Professional Studies Graduate Certificate

This highly flexible graduate certificate can be completed in one academic year. It is designed for students who want to enhance their knowledge and better compete for career opportunities in their chosen field.

In the professional studies certificate program, you’ll take graduate-level courses to enhance your knowledge in areas that are valued by employers or required for a master’s or doctoral degree. Completion of the certificate will make you “job ready” and competitive for employment or graduate school. 

Certificate Requirements

Students complete 15 units of required course and electives chosen in coordination with their adviser or graduate program director. Coursework includes LBPS 601, a required writing course, and three electives chosen to expand skills in a competency area.

Course Code Title units
LBPS 601  APPROACHES TO GRADUATE RESEARCH 3
PRWR 6XX Professional Writing Elective 3
Electives Coursework chosen from competency area 9

Electives

Examples of competency areas include: 

  • Nonprofit Leadership
  • Research-related Skills
    • Applied Statistics
    • Research Methods
  • Advanced Writing
  • Policy
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • Human Resource Skills
  • Website Development
  • Any field of study that requires prerequisite coursework such as mental health, AIT or business

Read more about certificate requirements in the Graduate Catalog.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

View information about admission requirements and deadlines to apply to the program.

Completing a Master’s Degree

Students who wish to continue on and complete a master's degree can do so through the Professional Studies (M.A.). In addition, courses completed through the graduate certificate may be applied to another graduate program upon acceptance into that program and approval of the graduate program director.  

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