Business Analytics Advanced Certificate

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Eitel J.M. Lauría, Ph.D.
(845) 575-3610
Eitel.Lauria@marist.edu

The 12-credit Advanced Certificate in Business Analytics is aimed at helping professionals gain expertise in accessing and manipulating data, and applying analytical techniques to extract information from data and use it to predict future trends and behavior patterns. Students who complete the Advanced Certificate in Business Analytics develop expertise and skills in the areas of Data Management, Decision Making, Statistical Data Analysis, Management Science, Business Performance Management, Data Mining and Predictive Analytics. The field of business analytics has grown significantly over the last few years, providing business users with better insights from operational data stored in transactional systems. Business analytics stands today as one of the most strategically important fields in corporate information technology. Executives analyze sales trends and customer purchase patterns to improve their marketing strategies and better target customers with product offers and advertising. Students of the Advanced Certificate in Business Analytics acquire hands-on experience with cutting-edge analytical methods and software tools, leveraging the use of information technology to help improve decision making. The Certificate consists of a four course sequence (12 credits) that suits the needs of a broad audience of individuals in business, science, and technology across a wide range of domains. The list includes strategy managers, researchers (physics and engineering, social science, medicine), business analysts and consultants, IT professionals, advertising and marketing professionals, health care administrators and finance professionals. The program is offered in traditional and online format.

All courses taken in the certificate program are graduate IS courses and may be later applied to the IS graduate degree program provided the grades earned are B or better. However, because of the more comprehensive nature of the IS master’s program, admissions requirements are more rigorous and additional technical competency may be gained through taking some prerequisite courses. Specific requirements would be identified when admission to the IS master’s program is requested.

Students generally carry two courses per semester, and take a calendar year to complete the certificate.

Certificate Requirements

The Advanced Certificate in Business Analytics is obtained upon satisfactory completion of four courses (12 credits) from the Graduate Information Systems program as follows:

MSIS 537L - Data Management 3 Credits
MSIS 545L - Intro to Data Analysis and Computational Statistics 3 Credits
MSIS 637L - Decision Support Systems 3 Credits
MSIS 645L - Data Mining and Predictive Analytics 3 Credits

Suggested Course Sequence

Assuming two courses per semester:

MSIS 537L - Data Management 3 Credits
MSIS 545L - Intro to Data Analysis and Computational Statistics 3 Credits
MSIS 637L - Decision Support Systems 3 Credits
MSIS 645L - Data Mining and Predictive Analytics 3 Credits

Admissions Requirements

Admission is based on prior academic performance and potential, a commitment to professional development, and demonstrated professional/leadership growth, as determined from the various documents submitted.

In addition to the application materials addressed in the Admissions to Graduate Programs section of the General Information section of this catalog, applicants to the graduate program in Information Systems must submit the following:

a current résumé;
a written summary of technical or professional non-credit course training;
a written statement which outlines the applicant’s career objective(s), the reason(s) for selecting Marist’s Advanced Certificate in Business Analytics, and the applicant’s personal and professional expectations from the program;
optionally, at the graduate director’s discretion, two letters of recommendation may be required.

Students admitted on a non-matriculated basis are permitted to take three credits of course work. Upon completion of three credits, they will receive matriculated status if they have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA. All other prerequisites for matriculation must be met prior to receiving matriculated status. A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to obtain the certificate.

Computer Science/Software Development and Information Systems Faculty

CHRIS ALGOZZINE Senior Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, 2015. Degrees: B.S., Computer Science, Marist, 1989. M.S., Information Systems, Marist, 1995. Specialties: Management Information Systems, Project Management

SANDHYA ANEJA Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Delhi University,,India 2012. M.Tech.Computer Applications Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India 2002. M.Sc. Mathematics M.D.University, Rohtak, India 1997. Specialties: Specialties: Data Communications and Networks. Cybersecurity

JUAN ARIAS Senior Professional Lecturer of Computing Technology. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Penn State University. M.B.A. in Finance/Management, Stern School of Business, New York University. M.Sc. in Computer Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar. B.S. In Computer Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar

GISSELLA BEJARANO: Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Science, State University of New York Binghamton, 2021. M.S. in Computer Science, State University of New York Binghamton, 2017. B.S. Informatics Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. 2010: Specialties: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning.

ROBERT M. CANNISTRA Distinguished Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, Information Technology & Systems, 2002. Degrees: B.S., State University of New York at Brockport; M.S., Marist College. Specialties: Data Communications and Networks

RONALD COLEMAN Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology, 2002. Degrees: B.S., City College of New York; Ph.D., Polytechnic University. Specialties: Algorithms, Software Development, Distributed Computing

CASIMER DECUSATIS Associate Professor of Information Technology & Systems and Director of Cybersecurity Education, 2014. Degrees: B.S. Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University; M.S. Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D. Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Specialties: Cloud Computing, Fiber Optical Networking and Wavelength Multiplexing, Data Communications, Software-Defined Networking, Network Function Virtualization, Cyber-Security

DOMINICK FOTI Professional Lecturer of Computing Technology. Degrees: B.S. SUNY, The University of Albany. B.A. SUNY, The University of Albany M.B.A. SUNY, The University of Albany. M.S. Information Security and Digital Forensics, SUNY, The University at Albany. Specialties: Vulnerability Management, Cyber Deception & Adversary Engagement, Behavioral Aspects of Insider threats, Cybersecurity Risk management

BRIAN GORMANLY Senior Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science, Marist College; B.S. in Computer Science, Mount Saint Mary College. Specialties: Robotics, Mobile Computing, Software Development

JAMES HELMREICH Associate Professor of Mathematics, 1992. Degrees: B.A., Bowdoin College; M.A., University of Maryland; Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.S., SUNY Albany. Specialties: Statistics, R, Pedagogy

MATTHEW A. JOHNSON Senior Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, 2007. Degrees: B.S., State University of New York at New Paltz; M.S., State University of New York at New Paltz. Specialties: Web Programming, Unix/Linux Operating Systems & Administration, Computer Graphics

MARILYN KIENZLE Senior Professional Lecturer and Director of Enterprise Computing Education. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science/Information Systems, Marist College. M.S. in Biotechnology/Bioinformatics, Johns Hopkins University. B.S. in Mathematics, Marymount College. Specialties: Enterprise / mainframe computing

ALAN G. LABOUSEUR Professor of Computer Science, 2003. Degrees: B.S., Marist College; M.S., Pace University; Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany. Specialties: Software Development, Database Systems, Internet-enabled Applications

EITEL J.M. LAURÍA Professor of Data Science & Information Systems, and Director of Graduate Programs, 2002. Degrees: Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina); M.B.A., Universidad del Salvador (Argentina) / Universidad de Deusto (Spain); Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany. Specialties: Data Science, Data Management, Decision Support Systems, Data Mining & Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, Learning Analytics

CATHY MARTENSEN Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering Concentration, Marist College. B.S. in Computer Science, Marist College. Advanced Teaching Certificate in Secondary Mathematics Education, Pace University

CAROLYN MATHEUS Interim Dean of the School of Computer Science & Mathematics, and Professor of Information Systems, 2009. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A., Marist College; M.S.C.S., Marist College. PhD., State University of New York at Albany Specialties: Organizational Studies, Management Information Systems

ROGER NORTON Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Director of External Relations, 1980. Degrees: B.S., University of Massachusetts; M.A., Brandeis University; Ph.D., Syracuse University. Specialties: Semantics of Programming Languages; Object-Oriented Programming; Distributed Computing; Grid Computing

REZA SADEGHI Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: B.S. Isfahan University of Technology. M.S. Imam Reza International University. PhD., Wright State University. Specialties: Data Analytics and Machine Learning, Modeling Complex systems with Graphical Models, Deep Learning and Fuzzy Logic

DONALD R. SCHWARTZ Associate Professor of Computer Science, 2013. Degrees: B.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, M.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ph.D., University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Specialties: Software Engineering, Database, Service Learning

ANDREW P. TOKASH Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. Degrees: M.S. in Information Systems, Marist College. BA, Empire State College, Saratoga Springs. Specialties: Networking

BOWU ZHANG Associate Professor of Computer Science, 2015. Degrees: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Ph.D. in Computer Science, The George Washington University. Specialties: Distributed Systems, Machine Learning, Data Science