New certificate from Penn State targets improving business strategy
From Penn State World Campus
Note: Employees of all Columbia Montour Chamber members, their spouses and dependents are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition through the PSU World Campus.
A new graduate-level certificate from Penn State can help managers and leaders improve their organizations through business architecture, a growing practice that bridges business strategy with tactical implementation.
Penn State is accepting applications for the nine-credit graduate certificate in business architecture, which is being offered online through Penn State World Campus and the internationally recognized Smeal College of Business. The courses also may be used as a stepping stone toward one of several master’s degrees online through Penn State.
“Business architecture is the bridge between high-level business strategy and tactical execution,” said Brian Cameron, faculty director for the certificate program and associate dean for professional graduate programs at Smeal. “The business architecture discipline is growing rapidly today and this graduate certificate addresses a need for more university-based education in this field. The interest so far has been great.”
Cameron said studies show many organizations do not successfully execute their business strategy because they do not have a clear picture of the state of the organization and how they can achieve their goals. Cameron said the practice of business architecture will reveal an organization’s actual structure and the changes necessary to carry out the strategic objectives to reach the goals.
The certificate was designed to help a wide range of professionals, such as business analysts who aspire to move into planning and execution or those working in information technology who want to move into a strategy role.
The curriculum consists of a course in strategic business architecture; a course that explores the emerging trends, technology and corporate innovation; and a course on the foundational concepts of enterprise modeling.
Students who complete the certificate may apply the credits toward one of three master’s degrees offered online by the World Campus: enterprise architecture and business transformation, the online MBA, and corporate innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Penn State certificate in business architecture is the first graduate-level program of its kind in the country. The University is offering it online so that business professionals who want to advance their career with this credential do not have to leave their jobs.
“This certificate provides individuals the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and earn a credential in an emerging area,” said Shubha Kashyap, director of academic affairs at Penn State World Campus. “As our students seamlessly transition between their roles as professionals and students, the immediate applicability of new skills to their careers can enrich their education and professional advancement.”
Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about the new certificate.