Online Database Management & Business Intelligence Graduate Certificate
Quicklinks: Curriculum • Faculty • Tuition & Financial Aid • Careers
Database systems are the information heart of modern enterprises, where they are used for processing business transactions and for understanding and managing the enterprise. Business intelligence is the analysis of data to improve management of the enterprise and routine business operations such as intelligent supply chain management.
Students who complete the online Graduate Certificate in Database Management & Business Intelligence will be prepared to design and implement both transaction processing and decision support databases, and to use data mining technologies to discover the structure, trends, and relationships in the data to produce valuable business insights and effective decision support processes.
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Database Management & Business Intelligence will be able to demonstrate:
- Advanced knowledge of database modeling and design, database implementation, distributed databases, object-oriented and object-relational databases, and databases for web applications, as well as typical data mining methods.
- Proficiency in the design, implementation, performance tuning of different types of databases, and in performing data mining tasks on various types of data.
- Competence sufficient to participate in the design and implementation of large, distributed database systems and business intelligence systems.
- Proficiency in identifying and appropriately responding to professional, ethical, and legal issues in data management.
Awards & Accreditations
Newsweek magazine ranked Boston University’s online programs #4 in the nation in its 2023 survey.
Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in Database Management and Business Intelligence?
- Four-course certificate program comprises courses shared by the MS in Computer Information Systems, ranked #10 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Computer Information Technology Programs (U.S. News & World Report 2025).
- Students benefit from a supportive online network, with courses developed and taught by PhD-level full-time faculty and professionals with hands-on expertise in the industry.
- Small course sections ensure that students get the attention they need, while case studies and real-world projects ensure that they gain in-depth, practical experience with the latest technologies.
Meet Dr. Suresh Kalathur, one of the faculty members you’ll work with in the Computer Information Systems program.
Career Outlook
Computer and Information Systems Managers
10% increase in jobs through 2029
$146,360 median annual pay in 2019
Computer and Information Research Scientists
15% increase in jobs through 2029
$122,840 median annual pay in 2019
Computer Systems Analysts
7% increase in jobs through 2029
$88,270 median annual pay in 2017
Database Administrators
10% increase in jobs through 2029
$93,750 median annual pay in 2019
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020
Best Technology Jobs, 2025 U.S. News & World Report
- #1 IT Manager
- #2 Software Developer
- #3 Information Security Analyst
- #4 Data Scientist
- #5 Actuary
- #6 Computer Network Architect
- #7 Operations Research Analyst
- #8 Computer Systems Analyst
- #9 Statistician
- #10 Web Developer
- #11 Database Administrator
- #12 Computer Support Specialist
- #13 Mathematician
- #14 Computer Systems Administrator
- #15 Computer Programmer
By 2018, the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions.
McKinsey & Company
Big data: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Competition, and Productivity, 2011
Money Matters
Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.
Financial Assistance
Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.
Curriculum
Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Database Management & Business Intelligence consists of four required online courses (16 credits).
Academic credits earned toward the online Graduate Certificate in Database Management & Business Intelligence may be transferred to a Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or Telecommunication.
Courses
Admission & Prerequisite Information
Jae Young Lee
Assistant Professor, Computer Science; Coordinator, Databases
PhD, MS, University of Texas at Arlington; BS, Seoul National University (Korea)
Robert Schudy
Associate Professor, Computer Science
PhD, MS, University of Rochester; BA, University of California San Diego
Getting Started
To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.