ASU and Cognizant create custom digital business consulting curriculum

Cognizant, a leading provider of information technology, consulting and business process services, and Arizona State University are partnering to co-design a digital business analyst certificate program and a new curriculum designed to prepare emerging professionals for in-demand digital economy careers in consulting. 

Launching in the spring 2019 semester, the new 12-week certification program will be offered through ASU Continuing and Professional Education, taught by ASU faculty with support from Cognizant Consulting professionals. The course bundle will be delivered online with mixed lecture methods, focusing on developing consulting hard and soft skills. The curriculum will address the fundamentals of business analysis, project management, digital enterprise, information technology life cycle, agile frameworks, business modeling and other key topics, as well as providing career coaching.

“Collaborations like this are one of the reasons ASU has been ranked the most innovative university in America by U.S. News and World Report the past four years," said Amy Hillman, dean of ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business. "The curriculum for the new Digital Business Analyst certificate program was co-developed by the school’s Department of Information Systems in tandem with Cognizant Consulting professionals. ASU and the W. P. Carey School are constantly engaging corporate partners to better align our offerings with what skills and expertise the marketplace and employers are seeking. This program is a natural extension of that thinking, and as it becomes successful and scalable, I would expect others to follow the standard set by Cognizant.”

Students who complete the program will have the opportunity to interview for open positions within Cognizant Consulting. 

“This new partnership with ASU is one of the many initiatives Cognizant has underway to support education and skilling of America’s workforce for digital economy careers," said Chell Smith, senior vice president at Cognizant Consulting. "Our Cognizant Consulting team is particularly excited about this new program, and the opportunity to work with talented professors and students at ASU — and ultimately to expand our team with individuals completing the program.

“We know, with the custom curriculum based on skills employers truly need for the digital economy, the graduates will be ready to hit the ground running. Business analysts play a vital role in the digital transformations that Cognizant and others are delivering for businesses every single day, and this partnership is intended to help individuals take the first step toward what we believe will become successful consulting careers.”

In 2019, ASU plans to accept at least 100 qualified program applicants into the program at no cost; full tuition and fees will be underwritten by Cognizant. 

Apply for the program online.