Â鶹ÊÓƵ Badges
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s new badges offer flexible, focused learning opportunities designed to help you build practical skills that make an immediate impact. Each badge is a short, intensive program centered on a specific area of professional growth, from data analytics and generative AI to sales, marketing, and project management.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your résumé, gain a competitive edge in your career, or explore new professional interests, these programs provide accessible, affordable pathways to learning. Badges can be completed in person at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East or online via Zoom, making it easy to fit career-boosting education into your schedule.
Unlocking Business Insights with Data Analytics
This course introduces the fundamentals of data analytics and its value in today’s workplace. Participants will learn how to transform raw data into insights that guide strategy, improve operations, and support effective decision-making. Emphasizing real-world application, the course covers essential tools, techniques, and case studies while building confidence in interpreting trends, creating visuals, and communicating results. No advanced technical background is required—just an interest in using data as a practical resource for professional success.
Key Highlights
- The role of analytics in business strategy
- Data collection, cleaning, and preparation
- Descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
- Data visualization and storytelling with dashboards
- Applications of analytics in accounting, finance, marketing, and supply chains
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Nov. 4, 6, 11, and 14, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East and online via Zoom
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Suneel Maheshwari, Dr. Veronica Paz
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)
The AI Advantage: Harnessing Generative Tools for Business Success
Generative AI is reshaping business by automating tasks, improving decision-making, and fueling creativity. Participants will explore how AI tools can support customer engagement, content creation, financial modeling, and strategic planning. Practical demonstrations and real-world examples highlight responsible and effective use, with an emphasis on hands-on applications rather than coding. By the end, students will be able to identify opportunities where generative AI adds value and apply it confidently within their professional context.
Key Highlights
- Introduction to generative AI and large language models
- Enhancing productivity with AI-driven writing and analysis tools
- Applications in accounting, finance, marketing, HR, and supply chain management
- AI-powered decision support and scenario planning
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Nov. 12, 14, 19, and 21, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East and online via Zoom
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Suneel Maheshwari, Dr. Veronica Paz
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)
Professional Sales
Modern professional selling is examined as both a business strategy and a persuasive communication tool. Participants will study the entire sales process from organizational, employee, and customer perspectives, gaining practical experience in personal selling, sales planning, presentation delivery, and relationship building. Key topics include territory management, recruiting, training, and compensating sales teams. The course also highlights relationship marketing, professional standards, and the evolving role of sales in today’s business environment, preparing students with foundational knowledge for success.
Key Highlights
- Personal selling techniques, including customer prospecting, demonstration, presentation, negotiation, closing, and follow-up.
- Sales management responsibilities such as recruitment strategies, motivation and training techniques, compensation practices, leadership styles, and sales force structure.
- Ethical issues, as well as professional image, verbal and nonverbal communication, and communication styles.
- Learning will be enhanced through hands-on experience with role-play exercises regarding sales task situations pertaining to the topics described above.
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Oct. 21, 23, 28, and 30, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Lisa Sciulli
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)
Digital Marketing
The Digital Marketing Certificate builds skills in today’s most in-demand strategies and tools, preparing learners to launch or advance a career in the field. Key topics include digital communications, social media campaign planning, content marketing, and online consumer engagement. Hands-on projects and case studies provide practical experience with platforms such as Google, Facebook, Adobe, and LinkedIn. From managing paid campaigns to analyzing performance metrics, participants gain the ability to deliver measurable results and build a portfolio that demonstrates readiness for digital marketing roles.
Key Highlights
- Digital marketing fundamentals
- Search marketing and PPC
- Social media marketing (platform-specific strategies for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Email marketing
- Digital marketing analytics (web analytics and performance measurement)
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Oct. 22, 24, 29, and Nov. 5, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East and online via Zoom
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Krish Krishnan
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)
Lean Six-Sigma
Lean Six Sigma combines Lean management principles with Six Sigma’s data-driven framework to improve processes. This course introduces concepts such as continuous improvement, waste reduction, and the DMAIC cycle, showing how they work together to boost efficiency. Participants explore tools like value stream mapping, process mapping, and statistical process control, along with methodologies including Kaizen, 5S, and Kanban. Through theory and practice, students gain problem-solving skills and strategies for sustainable improvement. Upon completion, participants earn a certificate recognizing their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles and tools.
Key Highlights
- The DMAIC framework
- Lean principles and the Eight Wastes
- Demystifying methodologies such as Kaizen, Jidoka, Kanban, 5S, Poke Yoke, etc.
- Process mapping and value stream mapping
- Basic statistical tools for Six Sigma
- Root cause analysis techniques
- Implementation and sustainability strategies
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Oct. 27, 31, Nov. 3, 7, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East and online via Zoom
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)
Project Management
The Project Management Certificate equips participants with skills to plan, execute, and close projects. Covering the full lifecycle, it explores defining goals, managing resources, assessing risks, and engaging stakeholders. Participants learn both traditional methods (Waterfall) and agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban), applying them in real-world contexts. Emphasis is on practical tools and techniques to achieve the triple constraint—delivering projects on time, within budget, and to quality standards. Ideal for professionals in any industry, this certificate builds a strong foundation in project management and enhances career readiness.
Key Highlights
- Project management fundamentals
- The project lifecycle
- Project planning and scheduling
- Resource and budget management
- Risk and quality management
- Stakeholder communication
- Introduction to Waterfall and Agile Framework
Course Information
Schedule: 5:00–8:00 p.m., Nov. 10, 17, 18, and 20, 2025
Number of Hours: 12
Location: Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pittsburgh East and online via Zoom
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Ramesh Soni
Outcome: Badge
Cost: $600; Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni ($500); Â鶹ÊÓƵ Employees ($400); Â鶹ÊÓƵ students ($300)