Important Notice:
Effective September 1, 2025, the names of several courses in this program will change:
XBUA 10016 Requirements Gathering (formerly Specify and Model Requirements)
XBUA 10020 Perspectives and Methodologies (formerly Business Analysis Perspectives)
XBUA 10018 Planning and Monitoring (formerly Plan and Manage Business Analysis Work)
XBUA 10017 Strategy Analysis (Strategic Business Analysis)
These changes do not affect course content or graduation requirements. If you have any questions, please contact us at conted@mtroyal.ca.
Format
8 required courses (120 hours)
Delivery
Classroom, Online | Learn more
Duration
Complete in 4 months, or up to 3 years
Business analysis is the practice of defining needs and recommending solutions, allowing organizations to change, add value and meet the needs of stakeholders.
Qualified business analysts are in demand. With our lean and focused Business Analysis Certificate program, you can apply your new knowledge right away.
Business analysts enable change by defining business needs and recommending solutions that deliver value. They also manage requirements and support continuous improvement efforts for organizational success.
Learn how to create solutions to problems with our Business Analysis Certificate. Our courses are taught by instructors who work in the industry and follow the BABOK® Guide v3. Whether you want to revitalize your existing BA skills or gain entry into this fast-growing field, our courses provide real-world learning you can use. Flexible and affordable, the eight courses in this certificate can be taken in a format that best suits your needs.
With support from our experienced instructors, discover best practices, proven tools and industry-recognized techniques to analyze needs and solutions. Build knowledge to recommend strategies and support stakeholder collaboration. Model, analyze, communicate and manage requirements and other business analysis information.
Multi-level, competency-based certification is awarded through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®). Certification is increasingly recognized as the benchmark of excellence for the business analysis professional. For an overview of certification requirements and upcoming Calgary Chapter events, please visit the IIBA®website.
Mount Royal University is proud to be an IIBA® Academic Partner. All courses in the Business Analysis Extension Certificate program automatically qualify towards the professional development hours required for IIBA® certification or recertification. Each course is worth 15 continuing development units (CDUs) towards IIBA credentials.
Highlights and benefits
Earn a recognized credential | Enhance your career prospects
Become career-ready | Prepare for a career as a business analyst
Real-world knowledge | Learn from experienced industry professionals
Earn PD hours | Earn professional development hours towards IIBA certification or recertification
Putting education to work
Recent Business Analysis graduate Kim Sauter says continuing education helped her find confidence after a career transition. Sauter is working as a business analyst with a team of project managers, subject matter experts and other analysts from agencies across Canada on the nationwide launch of next-generation 9-1-1.
Read Kim’s story
Interested in project management?
Project managers make business analysts’ solutions happen. Consider our Project Management Extension Certificate to gain the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to manage complex projects.
View program
Information session
Join us for a free information session from noon to 1:00 p.m. MST on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 to learn about the Business Analysis program, and speak with staff and an instructor.
Register nowCourse schedule
Course schedule by semester
| Fall (Sept. - Dec.) |
Winter (Jan. - April) |
Spring/Summer (May - Aug.) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| An Overview of Business Analysis | CL/ON | CL/ON | ON |
| Requirements Gathering | CL/ON | CL/ON | ON |
| Business Process Modeling | ON | CL/ON | ON |
| Strategy Analysis | ON | ON | CL/ON |
| Facilitation Skills for Business Analysis | CL/ON | ON | CL/ON |
| Planning and Monitoring | ON | CL/ON | ON |
| Develop a Business Case | ON | ON | CL/ON |
| Perspectives and Methodologies | CL/ON | ON | CL/ON |
Legend
BL: Blended (Online & Classroom)
CL: Classroom
FT: Fast Track
ON: Online
IDS: Independent Study
P: Practicum
This schedule is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration is available in June; Winter schedule and registration is available in November; and Spring/Summer schedule and registration is available in March.
Career opportunities
To learn more about the role of a business analyst, check out the IIBA's "What is a Business Analyst?" webpage for a detailed breakdown.
To view business analysis-related job postings currently available in Canada, please visit Indeed.ca.*
*The job opportunities posted on the above website are provided solely for the student's information. Mount Royal does not endorse, screen or evaluate these opportunities and has no control over the accuracy of the postings or the quality or safety of the opportunities advertised. It is the student's responsibility to investigate these opportunities to ensure that they are appropriate and meet the student's expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this program intended for?
This program is intended for beginner to intermediate business professionals looking to gain foundational business analysis knowledge and skills. Students may currently be in a BA role and looking for formalized training, wanting to transition into a BA role, or working closely with BA professionals. The skills acquired throughout this program can be applied to your professional business environment.
Will I be a Certified Business Analyst when I complete the program?
No. A Certified Business Analyst is an individual that has achieved a relevant IIBA® designation (e.g. ECBA®, CCBA®, CBAP® and CBATL®). These are internationally recognized professional designations awarded to individuals that have shown proficiency in Business Analysis through a combination of work experience and academic training. MRU is an IIBA Academic Partner and all of our Business Analysis courses meet the specific criteria for the formal training required for these designation programs.
Once you have completed our program you will have a credit-free Extension Certificate in Business Analysis which provides practical foundational training in Business Analysis and can be used to meet the academic requirements for all four designation programs.
For complete details on the designation and qualification process please refer to the IIBA® website.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
No, each course is designed to stand alone, but we suggest you start with XBUA 10015 An Overview of Business Analysis.
How will I be graded in each course?
Each course has several graded assignments. These assignments vary per course; however, they are all designed to assess the outcomes of each course. These assessments include, but are not limited to, group projects, discussion board posts, short answers and quizzes. Please note that for in-class courses you may be required to complete an assignment in the evening between classes or online after the last day.
How many hours am I expected to work on each course?
You should plan to access your D2L course site at least 3 times per week. Depending on the course, you can expect to spend approximately 6 hours per week reading material, completing learning activities or assignments, and attending Google Meet sessions.
Is attendance required for Google Meet sessions?
If you take a live, online course, attendance at Google Meet session(s) is mandatory. If you take an online course, the session is not mandatory, but it is recommended. Attending Google Meet sessions allows you to get to know your instructor and classmates and provides you with the opportunity to ask questions about content, assignments or due dates.
How many courses can I take at a time?
You can take as many courses as your schedule will allow. There are no restrictions on the number of courses you can take at one time. You may be eligible for a 5% discount if you register for 3+ courses in a term.
Will I get a job once I'm done the certificate?
While having a professional certificate will certainly put you in a favourable position when looking for employment, there are many factors to consider for each individual that it would be impossible to pre-determine your employment success. Our graduate statistics have shown that a significant percentage of past students have experienced a measurable increase in salary, responsibility, and/or activity after completing our programs.
Will Mount Royal help me locate career opportunities?
No, Mount Royal does not have a system in place to assist students with career opportunities upon completion of our certificate. However, there are periodic job postings advertised on our website.
Additional information
Refer to CE Student Information for more information.
Program questions?