Certificate Programs

Find Your Perfect Match

Enhance your marketability with one of our certificates. The College of General Studies offers 14 different undergraduate certificates available as standalone programs or as an opportunity to be pursued in conjunction with another undergraduate degree. You also have the option of applying the credits you earn toward a future degree. So you can start in your chosen discipline while carefully considering whether it represents your missing puzzle piece...or perhaps a stepping stone to the next phase of your education.

Our certificates cover various disciplines and professional fields, so you are sure to find the right fit. You educational experience will also be enhanced by our interdisciplinary programs which represent collaborative offerings between different schools and departments with University of Pittsburgh.

Quick facts about our certificate program:

 BooksFlexible, interdisciplinary curriculum
(18-24 credits)
Computer and BookEvening and online classes available
School BellStart any term (Spring, Fall, or Summer)
Part-time or full-time
CertificateOpen to non-degree and/or degree seekers
ComputerApply online directly with CGS
CalculatorUp to 9 transfer credits accepted upon evaluation

Explore Fields and Disciplines

Accounting — Post Baccalaureate

CGS partners with the College of Business Administration to offer a part-time 24-credit post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting. The program is designed for working adults, with courses offered part-time, in the evenings.

Communication

The 24-credit communication certificate helps students enhance their professional written and oral communication skills.

Community Health Assessment

CGS’s 18-credit community health assessment certificate provides an understanding of how social, economic, and environmental factors impact a community’s well-being.

Corporate and Community Relations

This 18-credit corporate and community relations certificate at Pitt CGS will help you communicate strategically and effectively with internal and external audiences.

Digital Media

Our 18-credit digital media certificate helps students gain practical experience with multimedia content production, including video, audio, and graphic design.

NEW: Disability Studies

This 18-credit disability studies certificate gives students a flexible framework of courses, bringing a Disability Studies lens to their home fields of study and engaging with Disability Studies as a rich interdisciplinary field in its own right.  

Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies

The 18-credit gender, sexuality, and women’s studies certificate program at Pitt CGS provides an understanding of the role gender plays in society.

Information System Design

This 18-credit certificate in information system design provides students a foundation in database management, user-centered design, security, and other IT topics. 

Leadership - for degree seeking students only

Grow as a leader and advance your career with an 18-credit leadership certificate from University of Pittsburgh College of General Studies.

*This certificate can only be pursued in conjunction with a degree and has a pre-requisite requirement.

Managing Health Services and Programs

This 18-credit certificate in managing health services and programs provides students with marketable management skills to advance their healthcare careers. 

National Preparedness and Homeland Security

This 18-credit certificate in national preparedness and homeland security from Pitt CGS prepares students to respond to emergency situations, from weather-related to terrorism.

Nonprofit Management

Advance your career and build on your nonprofit and fundraising skills with an 18-credit nonprofit management certificate program at Pitt CGS.

Writing

The 21-credit writing certificate helps students improve their writing ability, whether for business communications or creative careers. 

Writing for the Professions

The 18-credit writing for the professions certificate helps students improve their writing proficiency—a valuable skill in today’s marketplace.

Good to Know

Applying for a CGS Certificate

Current University of Pittsburgh students not already enrolled in CGS and non-degree seeking students looking to enroll only in a CGS certificate program will need to submit the CGS certificate online application form. All students must meet CGS certificate requirements for admission.

Current College of General Studies students should contact CGS Advising to discuss adding a certificate to their program plan.

Graduating with a CGS Certificate

To receive the certificate, you must fill out an online graduation application through the Pitt Portal prior to completing your last term in the program. Visit Graduation / Diplomas on the Registrar’s website for the instructions and check the  Graduating with a CGS degree/ certificate website for the submission deadline.  Contact a CGS advisor to confirm that all requirements for the certificate have been met. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for the term.