Online Business Information Certificate

Certificate Overview

Earn your business information systems certificate online

You know technology is the future — your future. Build technical skills with CSU's nine-credit Graduate Certificate in Business Information Systems. The program is designed for people who work with information technology (IT) departments, have clients or customers in technology fields, or who want a broad introduction to information systems. You will learn:

How businesses manage information to function more efficiently, effectively, and profitably.
How to determine information needs of a company and specify the requirements for systems that support business processes.
How to harness vast data stores to solve problems, enhance decision-making, and discover new opportunities.
How information systems can support business functions.
How to analyze the organizational consequences of IT and the factors in successful and failed IT projects.

Gain the skills to implement and manage technology within organizations

This program understands that a tool is only as good as its user and prepares students to strategically implement technology within organizations. In addition, students come away with a robust understanding of the latest data analysis tools in the industry, including:

Knowledge of the emerging field of business intelligence (BI) – its capabilities, role in decision making, and various vendors – through hands-on experience with popular BI technologies and tools.
Managerial-level understanding of infrastructure, applications, and data.
Strategic management of technology and IT projects, using case studies to analyze project management issues and making decisions.

Study online from wherever you are

Courses, offered in a convenient online format, are taught by College of Business Department of Computer Information Systems faculty, and are designed to provide industry-specific knowledge relevant to conducting business in various technical environments. Students in CSU's certificate in business information systems study with the same faculty, and earn the same certificate, as students on campus.

Apply credits toward your master's degree

This certificate can be a companion to the computer information systems master's degree. The credits completed as part of this online certificate may be applied toward the degree after formal admission per University transfer policies with a grade of B or better in each course. However, successful completion of the courses or certificate does not guarantee admission to the degree program.

Tuition Benefits

The Colorado State University College of Business offers special tuition benefits for the following:

Colorado residents are eligible for a 5% tuition benefit. Please note that a Colorado address does not automatically equate to residency. Connect with your enrollment counselor or academic advisor to confirm eligibility.
Active military, honorably discharged veterans, military spouses, and military dependents are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.
Corporate partners may qualify for 10% off the cost of tuition. Reach out to CSU’s admissions team to learn if your company offers a corporate partner tuition benefit.
Alumni of CSU Fort Collins are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.

Curriculum

Select 9 credits from the following:

CIS 570– Business Intelligence (3 cr.)
CIS 600A– Project Management: Information Technology (3 cr.)
CIS 601– Enterprise Computing and Systems Integration (3 cr.)
CIS 676– Information Technology Management (3 cr.)

Program total credits: 9

Admission to a business graduate program and/or additional coursework may be required to meet prerequisites. Contact the department for more details.

You must be admitted to this program for the certificate to appear on your official University transcript.

How to Apply

Application Deadlines

Fall semester	July 31
Spring semester	January 1

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

1 Review Admission Requirements

Graduate certificate applicants generally must meet or exceed the following criteria:¹

An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution in any field
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from your most recent degree completed²
International applicants: minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores³

While we encourage our students to meet the minimum criteria, failure to meet one may be offset by strengths in other areas, as determined by the Graduate Program Committee.
Please submit an academic performance explanation if your GPA was lower than 3.0.
A minimum Internet-based TOEFL score of 86 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or a minimum of PTE score of 58 is required for all certificates except Accounting Ethics and Auditing, which requires a minimum Internet-based TOEFL score of 95 or minimum IELTS score of 7.0.

2 Complete Online Application

Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.

Choose "Business Information Systems (Certificate) – Distance" when choosing the Program of Study. (Note: You must first select "Certificate" at the top.)

3Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript from the institution where you earned your bachelor’s degree. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.

Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.

Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.

Mail (if necessary):
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and notify you of their decision.

For International Applicants

Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about English language proficiency requirements.