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Undergraduate Certificate inEnterprise Resource Planning with SAP

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Extend your knowledge and stand out in a competitive job market by studying online to learn the essential business management functions of SAP, the leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Apply by May 5 to start May 13

9 Credits$626/$671 per credit

Gain Enterprise Resource Planning Skills

  • Earn specialized experience with modules in SAP ERP.

  • Understand how decisions in purchasing and materials management, operations planning and control, information systems, and ERP and business processes play a role in an organization’s success.

  • Use master and transactional data to execute a set of complex tasks associated with common business processes (i.e., procurement, fulfillment, and production).

  • Apply an integrative process involving the interaction of multiple common business processes to complete tasks.

The online ERP certificate with SAP is a 9-credit program of study designed to provide you with a foundational knowledge of SAP. To earn this certificate, you must successfully complete all three courses.

The hands-on use of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning system is an integral component of the course work. You will complete numerous lab projects both individually and in teams to work through assignments using the SAP logistics, materials management, and other applications to gain practical experience with many SAP functions.

The courses within this certificate program aim to provide students with a foundational knowledge in SAP software solutions to help them prepare for a professional SAP certification exam.

Required Courses (9 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    A problem-based, interdisciplinary course on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) concepts to help you understand the integrated software modules used to run virtually all business processes in an organization. This course explains and demonstrates in detail how business processes such as sales logistics, production/material management, procurement, and human resources are supported in an ERP software package.

    • Prerequisite

      MIS 204 or first-level programming course or with permission from the program

  • 3
    credits

    Gain detailed information on planning and control systems for business operations, including aggregate production planning procedures, disaggregation methods in hierarchical production planning, sales and operations planning, master production scheduling, material requirements planning, production activity control, lot-sizing, and capacity planning.

    • Prerequisite

      SCM 301

    • Note

      This is a unique version of this course, supplemented with SAP–specific course work and may only be taken through World Campus to count toward the certificate; transfer credit will not be considered, including from another Penn State campus.

  • 3
    credits

    Focuses on materials management and purchasing policies, procedures, and goals, including the role of purchasing in production planning and inventory management.

    • Prerequisite

      SCM 301 or SCM 310

    • Note

      This is a unique version of this course, supplemented with SAP–specific course work and may only be taken through World Campus to count toward the certificate; transfer credit will not be considered, including from another Penn State campus.

SAP Functions Covered by Course

Through exercises and lab assignments, you can learn how to perform the following SAP functions in each of the respective courses.

MIS 404 SAP Functions

  • Creating and maintaining new customer records and sales orders
  • Generating shipping labels
  • Tracking sales order shipments
  • Identifying invoices against sales orders
  • Creating customer, sales order, and accounting reports
  • Locating and documenting customer and sales order information
  • Creating and maintaining new material (product) records
  • Creating Bill of Materials (BOM) records
  • Creating and maintaining new vendor records and standard purchase orders
  • Retrieving specific human resource data (recruitment, training, event management, personnel master data, etc.)
  • Financial accounting

SCM 445 SAP Functions

  • Creating Material Masters (finished goods, in-house production, and raw material)
  • Creating Bill of Materials (BOMs) and material routings
  • Creating work centers and capacity profiles
  • Production planning — maintaining forecasts
  • Creating independent demand
  • Maintaining Material Requirements Planning (MRP) ordering parameters
  • Executing MRP and Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
  • Maintaining inventory-related parameters
  • Releasing manufacturing orders to production
  • Creating product groups
  • Developing rough-cut capacity profiles
  • Developing aggregate production schedules utilizing rough-cut capacity planning
  • Disaggregation of product group production schedule

SCM 460 SAP Functions

  • Creating Material Masters (raw material)
  • Creating new vendors, purchase orders, purchasing requisitions, and contracts (blanket purchase orders)
  • Converting requisitions to purchase orders
  • Creating information records (to link material to vendors and set pricing)
  • Processing Request for Quotes (RFQs) and vendor quotes
  • Processing shipping notifications
  • Processing releases (purchase orders) against contracts
  • Processing goods receipt transactions (receiving goods into inventory)
  • Processing advanced shipment notifications, vendor invoices, and payments
  • Set-up and execution of MRP reorder point planning
  • Warehouse management process steps

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.

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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.

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

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From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Job Titles Related to This Degree

Companies in a variety of industries all over the globe use SAP software solutions. As a graduate of the ERP certificate with SAP program, you can prepare for positions such as:

  • SAP data analyst
  • SAP support analyst
  • database administrator
  • computer systems analyst
  • budget analyst
  • program manager

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by May 5 to start May 13. How to Apply 

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2023–24 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$626 per credit$671 per credit
12–19$7,602 per semester$8,206 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

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.

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.

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements, select “World Campus” as the location on the tuition site.

Who Should Apply?

This certificate program is a good choice for you if you are completing a degree in, employed in, or planning to work in the following fields:

  • business management

  • operations analysis

  • project management

  • computer software

  • information systems

  • supply chain management

SAP University Alliances

Obtaining an ERP certificate with SAP is a great way to extend your knowledge, stand out in a competitive job market, and make yourself a more valuable resource to the more than 183,000 employers and businesses who use SAP software solutions.

SAP® is the leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Companies — large, small, and midsized — rely on SAP software solutions to better manage their business intelligence, operations planning, and purchasing and materials.

To best use their SAP solutions, companies in industries such as business operations, information systems, project management, or supply chain management want people with ERP certifications using SAP software.

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Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). If you plan to take a heavy course load, you should expect your course work to be your primary focus and discuss your schedule with your academic adviser. 

To Finish Your Certificate in Less than a Year

  • Take 1–2 courses each semester

To Finish Your Certificate in One Year

  • Take 1 course each semester

 

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

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Apply by May 5 to start May 13

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

  • Summer Deadline

    Apply by May 5 to start May 13

  • Fall Deadline

    Apply by August 18 to start August 26

  • Spring Deadline

    Apply by January 1, 2025, to start January 13, 2025

Steps to Apply

  1. To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED.

    If you are already enrolled in a World Campus degree program, you can complete this certificate along with your degree program.

    If you are not enrolled in a World Campus degree program, you may still pursue this certificate as a nondegree student. Students pursuing a stand-alone certificate are classified as nondegree. (Nondegree students do receive full college credit for all courses taken in nondegree status; however, financial aid is not available to nondegree students.)

    Applicants must have already completed 60 credits of course work to be eligible. Unofficial transcript(s) and course descriptions from previous institution(s) are required for evaluation. You will be instructed how to provide your transcripts after you submit your application.

    The ERP certificate with SAP has the following prerequisites that must be met before enrollment in the program:
    MIS 204: Introduction to Business Information Systems (3 credits)
    Introduction to the use of information systems in business organizations.

    SCM 301: Business Logistics Management (3 credits)
    Management of logistics/supply chain processes.

    If you have completed college-level courses similar to either or both of the above prerequisite courses, please include a brief note with your transcript(s) that indicates the similar course names and numbers and provides course descriptions. We recommend that you use the official course descriptions listed in your institution's course catalog (typically found on the institution's website). Program faculty will review your transcript and determine if the courses can be substitutes for the prerequisites.

    Applicants who do not meet the prerequisites may take both courses from World Campus. Both MIS 204 and SCM 301 are offered most semesters.

  2. 2. Complete the application.

    Undergraduate Certificate Application

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, email [email protected] or call 814-865-1146.

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Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

For questions about admissions and applications, please contact World Campus Central:

World Campus Central
Phone: 814-865-1146
[email protected]

To learn more about the Undergraduate ERP Certificate with SAP, please contact:

Sourish Sarkar
Associate Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management
Phone: 814-898-6800
[email protected]

The Undergraduate Certificate in Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP is offered in partnership with the Penn State Behrend Black School of Business. You will learn from the same instructors who teach traditional, face-to-face classes on Penn State's campuses across Pennsylvania.

Faculty

  • Ozgun Caliskan Demirag

    • Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • M.S., Operations Research, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • M.S., Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Dr. Ozgun C. Demirag is a professor of operations and supply chain management at the Penn State Behrend Black School of Business. She teaches courses in the areas of supply chain management, operations planning and control, and quantitative methods for business at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research has been published at leading journals in operations and supply chain management. She is a recipient of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows Faculty Research Award and the Penn State Excellence in Advising Award.

  • Kyle Chalupczynski

    • MBA, Penn State Behrend
    • B.S., Management Information Systems, Penn State Behrend

    Kyle Chalupczynski is a lecturer in management information systems at Penn State Behrend. He also teaches systems analysis, introduction to ERP and business processes, supply chain information systems with Oracle, and customer information systems with Oracle. Mr. Chalupczynski has a decade of industry experience, fulfilling various roles on software delivery teams before joining the Black School of Business. As a Certified Scrum Master, he emphasizes the importance of agility and flexibility — not just as it pertains to software development, but across all facets of IT.

  • Sourish Sarkar

    headshot
    • Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech
    • M.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech
    • B.E., Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University

    Dr. Sourish Sarkar is an associate professor of operations and supply chain management. He teaches supply chain management and operations planning (using SAP) for MBA and undergraduate students. Dr. Sarkar’s research interests are inventory and supply chain management and behavioral operations. His research has appeared in the International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, and International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management.

  • Matthew Swinarski

    • Ph.D., Management Science and Systems, State University of New York at Buffalo
    • M.S., Industrial Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo
    • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Clarkson University

    Dr. Matthew Swinarski is an associate professor of management information systems in the Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend. His industry experience includes configuration and service contact management of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Dr. Swinarski's research and teaching areas of interest include IS outsourcing, process improvement, decision modeling with spreadsheets, and ERP systems. His research has been published in top-tier IS journals, including the Communications of the ACM, Decision Support Systems, and European Journal of Information Systems.
     

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by May 5 to start May 13. How to Apply 

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