University News
Western Illinois Adds Two Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs
September 14, 2005
MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois UniversityÂ’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has added two post-baccalaureate certificate programs, effective this fall. The programs are in WomenÂ’s Studies and in Public and Non-Profit Management.
“These post-baccalaureate certificates will provide new educational opportunities for individuals who are interested in pursuing a focused scope of graduate studies to enhance their professional skills, credentials, and their academic knowledge beyond the undergraduate degree,” said CAS Dean Inessa Levi. “The certificates offer a valuable education option for those individuals who either do not desire to pursue a master’s degree at this time, or those who seek to complement their advanced degrees.”
The post-baccalaureate certificate in womenÂ’s studies requires 12 semester hours of coursework to include feminist theory and research methods and six hours of womenÂ’s studies electives, according to WomenÂ’s Studies Chair Polly Radosh. The certificate program will complement most masterÂ’s degree programs at Western, particularly in the social sciences and humanities, she added.
“This graduate certificate program promotes reflective, critical analysis of the field of women’s studies, feminist critique and evaluation of traditional disciplines and promotes in-depth study of women and other traditionally underrepresented groups within traditional disciplines,” Radosh said. “Its purpose is to facilitate students’ access to the rapidly expanding scholarship in women’s studies.”
The 15-semester hour post-baccalaureate certificate in Public and Non-Profit Management through WesternÂ’s political science department offers administrators and graduate students in the region the opportunity to enhance their professional skills in a variety of public and non-profits sectors, including survey research and performance managing skills, heightened awareness of ethical issues and a clearer understanding of the two sectors of public and non-profit management, according to Charles Helm, political science chair. The program is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of pre-career and in-service individuals, and graduate students in other disciplines can enhance their training and employability with this certificate, he added.
While there are four similar certificate programs statewide, Helm said WesternÂ’s program is unique in several ways.
“None of the other programs combines a focus on non-profit management with public management. Western’s program also incorporates training in survey methods with its unique affiliation with the Western Survey Research Center, coordinated through our College of Arts and Sciences,” Helm said. “Additionally, we are incorporating an increasing sensitivity to ethical issues in public and private sector management.”
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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