Certificates offer skills training in high-demand fields: bioinformatics, data science, health care informatics, senior living, and sustainability and well-being
(UW-System submission) UW Extended Campus, in partnership with University of Wisconsin System campuses, will offer five new online certificates aligned with industry needs and high-growth occupations in September 2021. The new programs include graduate-level, semester-based certificates in Applied Bioinformatics, Data Science, Senior Living and Services Leadership, and Sustainability and Well-being; and an undergraduate-level certificate in Health Care Informatics, offered in the UW Flexible Option competency-based format.
All 13 UW System campuses are participating in at least one certificate program. UW Extended Campus, in collaboration with the universities, makes advanced education possible through flexible, online programs that combine the diverse expertise and resources of UW campuses and faculty.
“UW Extended Campus is a flexible, convenient education option for adult learners or anyone who wants to study at their own pace for whatever reason,” said UW System President Tommy Thompson. “These new certificate programs will make additional learning available to more people.”
Certificate requirements vary from four to six courses. It is possible to earn a certificate within one year; however, students may decide to take longer to complete a certificate based on work and life commitments. Like other UW Extended Campus programs, students pay the same tuition whether they live in Wisconsin or out of state.
The certificates provide skills training for professionals seeking career advancement in health care, technology, and business occupations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32 percent from 2019 to 2029, and employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Coursework completed in the certificate programs offer an optional pathway to bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered through UW Extended Campus.
“Programs managed by UW Extended Campus are designed for working adults and professionally oriented students,” said Aaron Brower, executive director of UW Extended Campus. “What I love about these programs is that they meet students where they are—they engage students in learning that fully connects their lives to the world.”
The new certificates join a growing catalog of flexible, online degree and certificate programs designed for adult learners offered in collaboration with UW Extended Campus and UW System campus partners. Students with a variety of work, education, and life experience have found success in UW Extended Campus programs.
Prospective students seeking more information about the UW Extended Campus certificates are encouraged to visit the website, uwex.wisconsin.edu, call 1-608-262-2011 or 1-877-895-3276, or email learn@uwex.edu.
About UW Extended Campus
The University of Wisconsin System is one of the largest and most widely respected public higher education systems in the country. UW Extended Campus partners with all UW System campuses to offer online degrees and certificates, as well as continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities. Through UW Extended Campus, people of Wisconsin and beyond can access university resources and engage in online learning, wherever they live and work—fulfilling the promise of the “Wisconsin Idea.”
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 165,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.
