Graduate Certificate in Business Administration - D'Amore-McKim School of Business

To succeed in a business environment redefined by data and technology—and to seize the promising opportunities created by change—you need a redefined set of skills that fully meet the moment. When you earn your Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from D'Amore-McKim, you'll build a foundation of knowledge that will make you a more resilient and agile business leader in challenging times. Tailor your coursework to align with your career goals and gain a graduate credential you can leverage right away.

Graduate Certificate in Business Administration Program Overview

Program Structure: 12 credits online, and 12–15 credits in Boston
Class Schedule: Monday–Thursday evenings at 5:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m, or 100% online
Time to Complete: 4 or 8 months when studying full-time; 8 months–3 years when studying part-time; 8 months–2 years when studying online

Unique Features

Gain essential business knowledge that you can use immediately at work or in pursuit of a new opportunity
Complete your certificate in as little as four months, with the flexibility to choose a longer course of study
Build your confidence and experience through applied project work and case studies—key components of Northeastern's practice-oriented approach to learning
Build the foundation for a future master's degree from Northeastern—you may be able to apply your certificate credits toward an eligible master's degree or MBA

My work with IDEA [as a venture coach] is very organic. It's not like a class, it's more about conversations. You learn a lot from seeing the venture entrepreneurs at work. Seeing young undergraduates have the courage to pitch in front of a whole investing committee—that's something I take pride in. Teaching them how to do that is pretty amazing.
Pedro Gomes, GCBA'16, MBA'18

The business learning you need

Dive Deeper

Are graduate business certificates worth it?

Graduate certificates can be a worthwhile investment as they can enhance specific skills, boost career advancement opportunities, and offer flexible, cost-effective education. These programs are ideal for professionals seeking targeted knowledge without the commitment of a full degree, which in turn provides networking opportunities and the potential to stand out to employers in a short-term timeframe. Learn more about the benefits of a graduate certificate, what earning a graduate certificate entails, and if pursuing one might be the right fit for you.

Learn more about certificates →

Graduate certificate vs. master's degree: what credential is right for me?

Exploring graduate education options is an important step towards advancing your career, gaining specialized knowledge, and enhancing your professional qualifications. If you're contemplating graduate-level education, you may be weighing the benefits of pursuing a graduate certificate versus a master's degree. Learn more about these distinct types of graduate credentials, their key differences, and the pros and cons of each option.

Learn more about the difference →

Curriculum

The Business Administration Certificate is taught in five unique formats—choose the one that best fits your life and career goals. Depending on which you select, you'll take either a required core curriculum or a customized grouping of courses that meet your specific needs.

In all formats, you'll be learning from world-renowned faculty—many of whom are industry leaders, leading consultants, or founders of startups—and you'll study alongside a diverse group of students with a mix of industry and academic backgrounds.

Enrolled students should reference the academic catalog for current program requirements.

EXPLORE the CURRICULUM

explore the online curriculum

Choose your format

8-Month International Student Cohort Curriculum

Join a growing global community in this full-time, 8-month program tailored to meet the needs of international students.

Build-Your-Own Curriculum

No one knows your professional aspirations better than you. The option to design your own curriculum allows maximum flexibility in your course selection and pacing.

Part-Time MBA Path Curriculum

Gain the foundational skills you need to make an immediate impact on your career, while earning credits that you may apply to a future master's degree.

Online Curriculum

Customize your graduate-level learning experience by selecting courses for your certificate from our Online MBA program.

Experience-Powered Learning

Experience is the signature feature of a Northeastern education. Your Graduate Certificate in Business Administration courses will include applied project work that strengthens your collaboration and problem-solving skills. Some of your learning will happen outside your formal curriculum—take advantage of these non-credit opportunities to expand your knowledge base.

Bloomberg Business Lab

Access almost any piece of information you need about global markets and business using the powerful research and analysis tools leveraged by the financial services industry.

DATA Club

Participate in real-world data challenges to strengthen your skills and connect with a powerful network of like-minded students as you explore data's infinite applications.

Picture of a screen with many forms of data

Data KIPS

Join a supportive network of students and engage in peer-to-peer mentorship to apply data to strategic business decision-making. Participate as an expert or as a member.

Emalie Hermans and Bailey Kane, both college of engineering students graduating in 2019, work in the IDEA lab in Hayden Hall

IDEA Student-Led Venture Accelerator

Get comprehensive support to bring your big idea to market—or volunteer to coach budding startups on finance, marketing, or business strategy.

360 Huntington Fund

Apply to join the management team of a real mutual fund. You'll learn invaluable skills in an environment that no simulated fund exercise can match.

Career Outlook

The D'Amore-McKim Graduate Certificate in Business Administration prepares you for leadership roles in most industries. This program builds your expertise and deepens your knowledge to prepare you to lead with impact. Combined with relevant work experience, your graduate certificate may position you for roles like human resources manager, sales manager, financial manager, business consultant, operations manager, or executive director. Our graduates are recruited by companies of all sizes, from startups to multinational organizations.

Plan a successful career with genuine support

Dedicated career support through our Graduate Career Center

Tap into the extensive career planning tools and the deep understanding of the job market that our Graduate Career Center offers. Attend events, build your network, forge connections with fellow students, staff, and faculty, and hear insider insights from employer partners

visit the career center site

Build your network

A strong professional network can help you develop and improve your skillset and stay on top of the latest industry trends.

Access on-demand career related content

Prepare for your future through a structured, self-paced module in Career Management, hosted by the Graduate Career Center.

Explore job postings

The Graduate Career Center connects our exceptional and diverse graduate students and alumni with employers looking for skilled job candidates.

Get job search ready

Our Graduate Career Center has collected extensive resources to help you navigate the job market and grow the career of your dreams—now and after graduation.

Meet some of our students

Entrepreneur benefits by stacking her certificate to earn an MBA

“One of the most positive aspects of the classes at D'Amore-McKim has been the opportunity to learn from others with different educational backgrounds and experiences than my own.”

Leveraging a graduate certificate as a stepping stone to an MBA

“Northeastern and the Part-Time MBA Path are helping to make my goals come to life!”

Becoming a leader through student-led venture accelerator

“I'm a Venture Coach… In the IDEA program, we help entrepreneurs do product validation, prepare a business plan, pitch their idea, and think as an entrepreneur.”

Customizing her path to an MBA

“I learned more about different countries and their approaches to business and solving problems. It was helpful to understand how people across the world think about business.”

More student experiences

Admissions

Interview required? Upon request.
English language proficiency: English proficiency, both written and verbal, is necessary for success in D'Amore-McKim classrooms. For more information, review our admissions policies.
GMAT Required? No.
Where do I apply? Learn more here.
Eligible for International Student Visa? This program is F-1 visa compliant for full-time study on our Boston campus.
Performance-Based Admissions: Option to skip the application process and use your performance from two initial courses to secure your place. Available for the online study only. Apply using this application.
Is a graduate business certificate worth it? Learn more here.
Graduate certificate or a master's degree? Explore what business credential is right for you here.

Application Deadlines	Decision Notifications	Classes Begin
Sept. 26, 2024	Rolling Basis	January
Oct. 24, 2024*	Rolling Basis	January
Dec. 5, 2024	Rolling Basis	January
Jan. 9, 2025	Rolling Basis	September
March 27, 2025**	Rolling Basis	September
May 15, 2025	Rolling Basis	September
June 26, 2025	Rolling Basis	September
Aug. 7, 2025	Rolling Basis	September

*Oct. 24, 2024 deadline is the final deadline for international candidates who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa for a January start for eligible full-time programs
**March 27, 2025 deadline is the final deadline for international candidates who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa for a September start for eligible full-time programs

Online Graduate Certificates

Application Deadlines	Enrollment Deadlines	Classes Begin
Aug. 12, 2024	Aug. 19, 2024	September
Sept. 30, 2024	Oct. 7, 2024	October
Dec. 9, 2024	Dec. 16, 2024	January
Feb. 3, 2025	Feb. 10, 2025	February
April 14, 2025	April 28, 2025	May
June 9, 2025	June 30, 2025	July

Tuition

Northeastern Student Financial Services publishes the tuition rates for Graduate Certificates. Under the “Graduate Programs” section, the cost per credit appears next to “D'Amore-McKim School of Business Programs.”

Financial Aid

Northeastern offers resources to help you finance your graduate education, and the Student Financial Services team will guide you through your options. Please visit the Graduate Financial Aid page.

Once you are a student, your financial aid advisor will work with you one-on-one to answer your questions, point you to resources and provide valuable insight as you navigate the financial commitments of your program.

Scholarships

Northeastern University has a variety of scholarships. As a graduate certificate applicant you may be eligible for the Full Circle Scholarship. You may also qualify for funding support as an alum, U.S. servicemember, or veteran.

Application Fee Waivers

D'Amore-McKim offers application fee waivers to applicants that meet specific criteria. You can review the policy on the Graduate Application FAQ web page.

The D'Amore-McKim community believes that understanding and solving problems requires constant interaction among people who bring different contexts and experiences to the conversation.

We value uniqueness, recognize the power and importance of belonging in our own and surrounding communities, and ensure engaged participation. Numerous student groups and campus resources focus on building dynamic communities.