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Graduate Certificate Programs

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Graduate certificates are intended to meet the supplemental post-baccalaureate education needs of professionals. A graduate certificate program is a set of courses that provides in-depth knowledge in a subject matter. The set of courses provides a coherent knowledge base.

A student applying for a graduate certificate program will be admitted with a “GCRT” designation. Some certificate programs require the GRE or GMAT, and some do not. To take any graduate course, all prerequisite courses (including undergraduate courses) must be taken and necessary background obtained before attempting the course. A student will be required to have a baccalaureate degree to start a graduate certificate program. There is only one exception to having a baccalaureate degree. If an undergraduate student from Texas Tech University has a 3.00 GPA or better and is within 12 hours of completion of a baccalaureate degree, the student may start taking graduate courses toward a graduate certificate. The student must have a baccalaureate degree to receive a graduate certificate.

Graduate credits earned while the student is enrolled in a graduate certificate program may not be applied toward a graduate degree unless the student completes the GRE or GMA T and enrolls as a fully accredited graduate student. After taking the GRE or GMA T and fulfilling all other admission requirements, a student may use the courses taken for a graduate certificate degree if the courses fulfill the requirements of the program of study for the degree.

Graduate students may pursue a graduate certificate that is outside their graduate program of study. No more than one transfer course (if approved by the advisor of the graduate certificate program and the Graduate School) will be allowed for a graduate certificate program. If a graduate student is in good standing and dropping out of the graduate program, the student may receive a graduate certificate if the necessary courses have been taken. To receive a graduate certificate, a student must have a GPA of 3.00 or better. No grade lower than a C will be accepted.

Quick Links
Graduate Certificate

Addictions and the Family

Created to provide specialized training to mental health providers who work with families and individuals struggling with substance abuse and addictive behaviors.

Contact: Dr. Sterling T. Shumway, 806.742.2891, Ext. 260 sterling.shumway@ttu.edu

Agricultural Leadership

Enables individuals working in any sector of the agricultural industry to develop an understanding of theoretical leadership principles as well as the basics of applying leadership techniques to groups in a variety of situations. Provides coursework that will help leaders understand the people with whom they interact on a daily basis and enable them to perform their duties more effectively and efficiently.

Applied Behavior Analysis

Serves as a course of study for students who want training in applied behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.® has approved the course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior
Analyst® Examination. Applicants will have to meet additional requirements to qualify.

Contact: Dr. Stacy Carter, 806.742.1997, Est. 303, stacy.carter@ttu.edu 
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/future

 

Art History, Criticism, and Theory

Augments the existing minor in art history at the master's level. It provides a critical and theoretical historical foundation that is increasingly valuable for professional advancement in art and art-related fields.

Contact: Dr. Carolyn Tate, 806.742.3825 Ext. 236, carolyn.tate@ttu.edu 
www.depts.ttu.edu/ART/SOA/nav/grad/cert.php

Authentic Leadership and Entrepreneurship for the Family Business

An integrated course of study that addresses the unique needs of the family business in two critical areas: (1) inter-personal leadership skills and (2) entrepreneurship skills. Serves as a lead-in to the
Week-Block MBA for Working Professionals.

Contact: Dr. Michael Ryan, 806.742.3175, michael.r.ryan@ttu.edu; Nikki Bohannon, 806.742.3763, nikki.bohannon@ttu.edu

Autism

Allows students to specialize in the area of autism while developing additional skills in working with children with autism spectrum disorders. The certificate can be undertaken during a master's or post-baccalaureate certification program, or as a stand-alone certificate.

Contact: Dr. Devender Banda, 806.742.1997, Ext. 305, devender.banda@ttu.edu
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/future

Charitable Financial Planning

 

Serves the needs of current and future financial planners interested in expanding their ability to serve clients with charitable interests and serves the needs of current and future fundraising professionals interested in expanding their ability to offer sophisticated planned giving advice to supporting donors.

Contact: Dr. Russell James, 806.742.5050, russell.james@ttu.edu


College Student Counseling

Provides specialized training for professionals interested in college student counseling, mentoring, advising, personnel, and student affairs This certificate does not represent licensure or certification in counseling.

Contact: Dr. L.J. Gould,
806. 742.1997 Ext. 296, lj.gould@ttu.edu 
www.educ.ttu.edu/future/graduate-certificates

Construction Engineering and Management

Designed for professionals who have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, or business and are seeking a senior management position in the construction industry. It is ideal for students interested in pursuing graduate study without committing to a full master’s program.

Contact: Dr. Tweodros Ghebrab, 806.742.3538
tewodros.ghebrab@ttu.edu

 

Crop Protection

With the emergence of transgenic crops, this certificate provides supplementary training and updated credentialing in the development of crop protection chemicals.

Contact: Dr. Peter Dotray, 806.742.2837, peter.dotray@ttu.edu
www.pssc.ttu.edu/ProgramPages/GCP-CP.php

Developmental Literacy

Will fill a need in the community for qualified teachers in developmental reading programs, adult basic education, adult literacy programs, alternative high schools, reading intervention programs in traditional high school settings, and GED programs.

Contact: Dr. Mellinee Lesley, 806.742.1997,
Ext. 240, mellinee.lesley@ttu.edu
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/future

Digital Design and Fabrication

Teaches advanced design knowledge and innovation in architecture, architecture interiors and product design. The program is positioned at the intersection of architecture, engineering and computation with a sustainable design and interdisciplinary direction. Students develop skills geared towards a “digital-craft” based design professional orientation with emphasis on computer aided design and material processes by leveraging state-of-the-art fabrication technologies (software, CAD-CAM, rapid prototyping, laser cutting, CNC routing, casting etc.)

Contact: Assoc. Prof. Christian Pongratz, 806.742.3136, Ext. 226, christian.pongratz@ttu.edu
http://arch.ttu.edu/wiki/Programs#
Certificate:_Digital_Design_Fabrication

Dual Sensory Impairment

Aligned with CEC standards for students who are deaf and blind. Course emphasis is on communication and assessment. The certificate can be undertaken during a master’s or post-baccalaureate certification program, or as a stand-alone certificate.

Contact: Dr. Roseanna Davidson, 806.742.1997, Ext. 246, roseanna.davidson@ttu.edu 
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/future

Early Music Performance Practice

A resume-enhancing certificate that provides students with the research and performance skills increasingly expected of scholars and performers specializing in the performance practice of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.    

Contact: Angela Mariani Smith, 806.742.2270, Ext. 235, angelamariani.smith@ttu.edu
http://ttuearlymusic.org/grad_certificate.html

Equine-Assisted Mental Health

Prepares students and mental health professionals to pursue professional credentials in equine-assisted psychotherapy and learn more about this creative, nonintrusive counseling method. Certificate students must have a graduate degree or currently be admitted into a graduate program in either a counseling-related field or animal science. Although this certificate does not represent licensure or certification in either counseling or equine-assisted mental health, the program will prepare students to seek professional credentials.

Heather Hernandez, 806.742.4683, heather.hernandez@ttu.edu

 

Ethics

A useful credential for people in a wide variety of academic, professional, and commercial roles, including students planning on entering the medical and legal professions, teachers (primary, secondary, and college-level) who offer (or are planning to offer) ethics modules in their classes, members of hospital ethics committees, IRB's, social action committees of churches, ethics watchdog committees within corporations, and professionals who are required to confront ethical questions on a regular basis.

Contact: Dr. Daniel Nathan, 806.742.0373,, daniel.nathan@ttu.edu
www.depts.ttu.edu/philosophy/degrees/ethicscert.php

Fibers and Biopolymers

Provides professionals an opportunity to understand the meaning and complexity of cotton production and processing and its impact on industrial cotton products.

Contact: Dr. Eric Hequet, 806.742.5333 Ext. 224, eric.hequet@ttu.edu 
www.pssc.ttu.edu/ProgramPages/GCP-FT.php

Gerontology

Designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with older people or are involved in education and research related to older adults. Tuition is set by the GPIDEA.

Contact: Dr. Jean Scott,
806.742-3000 Ext. 271, jean.scott@ttu.edu 
www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/gpidea/#Gerontology

 

 

This is an inter-institutional program offered through
the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education
Alliance – GPIDEA

Health Care Change

Designed to prepare staff, front-line managers, and executive-level leaders to focus on healthcare management issues, including quality, safety, efficiency, satisfaction, and cost.

Contact: Lara Davey, 806.834.1236, hom@ttu.edu

Health Care Facilities Design

An interdisciplinary certificate that offers specialty courses to graduate students and design professionals in healthcare, emphasizing evidence-based design as a way to enhance efficiency and safety. Successful completion of the certificate will position graduates to be employed in the healthcare facilities design sector and play a leading role in evidence-based design.

Contact :Dr.  Saif Haq, 806.742.3169, Ext. 284, saif.haq@ttu.edu
www.arch.ttu.edu/programs/HCaF

Higher Education Administration

Provides the opportunity for higher education professionals and those who seek administrative positions to develop and reinforce their knowledge base in current trends, leadership, methodologies, administration, and strategic management.

Contact: Dr. Colette Taylor, 806.742.1997 Ext. 266 colette.taylor@ttu.edu
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/academic-programs/psychology-and-leadership/higher-education/default

Historic Preservation

An interdisciplinary program that focuses on the documentation and preservation of historic architecture. The certificate has three major areas of interest: architecture history and theory, preservation, and preservation technology.

Contact: Prof. John White, 806.742.3136 Ext. 257
john.white@ttu.edu   
http://arch.ttu.edu/wiki/Programs#Certificate:_
Historic_Preservation

Horticultural Landscape Management

The green industry is one of the largest agricultural industries in Texas. Industry changes in recent years have left many professionals seeking the kind of supplementary training this certificate provides to update their credentials.

Contact: Dr. Cynthia McKenney, 806.742.2854, cynthia.mckenney@ttu.edu
www.pssc.ttu.edu/ProgramPages/GCP-HLM.php

Leadership

Provides the experienced manager the opportunity to build and reinforce the interpersonal skills that are essential to the management role at every level. May be taken as a stand-alone certificate. The credits may be used in partial fulfillment of a M.B.A. degree.

Contact: Dr.Michael Ryan, 806.742.3175, michael.r.ryan@ttu.edu; Nikki Bohannon, 806.742.3763, nikki.bohannon@ttu.edu

Linguistics

Provides a meaningful and internally coherent course of study of language and linguistics to match the background, interests, and needs of the individual student.

Contact: Dr. Min-Joo Kimt, 806.742.2501, min-joo.kim@ttu.edu
www.english.ttu.edu/linguistics/gradcertificate.asp

Master Mentor Teacher

Designed to prepare experienced teachers, administrators or other educators in mentoring beginning teachers. Theories, policies, and best practices in mentoring are examined.

Contact: Dr. Susan Myers, 806.742.1997 Ext. 249, susan.myers@ttu.edu or
Dr. Connie Anderson, 806.742.1997 Ext. 272, connie.anderson@ttu.edu
http://cms.educ.ttu.edu/future

Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Enablesstudents whose study and research relate to medieval and Renaissance materials to obtain an interdisciplinary certificate that will give them an advantage for positions in the field. The certificate will be of particular interest to students working toward a master’s or doctoral degree in art history, classics, English, romance languages, German, history, music or architecture.

Contact: Dr. John Howe, 806.742.3744, john.howe@ttu.edu; or
Dr. Connie Scarborough, 806.742.3145, connie.scarborough@ttu.edu

Mental Health Counseling

Post-master’s certificate designed for professionals in the mental health field who wish to expand their training to a specialization in the mental health area. This certificate does not represent licensure or certification in counseling.

Contact: Dr. L.J. Gould,
806. 742.1997 Ext. 296, lj.gould@ttu.edu 
www.educ.ttu.edu/future/graduate-certificates

Personal Financial Planning

Designed to meet the educational requirement for the Certified Financial Planner™ Certification designation.

Contact: Dr. John Gilliam, 806.742.5050 Ext. 240, john.gilliam@ttu.edu
www.depts.ttu.edu/pfp/graduate/graduate_studies.php

Petroleum Engineering

Supplements a course of study for the student who possesses an engineering degree other than petroleum engineering. Provides the above-average student with basic education in petroleum engineering.

Contact:Dr. Habib Menouar, 806.742.1801, Ext. 250, habib.menouar@ttu.edu

www.depts.ttu.edu/pe/students/grad/curriculum.php

Piano Pedagogy

Designed for the professional piano teacher. Offers participants continuing education in graduate-level piano pedagogy and performance courses.

Contact: Dr. Carla Davis Cash, 806.742.2270 Ext. 253, carla.d.cash@ttu.edu

www.depts.ttu.edu/music/SOM/keyboardGradCertPianoPedagogy.asp

Publishing and Editing

Student prepares for a career in editing and publishing; develops new workplace skills or supplements existing skills; learns publication production; understands the relationship between publishing history, book history, and literary studies; improves as a literary critic or creative writer; and develops or improves editing skills.

Contact: Dr. Ann R. Hawkins, 806.742.2500, ann.hawkins@ttu.edu; or Dr. Brian McFadden, Director of Graduate Studies, 806.742.2500, Ext. 246, english.gradadvisor@ttu.edu

Applicants must fill out the certificate application available at www.english.ttu.edu/grad_degrees/PubCert.asp.

Sensory Impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Designed to prepare professionals to provide high quality education and rehabilitation services to individuals with dual diagnoses of a sensory impairment and autism spectrum disorder.

Contact: Dr. Nora Griffin-Shirley, 806.742.1997 Ext. 247
n.griffin-shirley@ttu.edu

Software Engineering

For those who do not need or wish to have a full graduate degree in software engineering or computer science. Directed towards working professionals and graduate students who are interested in systematic software development.

Contact: Dr. Nelson Rushton, 806.742.3527, cs.grad_advisor@ttu.edu,
www.cs.ttu.edu/grad/cert.php

Soil Management

Allows potential soil scientists to obtain the required number of college soils credit hours required by the Natural Resource Conservation Service and have a tangible certificate to indicate that the individual has the requisite education.

Contact: Dr. Richard Zartman, 806.742.1626, richard.zartman@ttu.edu
www.pssc.ttu.edu/ProgramPages/GCP-SM.php

Special Education Transition

Provides specialized training for anyone working with individuals with disabilities in the transition from school to employment, postsecondary education, or independent living. Can be undertaken during a master's, doctorate, or post-baccalaureate certification program or as a stand-alone certificate.

Contact: Dr. Leann DiAndreth-Elkins, 806.742.1997, Ext. 286, leann.elkins@ttu.edu
www.educ.ttu.edu/edsp/

Strategic Studies

Prepares students to fill the need for officials in all branches of federal government, officers in the armed forces of the United States, and officials in state and local governments to deal with strategic responsibilities.

Contact: Dave Lewis 806.742.3121, dave.lewis@ttu.edu

Teaching English in International Contexts

For any student at Texas Tech enrolled in any graduate program and considering teaching English outside the United States.

Contact: Dr. Greta Gorsuch, 806.742.3145, greta.gorsuch@ttu.edu
www.depts.ttu.edu/classic_modern/linguistics/TEIC.php

Urban and Community Design Studies

Provides an area of specialization in urban and community design studies for architecture graduate students, as well as other related fields of study. Students develop a more focused understanding of the relationship between architecture and the urban environment as it relates to research-based academic endeavors and professional practice. The certificate is further supported by opportunities to participate in the Houston Program specializing in urbanism and/or the Urban Tech Downtown Studio in Lubbock.

Contact: Assoc. Professor MaryAlice Torres-MacDonald, 806.742.3136
ma.torres-macdonald@ttu.edu  
http://arch.ttu.edu/wiki/Certificate_in_Urban_and_Community_Design_Studies

Wind Energy—Managerial

A multidisciplinary certificate that focuses on the managerial aspects of the growing wind energy field.

Contact: Dr. Andrew Swift, andrew.swift@ttu.edu

Wind Energy—Technical

A multidisciplinary certificate that focuses on the technical aspects of the growing wind energy field.

Contact: Dr. Andrew Swift, andrew.swift@ttu.edu

Women’s Studies

Offers a specialist inter-disciplinary sub-field in women’s, gender, and identity studies for doctoral and master’s degree candidates. It also functions as a stand-alone credential useful for professionals in nursing, social work, law, healthcare management, and the military, as well as in faith-based organizations and the field of education.

Contact: Dr. Charlotte Dunham, 806.742.4335, charlotte.dunham@ttu.edu
www.depts.ttu.edu/wstudies/ws_grad.php

 

Youth Development Specialist

Designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with adolescents and young adults or are involved in education and research related to youth. It is designed to assist youth professionals to train individuals in the second decade of life with the skills necessary for a successful transition into adulthood.

Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Trejos, 742.3000 Ext. 265, elizabeth.trejos@ttu.edu; Dr. Jean Pearson Scott, 806. 742.3000 Ext. 271, jean.scott@ttu.edu; Pam Gardner,
806. 742.3031 Ext. 224, pam.gardner@ttu.edu

Youith Program Management and Evaluation

Designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with adolescents and young adults or are involved in education and research related to youth. Great Plains IDEA is the only alliance of public universities to offer a youth specialist certificate completely online. It is designed to assist in developing and applying resources for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations.

 

Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Trejos, 742.3000 Ext. 265, elizabeth.trejos@ttu.edu; Dr. Jean Pearson Scott, 806. 742.3000 Ext. 271, jean.scott@ttu.edu; Pam Gardner,
806. 742.3031 Ext. 224, pam.gardner@ttu.edu

 

 

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