UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is accepting applications for two new graduate certificates that have been designed to help employees lead effective change within their organizations.
The offerings are certificates in analytics and occupational safety and health in Penn State’s graduate program in organization development and change. The certificates will be offered online through Penn State World Campus and the College of Education.
The first courses will be offered in August, the start of the University’s fall 2017 semester.
“The global business environment is in such a state of transition that organizations must either adapt to change or risk failure,” said associate professor Wesley Donahue, the coordinator of the online organization development and change program. “The only thing that really differentiates an organization from another is the education of their workforce and how the organizations are structured to maximize use of all talents. Our goal is to provide students with skills and competencies that can immediately be applied to help the organizations they serve continuously improve and maximize potential.”
Each certificate consists of four courses. Students in both certificates will take a required course on the foundations of organization development.
In the analytics certificate, students will learn how to use data to drive decision-making in their organizations. Courses include evaluating an organization’s investment in workforce education, assessing data and appraising organization development and consulting services.
The occupational safety and health certificate focuses on promoting workplace safety. Students will learn about facilities management, government rules and regulations as well as developing needs assessments for employee training.
The credits from the certificates may be applied to the master’s degree in organization development and change. Students must apply and be accepted into the master’s program.
Visit the Penn State World Campus website to learn more about the new certificates.