Application deadline
Credits and costs
Drive Strategy Execution and Transformational Change in Your Business
Most organizations have a strategy, but few are able to align strategic objectives and tactical demands to successfully execute the strategy and drive change. Developing a blueprint of the enterprise that provides a common understanding of the organization is a core component of the strategy execution and transformational change process. The discipline of business architecture allows companies to see where they are, where they want to be, and how to achieve the end goal.
With a Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture, offered completely online by Penn State World Campus, you will be better equipped to help your organization successfully execute its business strategy and better align tactical resources and projects with strategic objectives. You and your team can become a critical resource for the enhanced effectiveness and improved competitive position of your organization.
The Penn State Difference
Penn State World Campus ranked in the top 10 of six categories in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Online Programs, the most of any institution in the country. You can feel confident knowing you are partnering with a proven leader in online education.
Offered in partnership with the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business, this program gives you the opportunity to learn from the same faculty who teach in our resident programs. The program is also AACSB-accredited, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide.
The Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture is a recognized by the Business Architecture Guild, an international, professional association that promotes best practices and expands the knowledge base of the business architecture discipline. Dr. Brian Cameron, faculty director for the Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture, serves as a special academic adviser to the Business Architecture Guild.
Online Curriculum
As a student in the program, you will:
- apply business architecture approaches in the execution of business strategy and facilitation of enterprise change and transformation
- develop and link components of business architecture to create a holistic understanding of the enterprise
- explore the concepts and practical applications of effective enterprise modeling
- develop meaningful representations of real-world aspects of a business, along with how they interact
- delve into barriers that affect disruptive innovation
- investigate emerging trends and disruptors in technology and industry that create new markets and influence product development, business models, and business practices associated with innovation
- understand how business architecture as a discipline is developed and structured as well as current and future trends
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for a wide range of individuals, including 1) business analysts or those working in business analysis who aspire to move into business planning and execution, or 2) professionals in the IT industry who wish to move into a more business strategy–based role within their organization. Students will more than likely being working as:
- business analysts
- business strategy analysts
- consultants
- business managers
- innovation analysts/managers
- project/program managers
- enterprise architects
- solution architects
- business capability and process analysts/architects
- information/data architects
- IT architects
Information for Military and Veterans
Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, or application instructions.
Courses
This 9-credit online certificate will help you understand the framework for structuring and understanding business, information, and technology and how they work together to achieve strategic and tactical goals.
Students in the program can typically complete the certificate on a part-time basis in less than 12 months.
All courses are asynchronous, meaning you are not required to log in at a particular time each week. Optional synchronous discussions will be available throughout the semester for those students who prefer a higher level of engagement.
Courses are structured to allow you to complete weekly assignments when and where it's most convenient for you. While courses are autonomous, you will have the opportunity to interact and engage with your classmates through integrated experiences. This peer-to-peer interaction enhances your learning experience while strengthening your professional network on a global scale.
Required Courses (select 9 credits)
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Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,017 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,203 per semester |
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
This program is now accepting applications. Your application will be reviewed when all of your portfolio items have been submitted. Materials must be received by:
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. International applicants must also satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
GPA and Test Scores — GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the final two years of undergraduate studies or in your most recent graduate degree is required.
GRE or GMAT test scores are NOT required.
English Proficiency (International Applicants Only) — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Vita or Résumé — A one- to two-page listing of your professional experience and education.
Statement of Purpose — Describe how your professional experience and goals align with the Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture. Please do not exceed 500 words.
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose "Certificate Admission" as the enrollment type
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
- Choose "Business Architecture" as the certificate
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.
Contact Us
Learn more about the Business Architecture Certificate, offered in partnership with the Penn State Smeal College of Business.
For questions about the curriculum or the status of your submitted application, contact:
Penn State Smeal College of Business
Office of Professional Graduate Programs
220C Business Building
814-865-5290
[email protected]
For general questions, contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Penn State Smeal Advantage
More options, greater flexibility and a commitment to lifelong learning
The desire for knowledge and professional growth spans a lifetime. That is why the Penn State Smeal College of Business offers a portfolio of professional graduate programs for all stages of your career. In partnership with Penn State World Campus, Smeal makes it easy to customize a learning plan to your unique career aspirations and busy schedule. Penn State Smeal offers you a lifetime of learning with more concentrations and one of the most integrated, flexible offerings of online and residential programs in the United States.
An entire team dedicated to your success
Personal advising — Our experts will explain the many options that Penn State Smeal offers and will help you refine your career strategy and craft the educational experience best suited to your interests. It all starts with a simple, but critical question: “What are your goals?”
Career coaching* — Our Alumni Career Services team will support you across all career stages with professional advancement opportunities and coaching to help you stay focused on achieving your goals.
Delivering the best of online and in-person learning for a rich educational experience
We understand that today’s professional learners want meaningful discussion and interaction with faculty and classmates along with the technologies and flexible approaches of contemporary online learning. By aligning the best of both worlds, we bring richness, depth, and diversity to the overall educational experience.
Courses designed to engage and motivate the professional student
Creative Teams consisting of a lead faculty member, a Teaching Support Specialist (TSS), and an Instructional Designer use advanced analytics to develop and deliver contemporary graduate courses that promote application and engagement. We strive to innovate in ways that others don’t.
A real-world perspective
- Industry professionals inside the virtual classroom — Many of Penn State Smeal’s courses feature industry professionals who have been in the trenches and work hard to make an impact every day. These individuals, most of whom hold a Smeal graduate degree, partner with our renowned faculty to provide a rich academic context with real-world application.
- Global immersion* — This unique, optional experience will enhance your ability to communicate cross-culturally, adapt to evolving business environments, and manage the risks and benefits of operating on a global scale. Any student pursing a full degree from Smeal may participate in this optional, faculty-led experience for elective credit. Previous destinations have included Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Prague, Czech Republic; Santiago, Chile; and Zagreb, Croatia.
One of the largest and most influential networks in the country
At Penn State, you are part of a worldwide community of instructors, learners, and more than 750,000 alumni who support one another and make a meaningful impact.
More than 90,000 Smeal alumni benefit from connections around the globe as well as networking events, podcasts, webinars, a powerful LinkedIn community, and opportunities for volunteerism.
Impact Smeal Day — This day provides alumni and professional graduate students with the opportunity to come to campus and interact with current students, network with other alumni, gain professional insights, and hear about college initiatives. The day is designed so that you can sign up for the sessions that work for your schedule.
* Services are available only to students and alumni of Penn State Smeal’s degree programs and online degrees led by Smeal and delivered through the World Campus. Students and alumni of online graduate certificates are not eligible to receive these benefits unless they are also enrolled in a degree program.