Get the essential skills and knowledge you need with UPCEA’s online Professional Development programs: the UPCEA PCO Professional Certificate and the UPCEA Leader Certificate! Taught by leading experts in the field of online and professional continuing education, these professional development courses with certificates offer high-value content for practitioners at all levels. The online courses in UPCEA's Learning Center cover a wide variety of topics and skillsets, and afford you the opportunity to network with your peers. Put our flexible curricula to work for you and your career goals and earn a professional development certificate that builds new skills.
The UPCEA Professional Development Programs At a Glance
Our Courses, Your Choice
Choose the courses and topics that are most relevant to you and your career goals. All courses are aligned with knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to our field. Upon successful completion of a course, participants will be awarded an UPCEA-backed badge. Courses have both synchronous and asynchronous features, and can be taken individually and in any order. Courses are offered throughout the year. Begin any time and take courses in the order that best suits your needs and interests.
UPCEA PCO Professional Certificate
Our flagship program, the highly flexible UPCEA PCO Professional Certificate program, is designed for professionals interested in building their expertise and advancing their careers in the field of Professional, Continuing and Online (PCO) Education. Choose any five Professional-level courses and earn the UPCEA PCO Professional Certificate from UPCEA.
UPCEA Leader Certificate in Online and Professional Education
Explore leadership within higher education at a new level by focusing on how to responsibly manage people, data, and ideas. Complete all five Leader courses and earn the Leader Certificate from UPCEA.
Designed for All
Courses are crafted to offer high-value content for learners at various professional levels, and are designed and facilitated by leading faculty and professionals in online and professional continuing education. Participants will find value, purpose, and new skills through our carefully constructed curricula. We know you have many demands on your time; the work of each course is designed to take approximately five hours per week.
Facilitated by Experts
UPCEA's Professional Development programs in online and professional continuing education are created and facilitated by leading experts with real-world experience in the field. The online courses in UPCEA's Learning Center cover a wide variety of topics and skillsets, and afford you the opportunity to network with your peers. Put our flexible curricula to work for you and your career goals, and earn a certification in professional development.
Built by Experts
UPCEA is proud to have partnered with highly respected leaders in the field to develop and implement our Professional Development programs. Using the perspective of practical application, the Founding Faculty helped determine the competencies, credentials, and skills to cover within the UPCEA Professional Development programs. These programs include a selection of online courses designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field. Meet our Founding Faculty!
"Already signed up! This is going to be indispensable, not only for what my Global Campus team will learn, but for morale. We will be working harder (and differently) than ever before. Helping my team (and my campus) adjust is much easier when providing support and skill-building like this."
Steve VandenAvond, Ph.D.
Vice President for Extended Learning and Community Engagement
Northern Michigan University
Complete five courses from the choices below to earn the Professional Certificate from UPCEA.
Our flagship program, the highly flexible PCO Professional Certificate program, is designed for professionals interested in building their expertise and advancing their careers in the field of online and professional continuing education.
- Credentials Beyond Degrees: The Role of Online and Professional Continuing Educators in Credential Innovation
- Diversity by Design: Developing Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Programs, Pathways and Partnerships
- Understanding the Adult Learner and Other Constituencies in Online and Professional Continuing Education
- Creating and Motivating Online and Professional Continuing Education Enterprises
- Overview of Online and Professional Continuing Education
- The Entrepreneurial Imperative
- Markets, Marketing, and Managing the Cycle from Prospects to Learners
- Program Planning and Oversight in Online and Professional Continuing Education
- Academic Strategic Planning in a Constantly Changing Environment
- Forecasting, Budgeting, and Managing Money in an Environment of Uncertainty and Risk
Upon successful completion of each course, participants will be awarded an UPCEA-backed badge, marking their achievement in earning a professional development credential. Courses can be taken individually and in any order. Each course is five weeks long. This ensures that professionals can develop new skills at their own pace while earning valuable credentials.
Leadership is an ongoing quest. Explore leadership within higher education at a new level by focusing on how to responsibly manage people, data, and ideas with the Leader courses. Participants will learn how online and professional continuing education leaders identify and explore opportunities in collaboration with campus colleagues and other professionals in the field, earning a professional development certificate upon completion.
Leader courses are for current higher ed leaders and professionals, and those on the cusp of a significant leadership role. Deans, Associate Deans, Directors of major institutional functions, Senior Instructional Designers, and others are welcome to apply for the intimate Leadership course cohorts. Whether your goal is to grow in your current role, move up or beyond your position, or simply learn and share within a community of your peers, this is a unique opportunity to consider. Crafted by senior leaders in the field, these professional development programs provide insight for those aiming to be at the strategic level in their institutions. Participants in Leader courses will gain deep knowledge and networking, not just from course faculty, but from their peers facing the same struggles (and sharing successes).
Does the Leader program sound right for you?
Upon successful completion of each course, participants will be awarded an UPCEA-backed badge. Courses can be taken individually and in any order. Each course is four weeks long. Complete all five Leader courses successfully and receive the Leader Certificate.
- Leading with Diplomacy, Data, and Drive: the Unique Imperative of the Online and Professional Continuing Education Leader
- The Role of Educator: Expanding Academic Horizons
- The Role of Ambassador: Engaging Those in Business, Community, and Government
- The Role of Innovator: Managing An Adaptive, Agile Organization
- The Responsible Professional: Managing Through Transparency, Integrity, Quality, and Accountability
Founders
 |
 |
 |
 |