Certificate Programs

School of Continuing Studies certificate programs consist of a short series of courses that allow students to develop a specialized skill set or gain a deeper understanding of a unique facet in a field of study. For degree-seeking students, courses within a certificate program may be taken for credit and applied toward a degree either as elective credits or as part of a major if applicable. For non-degree-seeking students, courses must be taken for credit in order to appear on a transcript. Non-credit-bearing courses will not appear on a transcript. Certificates are awarded upon successful completion of the entire series of courses.  

Certificate in Accounting

Whitworth's Certificate in Accounting is designed to help you learn the accounting principles you need to take the CPA exam. You can complete the accounting certificate on its own in just 16 months if you’ve already taken the prerequisite courses or earn it as part of a bachelor's degree program. The 24-credit series begins in January each even-numbered year; prerequisite courses begin in August on odd-numbered years.

The learning outcomes of the accounting certificate prepare the student to:

1. Communicate complex financial results
2. Be conversant with ethical foundations in the field of accounting
3. Use financial results to make financial recommendations in business situations 
4. Participate in corporate level decision making

In order to take the CPA exam in the state of Washington, candidates must meet the following education requirements:
At least 150 credits of college education, including...

• A baccalaureate degree or higher; 
• 24 credits in accounting subjects (15 at the upper level or graduate level); and
• 24 credits in business administration subjects

Operations Management and Six Sigma Certification

Operations Management and Six Sigma Certificate is designed to develop valuable professional skills that will help students add value to any organization through dynamic people and change management skills coupled with the highest level of lean management through Six Sigma certification. 

The learning outcomes of the Operations Management  and Six Sigma certificate prepare the student to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of optimizing business processes through lean management utilizing the Six Sigma model in order to reduce defects/errors while increasing quality and efficiency.
2. Use appropriate industry standard tools to answer complex strategic planning questions.
3. Clearly communicate to others the challenge or opportunity, the proposed solution(s), and effectively manage change in a people-centric manner.

Certificate in Brewing Science & Operations

The Brewing Science & Operations Certificate is designed as a 14-credit, one-year program, offered through the School of Continuing Studies, that requires four courses and internship hours (for credit). In general, these courses will meet one weekday evening per week in addition to two full Saturdays to facilitate a balance between knowledge acquisition and practical use of the brewing equipment. We have designed the program to begin once per year, in August, with cohorts moving through the program together, finishing the following May. We believe that keeping these cohorts capped to 12 students per year will maximize student time on the brewing equipment, optimize community between those student cohorts, and increase networking capabilities of students with regional craft brewers.

The learning outcomes of the brewing science & operations certificate prepare students to:

1. Show proficiency and creativity in craft brewing by being able to articulate the important knowledge as well as demonstrate the relevant skills necessary for successful brewing.
2. Understand general concepts surrounding best practices in running a small brewing business in an efficient and ethical manner.
3. Be able to articulate the cultural and social implications of being successful in an industry that, in addition to product success, must acknowledge the mindful behaviors between responsible consumption and addiction.