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Rita Merrigan addresses her students during the 'Fun with CLD Literacy' class for the Teacher Institute.

Professional Development Opportunities

Expand Your Skillset – Elevate Your Career

Western Colorado University is proud to offer a multitude of diverse learning opportunities for non-degree seeking students to hone their skillsets through our certificate and professional development programs. Our programs span a variety of academic areas and instruction delivery modalities, allowing students to earn additional credentials in a way that fits their lifestyle and existing personal and professional obligations.

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Western’s undergraduate certificate programs can be obtained in as few as nine credits and provide an excellent and cost-effective way to bolster your existing qualifications. Certificates are offered both online and in-person, and with over 20 programs to choose from, there’s likely a program at Western that will help you bring your professional skills to the next level no matter your industry.

The men's basketball team huddles together for a talk during a game.

Advanced Coaching

Certificate

Advanced Coaching
NEW
Students in Professor Jeremy Muskat's Math 240 course learn advanced math skills.

Advanced Level Mathematics

Certificate

Advanced Level Mathematics
NEW
Professional Development Opportunities

Advanced Spanish Proficiency

Certificate

Advanced Spanish Proficiency
A student codes in a small classroom

Applied Statistics

Certificate

Applied Statistics
NEW
Professional Development Opportunities

Cultural Resource Management

Certificate

Cultural Resource Management
Students working on projects in the upstairs open-office space of the ICE Lab.

Design Thinking & Innovation

Certificate

Design Thinking & Innovation
NEW
A student teacher works one-on-one with elementary students on a classroom assignment

Early Childhood Professional

Certificate

Early Childhood Professional
NEW
Students on an energy management field trip listen to an employee discuss how a power plant operates.

Energy Law

Certificate

Energy Law
NEW
Students review land ownership on a map with a guest lecturer

Environmental Law

Certificate

Environmental Law
NEW
Professional Development Opportunities

Ethics and Critical Thinking

Certificate

Ethics and Critical Thinking
Player #97 and Defensive Line coach jump together after a good play

Foundations of Coaching

Certificate

Foundations of Coaching
NEW
Three students work on a class assignment together in a computer science class.

Full Stack Development

Certificate

Full Stack Development
NEW
Students in the outdoors waving at the camera

Geographic Information Systems

Certificate

Geographic Information Systems
A student examines different font styles in a typography class.

Graphic Design Certificate

Certificate

Graphic Design Certificate
NEW
Prospective students participating in Borick Scholars Weekend present their projects to a panel of business professors.

Intellectual Property

Certificate

Intellectual Property
NEW
A student gives a presentation at the front of a classroom.

Marketing Certificate

Certificate

Marketing Certificate
NEW
A group of students use computers to work on a class assignment.

Mathematical Risk Analysis

Certificate

Mathematical Risk Analysis
NEW
Two students chat while walking up a staircase.

Principles of Health Navigation and Peer Support

Certificate

Principles of Health Navigation and Peer Support
NEW
Western Professional Land & Resource Management Students tour WPX Energy operations near Parachute.

Professional Land Management Skills

Certificate

Professional Land Management Skills
NEW
A student takes notes on a hypothetical court case while serving as a juror at a mock trial.

Property and Contract Law

Certificate

Property and Contract Law
NEW
A student works on some code on his laptop during a computer science class.

Software Engineering Certificate

Certificate

Software Engineering Certificate
NEW
A Spanish class gathers in front of Taylor Hall for a group photo.

Spanish Language and Culture

Certificate

Spanish Language and Culture
Students in the crowd cheer at the Homecoming football game.

Sport Management

Certificate

Sport Management
NEW
Four students walk past local businesses on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte.

Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Management

Certificate

Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Management
NEW
Writing Certificates

Writing Certificates

Certificate

Writing Certificates

Graduate Certificates

Available to students with an existing master’s degree, our niche graduate certificates in the School of Business immerse you in the rapidly growing and locally-relevant outdoor business industry. Certificates can be completed independently of or in tandem with each other, and offer you not only a opportunity to learn in-demand skills, but also network with industry leaders within and beyond the Gunnison Valley.

A group of students listen to a guest speaker in a gear shop filled with skis.

Economic and Legal Foundations in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Economic and Legal Foundations in the Outdoor Industry
NEW
An outdoor industry MBA faculty member hikes the Judd Falls trail wearing a Western cotopaxi backpack. Mt. Crested Butte can be seen in the background.

Marketing and Branding in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Marketing and Branding in the Outdoor Industry
A variety of sustainable eating and drinking utensils photographed on a white background.

Outdoor Product Innovation and Management in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Outdoor Product Innovation and Management in the Outdoor Industry
NEW
A student speaks to a professor during a career fair.

Responsible Organizational Leadership in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Responsible Organizational Leadership in the Outdoor Industry
A hotel clerk smiles for a photo from behind a check-in desk.

Service Excellence and Sustainable Operations in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Service Excellence and Sustainable Operations in the Outdoor Industry
NEW
A student uses a laptop to study in the Rady Building

Sustainable Financial Management in the Outdoor Industry

Graduate Certificate

Sustainable Financial Management in the Outdoor Industry

Adult Degree Completion

A professor and non-traditional student smile for a photo together in their cap and gowns at the graduation ceremony

Finish what you started.

Have some college credit and want to complete your degree? Look no further than Western’s Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program! This online curriculum offers two fields of study in Business Communication and General Studies with a Teacher Licensure emphasis to help you accelerate your professional journey. Scholarship and financial aid opportunities are available to qualified students.

I want to finish my degree

Faculty guidance

Our dedicated faculty know that being a non-traditional student is a unique experience, and they’ve crafted the ADC curriculum to ensure you’re set up for success both while enrolled as a student as well after graduation.

Teacher Institute

Professional Development Opportunities

Learn new skills alongside other educators.

Western’s Teacher Institute is an annual, on-campus professional development and networking experience created for K-12 educators. Since 2004, the Teacher Institute has offered courses spanning a variety of topics including special education, art, CLD/ELL, foreign language, outdoor education and more! Advance your pedagogy skills while sharing knowledge and learning from fellow educators. Thanks for the Ann Zugelder endowment, all educators who register for courses have an opportunity to receive up to a 40% discount for courses.

Enhance your teaching skills

Content-specific learning

With 20+ courses available each year at the Teacher Institute, you’ll find a course to help you learn new skills no matter what you specialize in as an educator.

Credentialing Opportunities for Educators

Western’s one-year Teacher Licensure program offers teacher preparation in 20+ content areas. This program promotes practical learning and you’ll spend 24 hours/week as a resident instructor in a classroom to put your theoretical knowledge into use in a real-world environment.

The Principal Licensure program offers advanced credentialing to experienced education professionals who aspire to take their administrative skills to the next level. This one-year program can be completed locally or remotely and offers opportunities for hands-on learning and invaluable industry networking.

Hoping to enhance your existing educator credentials with a niche instruction specialty? Our optional added endorsements can be completed in parallel with or independent of Western’s M.A. in Education program and will provide valuable skill enhancement in one or more of four subject areas, helping you both grow in your career and stand out from other applicants in competitive job searches.

 

Teacher Licensure

Teacher Licensure

Teacher Licensure

Teacher Licensure
Education program

Principal Licensure

Principal Licensure

Principal Licensure
Optional Added Endorsements

Optional Added Endorsements

Added Endorsements

Optional Added Endorsements

Center for Learning & Innovation

Two participants in a Center for Learning and Innovation course observe a water sample they collected from a stream.

Explore your passions.

Formerly known as Extended Studies, the Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for Gunnison Valley community members who seek to grow personally and/or professionally. Courses are offered each fall, spring and summer semester with special study abroad opportunities being offered each year in the Maymester. In addition, CLI is partnered with 20+ outdoor recreation organizations to help you earn college credit while participating in experiential education programs.

View and register for CLI courses

Lifelong learning

With a robust, varied curriculum of courses offered every semester, the Center for Learning and Innovation provides a gateway to learn from expert guides in areas you’re passionate about.

Apply Today!

If it’s time to bring your professional skillset to the next level, we’re confident we have the programs and resources needed to enhance your career journey. Apply today as a non-degree seeking student to pursue these learning opportunities and elevate your career. If you have questions about the admissions process, reach out to our friendly and knowledgable Admissions staff.

Apply Today

Take the Next Step

Apply to
Western
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Apply to
Western

We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.

Visit
Western
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Visit
Western

The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
A group of four alumni look at a display of old photos on a table.

Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

Request
Information
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Request
Information

Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.