University of Kentucky®
Certificates are a great way to improve your skills in a specific area in a short amount of time. These programs often overlap with degree programs and create a focus area within the discipline. You don’t need to be enrolled in a degree-bearing program to pursue a certificate. Upon program completion, students earn a certificate (yes, an official piece of paper!) from the University of Kentucky as proof of their successful program completion.
What is a certificate?
A certificate is made up of usually three to four courses that have a concise, structured, and focused topic of study. A certificate is NOT a degree program, but often has overlap with courses in similar degree programs. A certificate can enhance your resume as proof of mastery of skills in a specific area. UK Online offers certificates at both the Undergraduate and Graduate level.
Advantages of Online Certificate Programs
Certificates have some ingrained advantages:
- They can be completed quickly (most within a year)
- You can upskill in a certain area of your profession
- They offer a head-start on earring a degree (most credits earned can be applied toward a degree)
- They offer proof of skills to employers
- You can sample an area of study before commiting to a degree program
There is also the advantage of the online modality. UK Online understands that students are busy and oftentimes are balancing work and other commitments. Learning online provides students with a greater amount of schedule flexibility to fit their studies into their lives.
Online Certificates Available from University of Kentucky
UK Online offers over 40 graduate certificate programs, and six undergraduate certificates programs. These certificates cover a wide range of disciplines and subject areas, ranging from distillation to telehealth.
What to Expect in an Online Certificate Program
Certificates can range from 12 to 15+ credit hours. Most often, these programs can be completed in 1 year, depending on how many classes you can take each semester. Students who only take one class at a time will require longer to complete the program. Most programs follow the academic calendar of Fall, Spring and Summer semester offerings. However, some certificates may not be available to enroll as a new student every semester. Check the UK Online website to view specific information for your certificate program.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a graduate certificate program, students must have already earned a bachelor’s degree. To be eligible for a bachelor’s certificate, no prior college experience is required but a high school diploma or the equivalent is required. Certificates can be added in addition to a student's degree program curriculum. Because there is often overlap in courses, there may not be many additional courses required to obtain a certificate in addition to your degree in a similar area. Students should inquire with their academic advisor about adding a certificate to their program of study. You can also enroll only in a certificate program. There is no requirement to be enrolled in a degree-bearing program.
Certificates are a great way to introduce yourself to the structure of online learning, advance your knowledge within a profession, and boost your resume. Explore all the certificates available from UK Online.
