This is the first version of the 2023–24 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The professional Certificate in Business Fundamentals requires 15 s.h. of credit. Students must earn a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 in certificate coursework.
The certificate is open to individuals with a desire to complete the certificate to build core business skills. Students who have completed the business fundamentals certificate may use the certificate courses to fulfill degree requirements if admitted to the Professional MBA Program.
The certificate is designed to introduce students to the core principles of business. Coursework covers select disciplines within business—accounting, analytics, finance, managing organizations, marketing, and strategy. Students gain knowledge and develop skills that will immediately strengthen their performance as employees and managers. The certificate is comprised of Professional MBA Program courses, allowing students to benefit from the same coursework and faculty members as MBA students.
Certificate courses are regularly offered online and may occasionally be offered at two locations in Iowa: Cedar Rapids at the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Center and Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC); see program locations on the Tippie College of Business website.
The Certificate in Business Fundamentals requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| MBA:8110 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA:8120 | Management in Organizations | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| or BAIS:9100 | Data and Decisions | |
| MBA:8300 | Foundations in Strategy | 3 |
If students waive any of the required courses based on already-completed coursework, they will need to take another approved course from the list above in its place to earn the certificate. If students are waived from two courses, they should take the other four courses from the list above and choose between MBA:8160 Managerial Economics or MBA:8240 Operations and Supply Chain.
Certificate/Graduate Degrees
Students can pursue a professional Certificate in Business Fundamentals concurrently with their graduate degree. With graduate program approval, students may count up to 9 s.h. from the professional certificate toward their graduate degree. With approval from the professional certificate program, students may count up to 3 s.h. from any graduate degree program toward their certificate. Students should contact their degree program and the certificate program to work out combined program details. Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program.
Admission decisions are based upon completed application materials, including academic performance and quality and quantity of work experience. View Graduate Certificates Admissions on the Tippie College of Business website for specific guidelines.
Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or must have a successful admission interview. In place of the TOEFL, the certificate program accepts satisfactory International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. See English Requirements for MBA Admission on the Office of Admissions website.
Applications are accepted throughout the year; admission is for summer, fall, or spring entry.