Program of Study
This certification is made up of four online, practical courses that build on your problem solving and leadership skills. In the end, you will receive 24 academic credits and your certificate, which show that you have the knowledge to be a courageous leader in your organization.
Most Minerva University CDA students complete the certification in one year of part-time study, but you can also choose to finish it in 24 months. Use the below information to define your graduate education.
75%
of the CDA students who wanted to transfer to the MDA program have been able to do so.


Daeil Chun
"Minerva's MDA program was exceptional. Not only did it focus on big data analysis and statistics, but also combined it with the psychological dimensions of life."
Structure

Choose your path
The CDA is a flexible, part-time program, which means that you get to choose between two defined timelines that dictate how long it will take you to finish the course. For a more expanded version of this course, investigate the Master of Science in Decision Analysis.
The CDA curriculum comprises four practical knowledge courses designed to develop your creative and critical thinking skills and teach you to interact more effectively.
Required Courses

Formal Methods for Analysis and Decision Making

Use mathematical concepts, probability, statistics, and more to learn how to represent situations with a systematic and logical approach. In this class, you will draw from a wide range of real-world issues to use as subject matter for your coursework.

Decision Making in Complex Social Systems

Learn how to understand individuals and groups of people with the goal of interacting with them more effectively. This class sees you using case studies from global contexts to build on your leadership and negotiation skills while also learning to understand yourself and define your goals.

Critical Analysis of Consequential Decisions

Actively engage with examples of consequential decision making to apply your HCs to complex case studies, analyze them, and form solution-driven strategies. By engaging in this class, you will equip yourself with the skills to become an effective leader who can adapt to unexpected challenges.

Frameworks for Evidence-Based Decision-Making

Use data and evidence to define and solve problems, and generate solutions while learning to eliminate cognitive biases when making decisions. In this class, you will learn the frameworks and skills needed to effectively solve complex problems and make critical decisions.

Applications of Scientific Inquiry

Apply scientific methods and design research that tests your hypotheses to make informed decisions. This class sees you taking an interdisciplinary approach to the material you engage with and will have you focusing on topics in both the social and natural sciences that expand your ways of thinking and open up new avenues for problem solving.
Cultural Immersion
Add an immersive experience to your studies with an optional one-week, in-person program. Explore a global location and meet with local leaders in business and government, expand your global professional network, and engage with unfamiliar settings and new cultures. The costs and fees associated with the immersion program include your housing, food, airfare, programming, and transportation to events for a total of approximately $3,000 USD.
Transferring to the MDA
Once you have completed the CDA, you can petition to transfer to the Master of Science in Decision Analysis (MDA) degree and apply the credits you have earned to that degree. If you decide to transfer, you will need to complete the remaining MDA curriculum, which includes two courses and a master’s thesis.
Apply to Minerva University's Certificate in Decision Analysis graduate program and hone the skills to become a creative decision maker and problem solver.
