12 Things You Can Learn to Do in 12 Weeks (or Less)

Life is short. If you’re a working adult looking to skill up, you might not have the bandwidth for a long-term educational commitment.

If that sounds like you, then we’ve got great news: 12 courses and specializations offered by UW Professional & Continuing Education (UWPCE) that allow you to acquire valuable job skills in about three months. Use these newfound skills to boost your current career or as a springboard to chart a new professional path.

Here are 12 things you can learn to do in 12 weeks or less! What are you waiting for?    

Simple Ways to Gain New Skills That Can Boost Your Career

1. Create Visuals for a Marketing Campaign

Do you want to make your designs pop? In our Visual Design for Digital Media course, you’ll produce a “campaign in a box” that includes designs with graphic and animated elements. [9 weeks]

2. Blend AI into Your Writing Workflow

From brainstorming to polishing, AI is reshaping the writing and editing process. In our AI Essentials for Writers & Editors course, you’ll learn how to responsibly use AI tools in content creation while addressing ethical and legal considerations — and leave with a portfolio-ready manuscript. [8 weeks]

3. Create a Regulatory Document

Clinical trials and other regulatory processes in the medical field must be clearly documented, which has created a booming market for professionals with the skills to produce these deliverables. In the UW Specialization in Regulatory Medical Writing, you’ll develop a variety of different regulatory documents to add to your professional portfolio. [12 weeks]

4. Construct a Database

A relational database is a key tool in modern data management, allowing for a structured approach to organizing data. In the Foundations of Databases & SQL Programming course, you’ll build your own relational database using Structured Query Language (SQL) programming techniques. [9 weeks]

5. Design a UX Research Study

If you’ve ever appreciated the intuitive design of a website or app, then you likely have user experience (UX) research — the backbone of UX design — to thank. In our UW Specialization in UX Research, you’ll design and carry out your own research study using UX research methods to gain valuable user insights. [8 weeks]

6. Build a Go-to-Market Plan With AI

Product marketers today are increasingly using AI to better understand audiences and strengthen campaigns. In the UW Specialization in AI-Powered Product Marketing, you’ll apply AI tools to consumer research, positioning strategy and content creation to develop a go-to-market plan complete with AI-generated web, social and paid media assets. [10 weeks]

7. Manage a Project

Project management is a key element of many jobs in just about every company and organization hiring today. In the Foundations of Project Management course, you’ll learn project management fundamentals, then guide a sample project using best practices rooted in data and metrics. [4 weeks]

8. Generate a Grant Proposal

Grant writing is a valuable skill — many nonprofits rely on grant funding to support their work. In our UW Specialization in Grant Writing, you’ll practice key techniques for successful grant writing and leave with a completed grant proposal. [11 weeks]

9. Craft a Digital Accessibility Plan

Is your organization’s website accessible? In the UW Specialization in Web & Digital Accessibility you’ll create a real-world digital accessibility plan. Apply the latest knowledge, skills and tools for making digital content usable by everyone — regardless of ability. [12 weeks]

10. Make a Podcast

Podcasts are exploding in popularity. Join the movement! In the UW Specialization in Podcasting & Audio Storytelling you’ll work with professional scriptwriters to produce an original, eight-minute podcast episode from start to finish. [12 weeks]

11. Improve Project Planning With AI

AI is becoming an essential tool for modern project managers. In our Generative AI for Project Management course, you’ll learn how to use AI to support project planning, stakeholder communication and risk analysis. Walk away with a portfolio of AI-assisted project management documents. [10 weeks]

12. Write an Assessment of a Business Challenge

Being a confident writer can pay dividends professionally, whether you’re crafting clear, effective emails to your team or producing engaging customer-facing content. In our course Business Writing Foundations, you’ll write an assessment of a real-world business challenge using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach. [9 weeks]

Keep Learning

Looking for other things that you can learn in 12 weeks — or more? We offer a wide range of programs to fit just about anyone’s schedule.