The University offers several certificates that you may earn, in addition to your major, to acquire a specialization in a particular field. The certificate will show a prospective employer not only that you have knowledge of the field but also that you went the extra mile to qualify for the certificate. The following certificates are open to all undergraduates, except the Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship, which is open only to engineering students.

• Certificate in Aging Studies
• Certificate in American Indian and Native Studies
• Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
• Certificate in Critical Cultural Competence
• Certificate in Disability Studies
• Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management
• Certificate in Fundraising and Philanthropy Communication
• Certificate in Global Health Studies
• Certificate in Human Rights
• Certificate in International Business
• Certificate in Latin American Studies
• Certificate in Leadership Studies
• Certificate in Medieval Studies
• Certificate in Museum Studies
• Certificate in Nonprofit Management
• Certificate in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship
• Certificate in Public Health
• Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance
• Certificate in Sustainability
  
• Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship
• Certificate in Writing

Each certificate is described briefly below. See Undergraduate Certificates in the UI General Catalog for more details about the requirements for each one.

Certificate in Aging Studies
The Aging Studies Program features a multidisciplinary approach to the study of gerontology and geriatric education. It provides a broad background in aging for students from colleges across the University, including business, dentistry, liberal arts and sciences, nursing, and pharmacy.

For the certificate, you'll take courses that focus primarily on older people; on biological, psychological, social, and other aspects of the aging process; and on interventions that benefit older adults. The Aging Studies Program also offers a minor.

Employment opportunities and work settings in aging studies are growing. You’ll find career opportunities in agencies that serve the elderly, social services, retirement homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals, recreation departments, banks, industry, and health clubs.

Certificate in American Indian and Native Studies
The American Indian and Native Studies Program (AINSP) focuses on the histories, cultures, literatures, and contemporary legal and political issues of Native Americans of the United States and other indigenous peoples of the Americas.

AINSP offers a certificate and a minor. Both programs combine well with a variety of undergraduate majors and provide background for jobs involving cross-cultural work that involves ethnic, social, and political diversity. They also help you prepare for advanced study and training in museum work, health care, business, and law.

Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
The American Sign Language (ASL) Program will help you learn about the history, culture, and language of the American deaf community. As an ASL student, you’ll develop facility in using a language that is comparable in complexity and expressiveness to oral languages but that operates in a different sensory channel. As you broaden your understanding of how languages may be constructed, you’ll develop a better understanding of your own language.

The ASL program offers a certificate and a minor. Both programs will help you prepare for careers in areas such as counseling, education, human services, interpreting, and psychology. They'll also enable you to communicate effectively with deaf individuals in all sorts of settings.

If you want to teach deaf children or be an ASL/English interpreter, a sign language instructor, or a speech pathologist/audiologist, you’ll need additional specialized training.

Certificate in Critical Cultural Competence
Study in critical cultural competence is designed to help you learn how to appreciate your own cultural identity while developing the ability to examine and understand your orientation to other people's cultural identities, such as class, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.

The certificate program will help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you'll need in order to relate effectively across cultures in diverse environments, both domestic and international. You'll become more aware of treating people fairly, equitably, and thoughtfully; of being concerned with issues of power, privilege, and social justice; and of understanding culture-related privilege and disprivilege.

The program will help you prepare for work in all sorts of fields, such as business, communication, education, health, psychology, and social work.

Certificate in Disability Studies
The disability studies certificate focuses on the social, cultural, historical, and political aspects of disability. As a certificate student, you'll learn about the history of disabilities in America and about how culture and society define disability. You'll learn how to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and you'll develop a personal philosophy of treating people fairly and thoughtfully. You'll also become knowledgeable about public policy issues and active citizenship.

The certificate program draws on disciplines from across the University, such as aging studies, American Sign Language, anthropology, communication sciences and disorders, education, geography, health and human physiology, history, music, nursing, and psychology. The certificate complements a wide variety of majors.

Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management
Study of entrepreneurial management is designed to help students acquire an entrepreneurial mind-set that will prepare them to launch new ventures or manage growing companies. The certificate program focuses on innovation and creativity; the ability to recognize, evaluate, and seize opportunities; and skill in strategic business planning.

As an entrepreneurial management student, you’ll learn from a team of faculty members and business leaders. You’ll study the entrepreneurial approach to acquiring and managing resources; develop team-building skills; participate in experiential learning opportunities; and network with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Certificate in Fundraising and Philanthropy Communication
Study in fundraising and philanthropy communication gives students a foundation for work to support all kinds of causes and organizations that are funded partly or entirely by donations.

For the certificate, you'll take a core of courses in communication and public relations, philanthropy, and organizational effectiveness. Then you'll choose courses on topics that match your specific interests, such as arts and culture, community development, environment and sustainability, growing and managing nonprofit organizations, and advocacy.

The certificate will help you prepare for careers in development, donor relations, fundraising, institutional advancement, and public relations for nonprofit organizations.

Certificate in Global Health Studies
The Global Health Studies Program focuses on how dynamic processes of change affect health worldwide. It examines health issues and health care in light of themes, processes, and institutions, such as technologies, cultures, politics, legal structures, histories, and economies.

As a global health studies student, you’ll develop an understanding of a wide range of related global health phenomena, such as infectious and chronic diseases; nutrition; demographics; climate change; natural disasters and their impact on health; advances in medical and biomedical technologies; and the relationship between human rights and health. You’ll also learn about international health careers.

The Global Health Studies Program offers a certificate and a minor. Both programs pair well with many different majors.

Certificate in Human Rights
Human rights concern the inherent dignity of all people and the promotion and protection of that dignity regardless of an individual’s birth, color, culture, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other status. The certificate program is designed to help you broaden your understanding of human rights and to draw on multiple disciplines in order to identify solutions to human rights issues.

As a human rights student, you’ll prepare to examine societal problems critically and to design solutions to human rights dilemmas in many different areas, such as child welfare, civil governance, ecological stability, education, health, hunger and poverty, immigration, the situations of women and of racial and sexual minorities, socioeconomic development, and violence on a mass scale.

Certificate in International Business
The certificate program in international business helps students gain an understanding of the global economy and a broad awareness of the political, historical, and social environments in which international business operates. The program’s wide range of courses will enable you to tailor the certificate to your interests, whether you’re majoring in business or in a liberal arts and sciences discipline.

For the certificate, you'll combine business courses on economics, finance, marketing, and trade law with courses on international relations and institutions. You'll also do in-depth study of a world language and a geographic area in which it is spoken.

Certificate in Latin American Studies
The Latin American Studies Program (LASP) focuses on the history, politics, social organization, economy, geography, music, religion, art, and literature of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. LASP involves faculty from a wide range of disciplines. It sponsors many activities and brings guest experts on Latin America to campus.

LASP offers a certificate and a minor. Both programs will help you prepare for graduate study and for careers in Latin America–related businesses, communications, government, bilingual and bicultural education, teaching, community organizing, and international work.

Certificate in Leadership Studies
Leadership studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws on the social sciences, the humanities, and professional areas such as management and education. It focuses on ethical issues, principles, theories, and styles of leadership; interactions between leaders and group members; how leaders affect and influence organizations and communities; and leadership skills such as goal setting, creating a vision, communicating effectively, and empowering others.

As a leadership studies student, you’ll learn about leadership concepts and have hands-on experience that will help you launch a lifelong development of leadership skills. The certificate will give you an edge when you enter the job market or apply to graduate or professional schools.

Certificate in Medieval Studies
The Medieval Studies Program focuses on the Middle Ages, a historical period that continues to influence culture today. The program is interdisciplinary, drawing on disciplines from across the University. Students combine study in three or more departments into an organized investigation of medieval times.

For the certificate, you may study the Middle Ages as a distinct time period or as a complement to subjects such as art history, classics, comparative literature, world languages, gender or sexuality studies, music, philosophy, religion, and theatre arts. You’ll be encouraged to take courses in a language relevant to medieval times, such as Arabic, Old English, or Biblical Hebrew.

Certificate in Museum Studies
The Museum Studies Program introduces students to all aspects of museum work. Courses offer hands-on experience in exhibition planning and design, collection management, educational programming, community development, and administration.

Museum studies is interdisciplinary; many University of Iowa programs offer relevant courses, such as American studies, anthropology, art and art history, biology, business, communication studies, education, English, world languages, and history.

Most students interested in museum careers pursue graduate study after completing their bachelor’s degree. The certificate will help you prepare for graduate study, internships, and entry-level positions in museums.

Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit organizations play critical roles in communities. Their unique management and finance issues require specialized training. The Certificate in Nonprofit Management helps individuals develop the business and leadership skills they’ll need as staff members, board members, and volunteers working to build and maintain successful nonprofit organizations.

The program’s courses are offered primarily online. They cover topics such as community and government partnerships, organizational leadership, planning, human resources, financial accountability, grant writing, and web site creation and maintenance.

Certificate in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship
Study in performing arts entrepreneurship helps students develop the skills required for creating market-based opportunities in the arts, such as starting a performing arts business, promoting their work as artists, leading arts-based ventures, and sustaining an arts-based career.

For the certificate, you'll take entrepreneurship courses in accounting, financial management, and marketing; courses on arts management and leadership practices in commercial and nonprofit arts organizations; and courses in dance, music, or theatre arts.

The certificate will help you prepare for careers in marketing, publicity, fundraising, financial management, and artist management in the arts or in entertainment.

Certificate in Public Health
The certificate program in public health is designed for students and professionals who want to acquire a basic knowledge of public health practice.

Courses for the certificate are offered in a variety of ways: on the Internet, on campus, and during the College of Public Health Summer Institute. They will introduce you to the field of public health and to evidence-based public health methods. You'll also learn about health promotion and disease prevention, environmental health, and the U.S. health care system.

Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance
Study of risk management and insurance (RMI) helps students understand the many aspects of an industry that is vital to our economy. RMI concentrates on value creation and asset protection and on corporate and financial risk management. It also addresses financial and economic characteristics of exposure to loss and explores techniques for hedging risks and minimizing associated costs.

Graduates with strong RMI backgrounds work in a variety of jobs, including underwriter, claims adjuster, financial analyst, capital and asset manager, insurance and accounting auditor, business risk management consultant, personal banker, and stock exchange trader.

Certificate in Sustainability
World leaders have defined sustainability as the practice of meeting our needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In order to achieve sustainability, we need to understand human and environmental systems and how they interact.

The certificate program in sustainability focuses on changing environments and human health; energy, climate, and built environments; the power of culture and society; and ethics, economics, and public policy. It will help you become an effective leader and an agent of change for sustainability in whatever professional setting you choose.

Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship
The Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship is designed for engineering students who intend to start and/or operate their own business and for those who need a solid understanding of the entrepreneurial process as it relates to technology.

As a technological entrepreneurship student, you’ll learn from a team of faculty members and business leaders who will teach and inspire you. You'll take courses in finance, entrepreneurship and innovation, and related business topics, tailoring your certificate program to your particular interests. You may be able to do some of your certificate work in study abroad. In some cases, transfer credit may count toward the certificate.

Certificate in Writing
The Certificate in Writing gives all undergraduates the opportunity to build a concentration in writing that suits their interests and goals. Good writing will help you in all fields of study and in any career you choose.

For the certificate, you'll explore writing and develop your own writing skills in a range of genres and for different purposes, such as creative writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry); writing for the professions, including the arts, business, journalism, science, and many others; writing for organizations; and writing related to personal interests. You'll also participate in writing community activities.