12-16-2024
In the world of business analysts, one certification stands above the rest — INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP). The CAP certification serves as “a vendor and technology-neutral testament to superior competency in the seven domains” of the analytics process.
Ordinarily reserved for analysts with experience in their field, INFORMS offers the associate CAP (aCAP) test to entry-level professionals, but about ten university master's programs offer curriculum with the content and rigor to allow every graduate to demonstrate such mastery without taking the CAP certification test. The Daniels School's Master of Business Analytics and Information Management (MSBAIM) program is one.
It's all part of the Daniels School's commitment to providing each student with industry-recognized credentials, enhancing readiness for a career in business analytics that require both technical acumen and strategic insight.
With “aCAP preferred” on a growing number of job listings, early-career analysts like Akanksha Singh see it as an added benefit of their Daniels School degree. “It’s a good piece of certification to build credibility. It says you know the basics of the seven domains. It also provides a lot of community, mentoring and networking,” says Singh (MSBAIM ’24), who now works as a senior consultant at Ernst & Young.
The associate CAP certification, developed by INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences), is a foundational credential in analytics that verifies an individual’s knowledge and competence in analytics and data science principles. It’s ideal for recent graduates and early-career professionals who are building their resumes. Earning the aCAP signals that an individual has mastered essential analytics skills and is ready to contribute to data-driven decision-making in various industries.
Recent or up-and-coming graduates would ordinarily study extensively for the rigorous test to demonstrate they can meet a range of criteria in business problem framing, analytics problem framing, data gathering and data cleaning methods, methodology selection, big data modeling, solutions deployment and lifecycle management. Because those principles are taught, reinforced, and measured in the Daniels School MSBAIM curriculum, INFORMS designates the program’s graduates as aCAP certified upon graduation.
According to Gary Mercado, academic director for the MSBAIM program, this feature of the MSBAIM program offers a distinct advantage to Daniels School students. “The only thing our students need to do is complete the program … graduate from Purdue, and they will get the aCAP,” he says. This seamless integration of the aCAP certification eliminates the need for students to pursue the certification independently, saving them time and simplifying their transition into analytics careers.
This automatic certification reflects Purdue’s dedication to embedding industry standards directly into the educational experience. By structuring the MSBAIM program to meet the competencies and requirements of the aCAP, Purdue ensures that its students graduate with a credential that verifies their readiness for entry-level roles in analytics and business intelligence.
“In the analytics space, the caps (domains) are basically your steps on solving any analytics problem,” says Singh. So, in a “subject like data mining, which is one of our core subjects, where we do have a project at the end of the course, we can use A7 caps to be able to break down the problem into smaller pieces or puzzles. In Machine Learning, which was an elective, but again a very technology driven subject, we use these seven caps to be able to further break it down into those seven pieces and ensure we're looking at the problem accurately.
For students seeking roles in business analytics and information technology, the aCAP certification can make a significant difference in how they are perceived by potential employers. In today’s job market, candidates with verified analytics credentials stand out in hiring pools, especially those entering analytics and data science roles in industries like finance, healthcare, and technology. Employers view aCAP certification holders as capable, industry-aligned professionals, which can lead to enhanced job prospects, higher starting salaries and greater potential for career growth.
Mercado also emphasizes the importance of soft skills alongside technical proficiency, noting that Purdue’s program prioritizes both aspects. “Opportunities to gain soft skills are very important,” he says. “Some of these [students] put too much emphasis on the technical side, but softer skills are the ones that will allow you to go to the second round of interviews.” This dual emphasis on hard and soft skills, coupled with the aCAP certification, gives Daniels School graduates an empowering, practical advantage.
In addition to the aCAP certification, the MSBAIM program provides students with experiential learning opportunities that mirror real-world analytics challenges. Students work on case studies, collaborate on projects with partner companies, and take part in practical applications that deepen their analytical, data visualization, and machine learning skills. By the time they graduate, students have accumulated a portfolio of projects that demonstrate their abilities, which combined with their aCAP certification, strengthens their resumes and signals their readiness to employers.
Singh and her peers participated in poster competitions coordinated with their industry practicum. They took their posters to the annual INFORMS conference.
“The posters that we designed were split across the seven domains, so we had seven sections defining or breaking down our problems and solutions,” says Singh. Her team created a video to communicate their findings to industry clients and to fellow professionals, first in the Daniels School poster competition, then at the INFORMS conference.
Not only does the certification give them a framework for tackling problems, but also a shared language for communicating solutions to business partners. “It’s a very nice plug-and-play to use with any clients,” says Singh, who uses those skills broadly with her EY clients.
This hands-on experience is central to Purdue’s teaching philosophy, which emphasizes the applicability of classroom learning to industry needs. wWith the INFORMS aCAP certification now embedded in the MSBAIM program, students gain even more robust validation of their competencies as they enter the workforce.
The partnership with INFORMS elevates Purdue’s profile in the fields of analytics and information technology. As a leader in analytics and operational research, INFORMS sets high standards in data science and analytics. Collaborating with an organization of INFORMS' caliber not only enhances Purdue’s program but also aligns the university with thought leaders and best practices in the analytics field. This relationship between the Daniels School and INFORMS expands networking opportunities for students, gives them access to resources and events hosted by INFORMS, and ongoing curriculum updates to keep pace with industry trends.
If you would like to receive more information about pursuing a business master’s at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, please fill out the form and a program specialist will be in touch!
