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Professional Development Certificates

With classes taught by seasoned industry professionals in downtown Chicago as well as online, the University of Chicago Graham School offers a broad variety of certificates for professionals seeking to launch, change, or accelerate their careers.

Why a UChicago Professional Certificate?

Drawing on resources and talent from one of the world’s great universities, our professional development certificates provide exceptional opportunities for professionals seeking to advance in their careers while building their professional network. As industries evolve, so do our certificates. Our instructors and academic advisory councils continually build upon our curriculum so our students stay current with today’s ever-changing demands.

Current students and alumni of our Professional Development Certificates have access to our alumni network, an opportunity to join our Student Advisory Board, and graduates of most of our certificate programs may take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship Program.

Learn More About the Professional Student Experience

Downtown Chicago NBC Tower and Gleacher Center
Clinical Trials Management and Regulatory Compliance

Clinical Trials Management and Regulatory Compliance

Use real-world case studies to reinforce the foundational knowledge that will accelerate your career in clinical research.
Conscious Leadership and Team Management

Conscious Leadership and Team Management

Designed for emerging leaders, supervisors, and managers seeking introductory skill development in team management and leadership growth
Data Analytics Certificate for Business Professionals, Data Analytics Certificate Online

Data Analytics for Business Professionals

Improve your evidence-based decision-making skills in online classes that combine case studies with statistical software tools.
Digital Marketing and Integrated Communications instructor in classroom

Digital Marketing and Integrated Communications

Get essential training across a range of marketing disciplines designed to give you new ideas and help you make professional connections.
Editing

Editing

Secure foundational skills while discussing the latest trends and technologies to help prepare you for a career in the publishing industry.
Financial Decision Making

Financial Management and Decision-Making

The Financial Management and Decision-Making certificate gives professionals the opportunity to earn the skills necessary to make the financial decisions at the core of any business.
Medical Physics

Medical Physics

Year-long CAMPEP-accredited Postgraduate Certificate. This program is designed to help students with PhDs in physics transition to a medical physics profession.
Medical Writing and Editing for medical writers. Learn how to become a medical writer

Medical Writing and Editing

The Medical Writing and Editing certificate is designed to teach students the fundamentals and best practices of crisp, clear, sophisticated medical writing and editing, and medical communication.
Project Management, certificate in project management, project managers certification

Project Management Certificates

Build upon your experience with two certificates that teach students the technical and interpersonal skills required in the field. Earn your certificate with the Graham School and apply your new skills to your current position.
Professional Development News
News from our network.
Professional Development students talking
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Hear from Our Students
Our students and alumni talk about the applicability of the skills and expertise they gain through our professional development certificates.
Tyeisha Spruiell discusses the financial decision making certificate.
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Alumni Scholarship Program
Our alumni scholarship program allows graduates of the Graham School certificate programs (except for Essentials of Project Management) to receive a 20% scholarship. Please contact us to verify your eligibility and ask any questions you may have.
Professional Development student in class

 

Student Advisory Board

The Professional Development Programs Student Advisory Board (PDPSAB) is composed of current students and alumni from across all certificate programs who meet throughout the academic year and advises Professional Development staff on issues of concern, plans events for their peers, and create a collaborative certificate community.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the PDPSAB to learn more about the student experience. If you are a current student interested in learning more about the PDPSAB or joining the board, please email pdpsab@lists.uchicago.edu. Members serve for at least one academic year and meet monthly. All active students and alumni are eligible to join the board, including distance-learning students who attend the monthly meetings remotely.

Connect with Our Alumni

Our team is working to create a network to keep track of where our students work after they finish the program. We are also looking to build connections and create networking opportunities within the certificate community.

Join Our Alumni Network *

* For Alumni of our certificate programs only.

Alumni Scholarship Program

Our alumni scholarship program allows graduates of the certificate programs (except for Essentials of Project Management) to receive a 20% scholarship on:

  • Any single certificate course that does not require a prerequisite
  • Any additional full certificate program: every course of the program (Program application is required; application fee will be waived)

Please contact us at PDPAlumni@uchicago.edu to verify your eligibility and ask any questions you may have.

Career Resources

Professional Development students can take advantage of networking events.

Learn More About Career Resources *

* For current students and alumni of our certificate programs only.

95% of our certificate alumni said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall academic quality of our certificates

95% of our certificate alumni said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall academic quality of our certificates.

94% of our certificate alumni said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the caliber of our instructors

94% of our certificate alumni said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the caliber of our instructors.

 

Professional Development student work experience: 1-5 Years: 33%; 6-10 Years: 20%; 11-15 Years: 16%; 16+ Years: 31%

82% of our alumni said their certificate positively impacted their career

82% of our alumni said earning their professional development certificate positively impacted their career.

93% of our alumni said they had a positive experience as a professional development certificate student.

93% of our alumni said they had a positive experience as a professional development certificate student.

 

quick facts: OUR Students' Work Experience

Our students choose to earn a certificate at any point in their career. Whether they are seasoned professionals or recent graduates, our alumni surveys consistently report that obtaining a certificate from the University of Chicago positively impacted their career.

Student Years of Work Experience

  • 1-5 Years: 33%
  • 6-10 Years: 20%
  • 11-15 Years: 16%
  • 16+ Years: 31%

Primary Motivation

quick facts: PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR ENROLLING IN A CERTIFICATE

Our alumni indicate that their primary motivation for enrolling in our certificates is to develop the knowledge and skills to move up within their organization or to change careers. Our career services and UChicago resources for current students and alumni have been essential contributors to their professional journey.

  • 23% Change professions
  • 12% Move up within an organization
  • 5% Change organizations
  • 57% Increase knowledge/skills
  • 3% Prepare for graduate school
2016 Forbes “30 Under 30” Honoree
Professional Development Alumna Jordan Basile speaks at the UChicago Graham School Professional Development Program Open House

“What was most helpful [as a certificate student] was finding a community of people with similar goals in life. That’s what really set the stage for the progress I’ve made in my career since my time at the Graham School. Not only am I still in touch with my classmates, one of whom I brought onto my team two years ago at Google’s headquarters, but both my analytics and mobile instructors have been pivotal to guiding my career onto the path it’s on now.”

Jordan Basile, Marketing Alumna, Product Marketing Manager at Google Inc.
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