Leverage analytics and Artificial Intelligence to make strategic decisions and lead cross-functional teams in a data-centric business landscape.
HBAP is an online certificate program designed by the top minds in AI, machine learning, and data analytics. The program is offered jointly by three renowned Harvard schools: Harvard Business School (HBS), the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).
The HBAP curriculum is based on the case method, which is a critical aspect of the Harvard Business School experience. The program is frequently updated to match industry changes and new tech, ensuring learners stay equipped for the evolving world of data analytics. During the program — which covers more than 65 case studies that speak to a variety of real-world business challenges — you will take:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. There is no minimum professional work requirement; however, most successful candidates have significant professional experience. In addition to an online application and a nonrefundable application fee ($75), you will need to submit:
Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you’ve attended
At least one letter of recommendation from a professional contact
A current professional résumé
An essay explaining your goals as they relate to this program
Your Harvard experience may start in the HBAP classroom, but it won’t end there. In addition to career support — such as one-on-one and group career coaching services — you will have access to a range of resources and learning opportunities, such as:
Learning sprints led by industry experts
Beta case discussions with Harvard faculty
The annual HBAP Pitch Competition
Career development webinars and events
There are a number of educational paths to becoming a business analyst. Some people opt to earn a bachelor’s in data analytics or an advanced business analyst degree. Others attend graduate courses, either in class or online, to earn a data analytics certificate. Another way to grow your analytics knowledge is to become certified in a specific niche, such as forecasting and predictive analytics. If you already have significant business analysis work experience (at least 7,500 hours), you may consider becoming a Certified Business Analysis Professional through the International Institute of Business Analysis.
A great business analytics professional needs to be a strong communicator who is able to present findings in a clear and concise manner. They need strong problem-solving skills — informed by logical thinking, predictive analytics, and statistical reasoning — and critical thinking abilities. They should be detail-oriented when working with data, and big-picture minded when making recommendations. They also need to be able to visualize and organize data in a way that’s easy to digest, and be up to date with current technologies like AI and machine learning to understand what this tech can do for their organization.
Business analysts first identify what a business needs to function optimally and what it needs to improve, and then work to implement solutions. This may include improving processes, changing policies, or introducing new technology. Business analytics professionals, on the other hand, focus on data, statistical analysis, and reporting to help investigate and analyze business performance, provide insights, and drive recommendations to improve performance. They focus on improving the product, marketing, or customer experience by using data insights.
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