Graduate Certificates Online Programs

What are the advantages of considering graduate certificates online programs? Why are graduate certificates programs important, and how can they boost your career?

It is important for a student to have adequate knowledge about the variety of graduate certification programs that are offered by different universities, and how they may be used to enhance one's career. But what are graduate certificates online all about? Generally, graduate certificate programs are focused and short programs of study whose purpose is to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in a particular discipline or area of specialization. A broad spectrum of graduate certificates are offered by accredited colleges and universities both online and on campus. Programs offered vary depending on the college one is enrolled in, but may include grant writing and grant management, healthcare management, monitoring and evaluation, accounting, business management, psychology and counseling, education, and many areas in the arts and sciences. Students pursue this options in order to increase both their skills and knowledge as well as to open up additional career options.

Graduate Certificates Online Programs

Strayer University

• Exec Grad Cert: Acct: Accounting
• Exec Grad Cert: Acct: Accounting Info Sys
• Exec Grad Cert: Acct: Controllership
• Exec Grad Cert: Acct: Taxation
• Exec Grad Cert: Bus Admin: Acquisition
• Exec Grad Cert: Bus Admin: Human Resource Mgmt
• Exec Grad Cert: Bus Admin: Management
• Exec Grad Cert: Bus Admin: Marketing
• Exec Grad Cert: IS: Networking
• Exec Grad Cert: IS: Software Engineering

Northcentral University

• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Advanced Accounting
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Criminal Justice
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Electronic Commerce
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Financial Management
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Health Care Administration
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Homeland Security: Leadership and Policy
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Management of Engineering & Technology
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Project Management
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Business - Public Administration
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Curriculum and Teaching
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - E-Learning
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Educational Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - ESL
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Exceptional Student Education
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Global Training and Development
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Higher Education Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Instructional Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Organizational Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Psychology - Gender Diversity
• Certificate of Advanced Graduation Studies in Education - Athletic Administration
• Certificate of Advanced Graduation Studies in Education - Early Childhood Education
• Certificate of Advanced Graduation Studies in Education - International Education

DeVry University

• Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis
• Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management
• Graduate Certificate in Accounting
• Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management

Kaplan University

• Business Management Certificate
• Certificate in Financial Planning
• Financial Planning Certificate - Accelerated
• Project Management Certificate - Accelerated
• Graduate Certificate in Human Resources
• Project Management
• Six Sigma Certificate
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Organizations
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management
• Graduate Certificate in Accounting
• Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship for Growth Ventures
• Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship for New Ventures

Walden University

• Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education

Post University

• Certificate: Graduate Certificate in Corporate Innovation
• Certificate: Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship
• Certificate: Graduate Certificate in Marketing
• Certificate: Graduate Certificate in Leadership

Graduate Certification Education and Training

Graduate certificate programs range from 12 to 21 credit hours, and are designed to allow graduate students to take courses in the area that they wish to specialize in, in order to enhance their academic and professional development and experience. This might mean taking courses for a few extra semester up to to a period of two years depending on how one is progressing along in the program. Graduate certificates online that are often pursed include:

• Various areas in education such as educational research methods
• Substance abuse under counseling
• Gerontology certification under human services
• Project management certification, Six Sigma, and human resource management under business

Graduate certificates online may also be an ideal path for students who do not wish to pursue a master’s degree or doctoral degree, and may serve as an option for the student who already have one or more advanced degrees and just want to increase their credentials in their field. Courses in certificate programs also often earn graduate credits that may be applied toward another graduate degree program.

This of course is a short list but it gives us an idea of how broad graduate certificates online programs are. There are a various ways that students can approach the graduate certificate. In addition to pursuing a master or PhD in their chosen field, students can also enroll in stand-alone graduate certificate programs. Students who do this do so with the goal of both personal and professional development. In some graduate programs, certificate course credit may be applied toward a graduate degree.

As with most graduate programs of study, students must achieve and maintain a a cumulative GPA of 3.0. This is often the equivalent of a B average. As an example, if you are pursing a doctoral degree in educational leadership, you can take additional coursework in educational research methods and simultaneously earn a cognate in that area of study. The curriculum in graduate certificates online itself provides you up-to-date information on what is current in your field. This may include both theory and practical information.

It could be pertaining to the undergraduate course studied. Masters of engineering, masters in science, and masters in arts are different varieties of the graduate certificates programs. There are universities out there that do offer these graduate certificates online but one certainly needs to do some research and comparison before deciding on their best option.

Careers with Advanced Studies

When you have successfully completed the graduate certificates online and passed out as a postgraduate you gain social respect in the very first place when you move in the society. Jack-of-all-trades is master of none.

It is unlikely that one would be highly specialized in all areas of their field, thus the common approach is to select an area to specialize in. For example for those in the business profession, pursing a certificate in project management or Six Sigma certification may be worth considering if one wishes to to advance in higher management positions.

The courses studies give you the general idea about the stream in which you have passed out and you could successfully enter into a company with that knowledge as a fresher. On the other hand, when you hold an advanced degree as well as a graduate certificate, you are particularly skilled in a specific area, and companies will target you for your expertise. This specialization along with a few years of hands on experience in the trade from a reputed company can fetch you great career path ahead.

Estimated Income and Projected Career Outlook

While one's income would be likely be based on various factors that include one's current salary, the average income in one's field, geographic location, and years of professional experience, a graduate certificates online can broaden the income range from $5,000 to $25,000 annually. Over time, this adds to percentage base increase and in turn a higher income bracket.

Graduate certificates online programs and MBA certification programs