UW-Platteville, in partnership with UW Extended Campus, will offer two new online certificates starting in September 2021. The graduate-level, semester-based certificates in Applied Bioinformatics and Senior Living and Services Leadership were intentionally designed to align with industry needs and high-growth occupations.
Both flexible certificate programs feature four courses and can be completed within one year; however, students may decide to take longer to complete a certificate depending on work and life commitments. Coursework completed in the certificate programs offer an optional pathway to master's degrees offered by UW-Platteville.
Applied Bioinformatics
The biotechnology industry is rapidly growing and so is the need for specialized skills, training and development. The knowledge obtained through the graduate-level certificate in Applied Bioinformatics, offered through the established collaborative M.S. in Applied Biotechnology program, has applications in a variety of fields, including healthcare, agriculture or laboratory sciences.
"Bioinformatics represents the marriage of science and computing. Our capacity to generate large amounts of data is greater than ever, and the ability to organize and access that information blazes a trail to discovery," said Mark E Levenstein, the academic director for the M.S. in Applied Biotechnology program. "High demand for bioinformatic analysts is supported by an average salary of $88,000 in Wisconsin."
The certificate program serves as both an in-program learning opportunity and additional credential for M.S. in Applied Biotechnology degree-seeking students, as well as a freestanding certificate for non-degree seeking students or those looking to bolster their skills.
Senior Living and Services Leadership
A strong leadership team has a significant impact on the quality of care provided to seniors. In the graduate-level Senior Living and Services Leadership certificate program, students acquire the strategic skills necessary to meet the changing demands of today's seniors and contemporary senior living care models. Generational dynamics, healthcare financial management, and healthcare human resource strategies are just some of the topics covered in the 100% online certificate program.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32% between 2019 and 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Key drivers of growth include the continued high demand for healthcare and senior care services due to a growing senior population seeking different care models than previous generations.
The certificate program can be taken as a freestanding certificate or count as an additional credential for the M.S. in Healthcare Administration program.
Students in both programs pay the same tuition whether they live in Wisconsin or out of state. To learn more about UW-Platteville's online degree and certificate options, or to speak with an admissions specialist, click here.