Six Sigma Certificate

Graduate Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate

Graduates of many advanced degree programs will be asked to champion organizational efforts to improve performance in some area. These activities are referred to as Process Improvement or Continuous Improvement initiatives that are the focus of Six Sigma methodology. It is not unusual for management in any organization to want to improve performance even if Six Sigma is not a formal program within the company. A Green Belt is the first professional level of recognition for individuals trained in Six Sigma. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is the national certification society for all Six Sigma levels of accomplishment. ASQ offers a four-hour exam to obtain a lifetime Green Belt certification. Application for the exam requires three years of work experience in process improvement activities. Since this requirement is not met by some students, KSU offers a unique Green Belt certificate for students taking select Master of Science in Applied Statistics (MSAS) courses.

The certificate available to students is called “Graduate Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate” issued by Kennesaw State University and approved by the University System of Georgia. Receipt of this certificate is noted on a student's official transcript. This is one of the only upper-level Green Belt certificates available throughout the United States. Other Green Belt certificates are not as comprehensive as this KSU certificate and are typically not at the graduate level. Some students receiving the KSU certificate have elected to take the ASQ exam and have a very high pass rate.

The courses required for the certificate address the ASQ Body of Knowledge (BoK) used for their exam:

  • STAT 7100 - Statistical Methods
  • STAT 7110 - Quality Control and Process Improvement
  • STAT 7140 - Six Sigma Problem Solving
  • STAT 7220 - Applied Experimental Design

Some substitutions from other graduate programs are possible with approval of the MSAS Program Director. Collectively, these courses and the certificate provide students with evidence that they have been trained in effective process improvement and problem-solving methodology.

Coles MBA students can pursue this certification by completing the four courses listed below:

  • MGT 8490 - Managing Process Improvement
  • MGT 8860 - Managing Project Activities, Teams and Resources
  • STAT 7140 - Six Sigma Problem Solving
  • STAT 7220 - Applied Experimental Design

Three of these courses (MGT 8490, MGT 8860, and one STAT course) fulfill electives in the MBA program. The other stat course must be taken out-of-load at an extra cost.

If you have questions about the Graduate Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, please contact Dr. Victor Kane (vkane@kennesaw.edu).

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