Enterprise Resource Planning Graduate Certificate

Application Requirements for Graduate Certificates

Application Form - Apply Online. - You will not submit academic documents or letter of recommendation information with the application for admission. The Graduate School of Business will send you an email outlining how to activate your Applicant Center in UA Connect to upload documents and recommender information. Please allow up to five business days for email notification. 

Application Fee (non-refundable) - A $60.00 application fee must accompany application materials. The fee must be made payable to the University of Arkansas in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank. The application fee is non-refundable and no application will be processed without the fee.

Résumé - A current résumé is required. Be certain that your résumé indicates your full-time and part-time employment history, extracurricular collegiate, professional, and community activities, honors and awards, and foreign language proficiency.

Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded for initial review, but official transcripts must be received to finalize any admission offer. Official transcripts from each college or university you attended, undergraduate and graduate, are required. Course work completed at one institution and posted on the transcript of a second institution is not acceptable. A transcript from the original institution is required (this includes summer course work, exchange programs, etc.). Official transcripts must be received in sealed envelopes.

Letters of Recommendation - Three letters of recommendation are required in support of your application. *One should come from an individual who is familiar with your scholastic record and one should come from an individual who is familiar with your professional performance. The third letter can be from either a second academic or professional reference or from someone who knows you well and is familiar with your potential as a graduate student.Letters of recommendation are confidential, and will not be released to the applicant.

*Students applying to the Executive MBA, Professional Master of Information Systems, or the Enterprise Systems Graduate Certificate Programs can submit three professional letters of recommendation.

Statement of Purpose - Please provide a thoughtful essay response to the following questions. Please limit your response to two pages, double spaced. 

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How will the master’s degree program you wish to complete help you achieve these goals?

You are welcome to include any unique events, life experiences, and qualifications you feel distinguish your candidacy as well.

You will gain focused knowledge and hands-on experience in a high-demand area of information systems. Whether you are interested in managing and leveraging your organization’s data resources using analytics, integrating and optimizing your organization’s processes using ERP, or transitioning into a career in the information systems field, you will be exposed to enterprise computing platforms and real-world data sets that will give you a competitive edge.

Nearly every course involves hands-on experience with one or more enterprise computing platforms and/or real-world data sets. Enterprise platforms include IBM (z13/DB2/zLinux), Microsoft (SQL Server/BI Studio/Visual Studio), SAP (FI/MM/SD/PP/SM/BI/ABAP), SAS (Enterprise Guide/Enterprise Miner), and Teradata (SQL Assistant/Warehouse Miner). Data sets have been provided from companies such as Sam’s Club, Dillard’s, Tyson Foods, and Acxiom.

These are credentialed certificate programs approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Additionally, the curriculum for each program has been reviewed and endorsed by one of our enterprise computing partners. Students who complete a certificate program may be eligible to receive a certificate endorsed by Microsoft (Enterprise Information Systems), SAS (Business Analytics – additional project requirement applies), or SAP (Enterprise Resource Planning).

Yes. The courses are offered as graduate-level classes by the Sam M. Walton College of Business, an AACSB accredited business school. Up to 12 hours of graduate credit received during one of these programs may be applied towards a 30-hour MIS degree program, which may be pursued part-time or full-time. Credit earned in the IT Toolkit course may not be applied toward MIS degree requirements.

No. Undergraduate GPA and work experience will be considered. If you choose to pursue the MIS program after completing your certificate, the GMAT or GRE may be required at that time.

The program is offered in a weekend/online delivery format with face-to-face meetings approximately one Saturday per month. Certificate programs take between 9 and 12 months to complete, depending on your program, start date, and desired pace. In order to complete a program in the shortest amount of time, the following start dates are suggested:

• Business Analytics Certificate: Begin in August, finish in May (9-12 months)
• Enterprise Resource Planning Certificate: Begin in May, finish in May (12 months)
• Blockchain Enterprise Systems Certificate: Begin in May, finish in May (11 months)

Yes. Each program involves 3 required courses and 1 elective. If an alternate elective is desired, you may consult the program advisor.

Yes, access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection is required for all courses in the program. A laptop will be required for in-class exercises in some courses. A web cam, headset, and microphone will be required for synchronous online class meetings.

• Enterprise Resource Planning Certificate: May 1st
• Blockchain Enterprise Systems Certificate: May 1st
• Business Analytics Certificate: July 1st

Students entering our certificate programs are expected to have: an undergraduate degree from a 4-year institution; experience using Microsoft Windows and Office (Word, Excel, Access) software; and an aptitude and passion for learning and working with technology