Introduction to Business Administration

This continuing education program is aimed at employees in organizations and companies who want to learn or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of business management. The knowledge acquired in the certificate program enables you to better assess strategies, structures, and fundamental business processes in your company and to change them sustainably. You will become familiar with key terms and concepts of business management and be able to apply them in your corporate context. This qualifies you for roles in a wide range of business areas in which you need an overall understanding of the various aspects of business management and must repeatedly work professionally with key figures and business administration approaches.

After successful completion and provided the admission requirements are met, the “Introduction to Business Administration” certificate can also be credited toward the master’s degree program “Business Administration – Shaping the Economy Sustainably”. The certificate therefore offers the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in business administration step by step while working.

The certificate requires participation in two modules totaling 10 ECTS from the currently offered module catalog (see “Module overview”).
For each module (5 ECTS each), you should plan for approximately 125 hours of workload:

• 30 to 40 hours of in-person attendance
• 80 to 90 hours for preparation and follow-up work for the module

The required materials are provided to participants by the instructors.

Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate from Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences. It is also possible to take only one module. In that case, you will receive a certificate of attendance.

The modules are offered by Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

The certificate regulations will be available here soon.

Please select two of the following modules if you would like to earn a certificate. Registration for individual modules is made directly via the link provided.

Here you will find the detailed module descriptions offered within this continuing education program by Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences:

Module “Corporate Planning and Analysis”

Business management requires key figures and methods for goal-oriented alignment that reflect the company’s development and form the basis of central decisions. In this module, you will become familiar with the key instruments of corporate accounting and learn to interpret them and assess their impact on business performance. This includes, among other things, cost and revenue accounting, contribution margin accounting, process costing, investment appraisal, and corporate finance. You will learn the most important quantitative methods for supporting business decisions and be able to reflect critically on their use—also against the background of current requirements for sustainable business transformation.

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Lars Petersen
Date: 03.03. – 05.03.2026

Module “Marketing Management”

Digitalization and artificial intelligence have fundamentally changed marketing management. Current marketing trends continuously lead to new technologies, media, and content in marketing communication and brand management. Artificial intelligence offers opportunities in customer relationship management to personalize target group communication, extending to the automated and individualized design of the relationship between companies and consumers. This also raises new questions in marketing ethics. The social and ecological responsibility of companies and consumers influences consumers’ trust in brands and companies. In value-based corporate management, this must be incorporated into marketing and brand management.

Lecturers: Anke Kleim, Jan Lauer
Date: tbd.

Are you interested in the academic continuing education program Introduction to Business Administration? We would be happy to advise you personally!

Prof. Dr. Susanne Blazejewski: 02222 9321-1629

Email: zertifikat_wirtschaft@alanus.edu

• Proof of higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, Fachabitur, vocational training with professional experience, in accordance with KunstHG §41)
• at least one year of professional experience relevant to the field
• International applicants must have sufficient German language skills, both written and spoken

The certificate can also, upon successful completion and provided the applicable admission requirements are met there, be credited toward the master’s degree program “Business Administration – Shaping the Economy Sustainably.” The certificate therefore offers the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in business administration step by step while working.

Please register for the Alanus University modules by email at: zertifikat_wirtschaft@alanus.edu.

You can find the terms of participation here.