Adult learners in a blended Penn State course offered through Penn State's VLN.
The courses in these credit certificates and programs are offered in a blended format through Penn State's Video Learning Network (VLN). Students spend time in a classroom with an instructor and other students, while completing additional work outside of class and online.
Learn more about Penn State's VLN and blended courses here.
Business Essentials for Professionals
Health Care Leadership
Counseling Youth at Risk
Business Essentials for Professionals (12 credits)
- Management Information Systems - MIS 204
- Selling Techniques - MKTG 220
- Effective Speech - CAS 100B
- Introduction to Business - B A 100
Penn State's Business Essentials for Professionals certificate is composed of a series of credit classes that can provide you with a solid foundation in essential business concepts — such as communication, sales, marketing, and information systems.
- Accelerated, evening courses meet once a week for seven weeks
- Courses can be taken individually in any order
- Certificate can be completed in as little as one year or paced out to meet your needs
- Credits may apply to an associate's or bachelor's degree in business
Spring 2012 - Term 1
Introduction to Business - B A 100
- Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: January 9, 23, and 30, February 6, 13, and 20, and 27 (No Class January 16 Martin Luther King Day)
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room103)
Spring 2012- Term 2
Effective Speech - CAS 100B
- Mondays, 6:00 -9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: March 12, 19, and 26, April 2, 9, 16, and 23
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room103)
Counseling Youth at Risk (15 credits)
- Counseling and Teaching Youth at Risk - CN ED 431
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling - CN ED 432
- Couples and Family Counseling - CN ED 430
- Prevention Strategies and Programming - CN ED 843
- Foundations of Addictions Counseling - CN ED 422
This program is designed for professional counselors, school counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and educators.
All courses are offered through Penn State's state-of-the art video conferencing facilities where you can share experiences with other professionals and instructors at multiple locations. Fall and spring semester courses will consist of eight class sessions that meet one night per week (every other Tuesday evening) 4:00-9:00 p.m. The certificate can be completed in sixteen months.
Spring 2012
Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling - CN ED 432
- Tuesdays (every other week; eight class sessions between January-April), 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: January 17, and 31, Febraury 14 and 28, March 13 and 27, April 10 and 24
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room 103)
Summer 2012 - Term 1
Couples and Family Counseling - CN ED 430
- Tuesday and Thursday evenings (six weeks), 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: May 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, and 31, June 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, and 21
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room 103)
Summer 2012 - Term 2
Prevention Strategies and Programming - CN ED 843
- Tuesday and Thursday evenings (six weeks), 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: June 28, July 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, and 31, August 2 and 7
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room 103)
Fall 2012
Foundations of Addictions Counseling - CN ED 422
- Tuesdays (every other week; eight class sessions between September-December), 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Class dates: September 4, and 18, October 2, 16, and 30, November 13 and 27, December 11
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room 103)
View additional program information
Health Care Leadership (20 credits)
This 20-credit certificate is designed to meet the immediate educational needs of those currently working full or part-time in a health care environment who want further information and professional development in health care management.
Spring 2012
Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making - ACCTG 211 (4 credits)
- Thursdays, January 12 - April 26, 2012, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- Location: VLN (John J. Romano Administration Building, Room 103)
Summer 2012
Introduction to Health Services Organization - H P A 101 (3 credits)
Fall 2012
Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy - ECON 102 (3 credits)
Spring 2013
Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business - B A 243 (4 credits)
Summer 2013
Basic Management Concepts - MGMT 301W (3 credits)
Fall 2012
Health Systems Management - H P A 332 (3 credits)
For more information and registration assistance, please contact Jeff Warner, director of Continuing Education, at 717-771-4105 or e-mail jwarner@psu.edu.
What is a certificate program?
A certificate program is a sequence of credit classes that provides you with core competencies in a specific area. With careful planning, the credits can usually be applied toward an associate or baccalaureate degree. Because certificate programs usually require only between 12 and 25 credits for completion, you are able to earn this Penn State credential in a relatively short time. Certificates are available in just about every field, including business, human development and family studies, education and engineering technologies---just to name a few.
What advantages are associated with certificate programs?
Certificate programs are ideal for people who want to set smaller, more immediate goals and work up to meeting larger ones. In fact, a certificate program can be the gateway to a college degree. You start by completing the credit courses and earning the certificate, and you apply those courses toward a degree now or in the future.
There are dozens of other advantages, too.
Perhaps you have a college degree. Certificate programs offer advantages for people like you too. You can gain knowledge in a new subject area, stay current with developments in your field, acquire new skills, or learn the latest technology.
Employers today are demanding more education from their employees than ever before. A certificate in a specialized area represents knowledge, accomplishments and competencies. What better way is there to position yourself for advancement in your career or to prepare for a new one?
Who teaches the certificate programs?
Penn State faculty and seasoned professionals teach the courses. They bring real-world experience into the classroom and are up-to-date on the latest developments in their fields.
How long does it take to complete a certificate program?
This varies with each program and depends on your pacing and the time required for taking each course.
Let your employer know this:
We offer a wide variety of certificate programs designed by university and business experts in response to the needs of businesses and organizations throughout Pennsylvania. We can deliver the programs at your site or ours and at times that suit your workplace schedule. These high-quality education programs are affordably priced and are backed by Penn State's reputation.
Make a certificate program your starting point.
Many of the classes in the credit certificate programs can be applied toward your associate or degree. All of the programs are designed as flexible, convenient opportunities for self-enhancement, higher education, and professional development.