Our stackable credentials help you strengthen your résumé with graduate certificates, recognizing the new skills and knowledge you’ve gained while pursuing your master’s degree. You can earn one or more graduate certificates while working toward your degree. Whether you apply to the master's program first, or start with a certificate, you'll only need to pay one application fee for credentials that fall in the same stack. Please note: You must apply and be accepted to each program individually.
Certificate earners are awarded a digital badge for each certificate they complete. Badges can be digitally displayed anywhere to recognize attaining a new level of knowledge. Courses are offered in convenient, seven-week sessions, which are available in several delivery modes: in-person, hybrid, or online.
Please note: A maximum of 15 credits earned as a certificate student may be applied to a graduate degree program. If you are interested in the graduate degree program associated with stackable certificates, please apply to the degree program before completing 15 credits. Once admitted to the master’s program, you can progress through the stackable certificates at your own pace. No additional application fees will be charged for programs within your stack, and future courses will automatically count towards your master’s degree.
Certificate Offerings
Artificial Intelligence Stackable Certificates
Data Analytics Stackable Certificates
Engineering Management Stackable Certificates
Information Science Stackable Certificates
Software Engineering Stackable Certificates
Systems Engineering Stackable Certificates
Penn State's schedule of courses lists availability.
To be awarded the graduate certificate, students must successfully apply for and complete the required course work. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better and an overall GPA of 3.0. If you have issues viewing any of these documents or have any questions, please contact the division at [email protected].
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (post-secondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement. The successful applicant is generally expected to have a minimum combined junior/senior grade-point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale.