UAkron Online Certificates and Endorsements

This certificate program is a joint collaboration between the Department of Political Science and the School of Communication. Applied political communication encompasses the interaction of political figures, political interests, governmental institutions, media, and the public in their efforts to persuade and influence political power and public policy outcomes. This certificate’s interdisciplinary nature applies the fundamentals of public communication and political science to meet the specific needs and goals of political campaigns and advocacy organizations. Topics covered include campaign leadership strategies, audience analysis pertaining to specific publics, crisis communication, effective strategic messaging campaigns targeting publics through traditional communication channels, digital communication assets, and social media platforms.

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Applied politics is a comprehensive study of American politics with a focus on tangible, practical skills like networking and experiential learning opportunities. The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and the Department of Political Science offer a Certificate in Applied Politics (CAP) to undergraduate students focusing on practical politics and experiential learning. It is designed for students interested in election campaigns, digital strategy and messaging, fundraising, managing organizations, and other political activities. All applied politics classes are delivered synchronously or asynchronously online making residency in Northeast Ohio optional.

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The At Risk Youth certificate program emphasizes the knowledge and necessary skills to promote the well-being of all children and adolescents. The focus of this program is working with vulnerable/at-risk populations within the context of family and community settings.

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This certificate represents a concentration in theoretical and practical knowledge in collaborative cross-systems case management for children and families in the context of community-based services. This course of study promotes collaboration among disciplines and services. This certificate program can be added to any degree program.

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These courses provide emergency management foundations which can be applied to many careers including but not limited to crisis management, business continuity, health services, public administration, political science, geography, homeland security, communications, and computer information systems or related areas. The courses offered provide emergency management skills useful in many careers whether as a student or a practitioner looking to expand their knowledge.

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Fire continues to be a problem in the United States even though the loss of lives is declining due to new, innovative public education programs, rigorous enforcement of building and fire code enforcement and the application of advanced technology related to fire detection and suppression systems. However, with the loss of civilian lives ranging from 4,050 to 4,440 each year and property loss continuing to escalate, the need for well-educated firefighters becomes more important as community resources are reallocated. The Fire Protection Technology certificate will assist the student in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively as a fire protection specialist.

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The Healthcare Services Coding and Reimbursement certificate is designed to provide graduates an in-depth understanding of how healthcare services are reimbursed by insurance. In the case of those graduates who will bill for their services, that understanding will make them more attractive to healthcare system employers. In the case of graduates seeking to move into a managerial role in their department or operational setting, that understanding is fundamental to maximizing the department's revenue stream, again making the UA graduate a more attractive employee manager.

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The Parent and Family Education Certificate Program is intended for individuals who wish to enhance their knowledge and study issues relevant to parenting and family life and develop skills useful in working with parents and families. Students who receive the certificate typically work in health care, social-service agencies and institutions, and faith-based settings who offer family services.

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The Certificate in Police Leadership is designed to provide advanced police studies education and preparation for promotional assessments for current and aspiring police supervisors and managers. The program combines topics covered in state and national police leadership programs with a comprehensive exploration of the social science research on policing. The Certificate will help leaders develop the data-driven and evidence-based decision-making tool kit that is necessary for success in this demanding career path. The Certificate in Police Leadership is a stand-alone certificate. Students are not required to enroll in a degree program.

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The Pre-Child Life Certificate is designed for those aiming to become child life specialists, providing the academic foundation needed for certification. This certificate is also valuable for careers in diverse settings, including hospitals, child advocacy centers, schools, camps, bereavement programs, women’s shelters, hospices, trauma centers, and more. Open to students from any major, the certificate is especially well-suited for those studying social work or family sciences.

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The Professional Social Media Certificate is open to students of any major, as well as professionals. It serves as formal training and evidence of your preparation in the subject. You will learn to generate content, use analytics to measure success, and create a complete social media campaign for a real client as your final project for the course, Advanced Strategic Social Media, giving you a hands-on experiential learning opportunity.

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This certificate is aimed at developing technical mathematics knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge in an industrial setting.

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