Certificate Programs & Specializations

Add a focus to your master’s degree

The School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) places great emphasis on transdisciplinary study and enables students to study topics in-depth through certificate programs and specializations. Typically, these programs require that students take courses in the granting department/school and one or two courses from a prescribed topic area.

Full-time students in each of SP2’s three master’s programs – the Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), and Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) – are eligible to pursue one or more certificate programs and specializations as part of their master’s degree. Depending on course scheduling and student flexibility, Advanced Standing MSW and part-time students may also be able to incorporate a certificate program or specialization into their course of study. Please contact your advisor with any questions.

Completing a certificate sometimes requires students to take additional courses beyond the regular number of credits and standard tuition costs required to earn the degree. Students should discuss their certificate program plans with their academic advisor as early as possible to plan their course of study.

It is expected that all requirements for the certificate be met while the student is completing the master’s degree. Any exceptions must be approved in advance.