Fall is a great time to turn over a new leaf! At UW Professional & Continuing Education, we’re launching a host of new and innovative programs for autumn quarter.
These leading-edge offerings — courses, specializations and certificate programs — map to variety of in-demand disciplines, including generative AI for business, data visualization, Lean Six Sigma: Black Belt and much more. Check out the list below and find a program that can help you boost your career and learn something new.
1. Business and Leadership
Generative AI for Business
- Type: Course
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 7 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous)
Generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Dall-E have the potential to transform the way we’ll work in the very near future. The ability of these tools to answer questions and generate text, images, video and audio on command is already rapidly changing the world.
In this course, we’ll explore how generative AI is reshaping the business landscape, from marketing and communications to human resources to legal issues and more. You’ll learn about prompt engineering and use various generative AI applications to create content for different business needs. We’ll also examine the ethical issues and potential risks associated with generative AI. Gain hands-on experience with these powerful tools and position yourself to thrive in the career and business environment of tomorrow.
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Business Technology Essentials
- Type: Course
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 7–11 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous)
Are you feeling left behind in today’s workplace? Keeping up to date with modern office technologies is an essential part of being effective at work.
This course will guide you through the essential tech tools you need to know and some of the newer technologies that are starting to emerge (such as automation). You’ll learn about modern data security practices, file management (both on a server and in the cloud), automating tasks on Mac and Windows, formatting documents with word-processing software, and communication tools such as Outlook and Teams. You’ll gain confidence with office technology and boost your efficiency in a supportive learning environment.
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Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam Prep
- Type: Course
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous)
Effective project management is a cornerstone to any organization’s success. Becoming a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® one of the most in-demand certifications in the professional world, can be a foundational step in launching your project management career.
Our CAPM® Exam Prep course uses the Project Management Institute (PMI)® certified curriculum to explore key project management concepts and prepare you for the CAPM® exam. You'll acquire the skills and knowledge vital for successfully initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and closing projects. You’ll also learn about other important topics, such as project integration, project scope, timing, cost management and more.
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Lean Six Sigma Management: Black Belt
- Type: Certificate
- Starts: October 2024
- Duration: 4 months
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous)
In martial arts, a black belt signifies you’ve mastered the essential moves and techniques of that discipline. Similarly, the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification recognizes an experienced problem solver who understands how to implement, perform, interpret and apply Lean Six Sigma principles at an advanced level.
This certificate program, offered by UW Tacoma, builds on the techniques of Lean Six Sigma Green Belt to position you to manage project teams and lead process improvement initiatives. You’ll gain leadership skills, learn about team dynamics, and understand how to successfully assign roles and responsibilities to project team members. You’ll also have the chance to explore real-world business challenges and develop strategies for undertaking process improvements at your organization.
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Washington Certified Public Manager®
- Type: Certificate
- Starts: August 2024
- Duration: 10 months
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous), UW Tacoma
Are you a public-sector employee in Washington state interested in improving your leadership and management skills? If so, you may be a great candidate for the Washington Certified Public Manager® program.
This 10-month program, offered through UW Tacoma, allows public employees to connect their leadership journey with their work in the public sector. You’ll explore key competencies such as work management, organizational integrity and personal development through lectures, discussions, workshops and individual projects. The program also incorporates the process improvement skills integral to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Upon completion, you’ll earn both the Certified Public Manager® designation and the UW Tacoma Lean Six Sigma Green Belt qualification.
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2. Marketing
Empowering Marketing & Communications With AI
- Type: Course
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 7 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Asynchronous, With Optional In-Person Events)
The latest generative AI tools have the potential to revolutionize many fields, with marketing and communications at the top of the list. Large language models like ChatGPT can easily produce endless amounts of marketing ideas, strategies and creative copy on demand, and marketing and communications pros should become adept at harnessing these powerful tools.
This course, developed and taught by experts from the UW Communication Leadership master's program, will teach you how to utilize these emerging AI technologies in your everyday workflows. You'll learn to use conversational AI (applications that can simulate human conversation) to enhance your brand storytelling, develop creative campaigns, write briefs and analyze data. You’ll also explore what it means to use these tools safely and responsibly.
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3. Data and Technology
Data Visualization Essentials With Power BI
- Type: Course
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 10 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Asychronous)
Microsoft’s Power BI software allows you to bring your data to life with rich visualizations and business intelligence insights. Whether you're a budding data analyst, business analyst or simply someone who wants to become more skilled at data wrangling, Power BI can help take your data visualization skills to the next level.
In this foundational course, you’ll explore key Power BI concepts and tools used for real-time data analysis and strategic insights. You’ll learn to apply fundamental data visualization theories to create impactful reports and data stories, including how to choose optimal report designs, charts and layouts for different business scenarios. You’ll also discover interactive reporting techniques and gain the ability to curate compelling data stories for nontechnical audiences using best practices in data visualization.
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Data Science Foundations
- Type: Course
- Starts: October 2024
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Where: Online (Online Synchronous)
Are you seeing a flood of jobs that require data skills in your job searches or career-development explorations? Now is a great time to add data science knowledge to your resume and professional repertoire.
In this foundations course, you’ll learn the essential skills of data science, including the fundamentals of data analysis and the key mathematical concepts required for any data science role. We’ll explore everything from the basics of Python programming to advanced statistical analysis, giving you the know-how to tackle real-world data science challenges, including data collection and cleaning, model selection and evaluation, and data privacy and security.
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Data Science in Health Economics & Outcomes Research
- Type: Certificate
- Starts: September 2024
- Duration: 9 months
- Where: Online (Online Asynchronous)
With big data now the norm, many health organizations, insurance companies and government health agencies increasingly rely on employees with data science training to help inform their decision-making.
This certificate program provides in-depth exposure to data science concepts in the context of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). The program offers a unique focus on fundamental aspects of data science and how these apply to health economics, data analysis and decision-making. You’ll explore machine learning principles and their applications in HEOR; learn about comparative effectiveness analysis with routine care data; and study the latest data science trends impacting HEOR across roles in the health, life sciences, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.
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Explore More Programs
Check out all our upcoming certificates, specializations and courses and find a program that’s perfect for you.