ideal for students considering working across borders in a globalized world. You will study a range of issues not included in other business degrees such as cultural considerations, ethics in global trade, and more.

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management

A Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management is a specialty business graduate program designed for students wishing to enter nonprofit or charitable organization management. You will learn marketing, advanced fundraising skills, and more.

Graduate Certificate in Project Management

Project Management Graduate Certificates impart practical skills to business grads relevant to project lifecycles. Students develop the skills and tools for practical management. This is ideal for careers in leadership management, business mentorship, employee training and development, and performance assessment.

Graduate Certificate in Public Policy

A Public Policy Graduate Certificate is a type of business qualification that involves public decision-making and policy-making. Students examine existing public policies for local, state, or Federal government agencies and develop new policies. This certificate is also ideal for nonprofit professionals involved in government lobbying for public policy change.

Graduate Certificate in Public Safety Leadership

An online Public Safety Leadership graduate certificate program is an option for people looking to advance in a career in public safety, such as law enforcement, homeland security, fire & rescue, or emergency management.

Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment

The online Real Estate Investment grad certificate teaches students how to create and analyze financial models while also considering legal, entitlement, community, and environmental factors. In addition to finance, students gain knowledge of investment capital as well as debt and equity partnership structures.

Graduate Certificate in Social Media Marketing

Enrolling in an Online Social Media Marketing Graduate Certificate program might be a smart move for those who already work in marketing and communications. It might also be a good choice for business and sales professionals as well as small business owners looking to gain a competitive advantage in this continually growing and changing world of social media marketing.

Graduate Certificate in Sport & Fitness Administration

A Sport & Fitness Administration Graduate Certificate is designed for the athletic industry. Graduates considering a career as a gym director, managing professional sports franchises, or in public advocacy for health will benefit from this type of certificate. Other career options include sports law, contract management, and event management.

Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management & Logistics

Supply Chain Management Graduate Certificates provide practical skills to business graduates and professionals in niche areas. You may develop your career towards logistics, procurement, transportation, and/or other supply chain issues.

Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is a growing area of the booming travel industry, focusing on job creation, wildlife and landmark preservation, and other cultural and eco-friendly aspects of destinations. A graduate certificate in this field may help professionals develop sustainable tourism policies, coordinate programs, and/or develop ecotourism strategies.