salemstate.edu/graduate
WHAT IS A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE?
Salem State University’s graduate certificate programs provide working professionals, career changers and those looking to enter the workforce with opportunities to develop the practical skills needed to meet the needs of a highly competitive marketplace.
Our graduate certificates prepare students to:
• Obtain cutting-edge knowledge and skills not easily obtained by on-the-job learning
• Interpret, organize and communicate knowledge effectively and efficiently
• Integrate knowledge among cross-functional teams
• Work collaboratively on projects
• Leverage skills for career advancement in organizations from the smallest start-up to the largest multinational
Graduate certificates typically consist of twelve, fifteen or eighteen credits in a practice-oriented discipline. Courses are offered online, in the classroom, or a hybrid of both, providing students with a flexible and affordable approach to advancing their career.
Credits earned from our certificate programs can be applied to full master’s degree programs for those wishing to pursue a more in-depth study of academic subject areas.
For more details visit salemstate.edu/graduate.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Salem State offers 12 graduate certificate programs.
ACCOUNTING
This certificate is an excellent introduction to the accounting world for professionals that want to advance their career while earning academic credit or are considering earning a full master of science in accounting (MSA) at Salem State. The program is perfect for non-accounting undergraduate majors or those individuals that hold a bachelor’s degree in that field and want to advance their knowledge.
After successfully completing this graduate certificate, if the student decides to pursue Salem State’s MSA, these credits may be applied towards that program, if all other conditions are fulfilled.
Total Credits: 15
Price Group: 3
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Provides educators in regular and special education settings with the background and fieldwork needed to effectively assist children identified with autism spectrum disorders. Families and other professionals, such as school administrators, guidance and adjustment counselors, social workers, nurses, and occupational and physical therapists, working with children on the Autism spectrum may also benefit from this program.
Total Credits: 12
Price Group: 1
BILINGUAL EDUCATION
The graduate certificate in bilingual education is designed to meet the requirements for PreK through 12 teachers who wish to earn the DESE Bilingual Education Endorsement. The program provides a strong grounding in the research and practices to teach emerging bilingual students, including foundations of programming, language acquisition and biliteracy development, and the multicultural facets of teaching students and interacting with parents and the community.
Total Credits: 13
Price Group: 1
DIGITAL STUDIES
Innovative, flexible and practical for professionals and academics in almost any discipline, the fully online graduate certificate in digital studies trains educators and practitioners in the humanities and sciences in the skills needed to enter and succeed in fields such as digital scholarly editing, digital archiving and stewardship, museum and library curation, cultural heritage preservation and public history.
Total Credits: 12
Price Group: 1
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
This two-year certificate of advanced graduate study (CAGS) program is designed for educators holding master’s degrees who are ready to pursue informal and formal leadership work, with the end goal of licensure as a principal/assistant principal in the State of Massachusetts.
The CAGS program supports candidates through coursework (10 core courses) and guided fieldwork (practicum and seminar experiences), all aligned with the Massachusetts PAL Tasks required for principal/assistant principal licensure.
The program’s first year is comprised of the graduate certificate in teacher leadership, which can also be completed as a stand-alone, one-year program.
Total Credits: 36
Price Group: 1
GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE
This graduate certificate in geo-information science (GIS) provides a core understanding of geospatial technologies, hands-on use of cutting-edge software and technology and a formal introduction to geospatial problem solving in real-world applications. GIS and related geospatial technologies, such as remote sensing from satellites, aircraft and drones, are integral to a variety of applications, including mapping and surveying, environmental analysis and natural resource management, transportation and urban planning, business planning, crime analysis, and disaster management, to name only a few areas. This program is designed for current and aspiring geospatial professionals who want to become more skillful users of GIS software and related tools.
After successfully completing this graduate certificate, if the student decides to pursue Salem State’s MS GIS, these credits may be applied towards that program, if all other conditions are fulfilled.
Total Credits: 15
Price Group: 2
HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES
This innovative certificate program offers an opportunity to explore graduate level scholarship in the growing fields of comparative genocide, conflict studies and human rights.
Offered in conjunction with the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the history department, the interdisciplinary academic program explores issues ranging from the cultural, historical and theoretical impact of the Holocaust to more recent genocides throughout the world including Latin America, Southeast Asia, East Africa and Southeastern Europe.
The certificate will achieve the following three objectives:
(1) deepen student’s interdisciplinary knowledge of comparative genocide and conflict studies and human rights and expand their critical thinking skills
(2) provide students with opportunities for attending public lectures by international experts, intensive seminars, curriculum workshops and extensive international study and travel courses and institutes
(3) prepare students for advanced graduate degrees and careers in schools, public sector agencies, non-profits and NGOs, international security and aid organizations and human rights advocacy
Total Credits: 15
Price Group: 1
Taking history out of the classroom and into public discourse, the graduate certificate in public history teaches students how to be collaborative practicing researchers, interpreters of historical sites and presenters of a living history. Students will have the opportunity to develop skill sets in the following areas: collecting and curating materials; creating and interpreting cultural heritage sites, events, and memorials; and contributing historical evidence to the design and production of cultural exhibits.
After successfully completing this graduate certificate, if the student decides to pursue Salem State’s MA History, these credits may be applied towards that program, if all other conditions are fulfilled.
Total Credits: 15
Price Group: 1
SPORT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Unique and versatile, the graduate certificate in sport development and management is designed to prepare graduates to move into leadership positions at any profit and non-profit sport, fitness and leisure organization.
This program expands and deepens professional knowledge of strategic aspects of sport management such as finance, marketing, event and facility management. The program also explores the world’s most systematic and progressive ways to develop sporting organizations and services with a focus on lifelong nurturing of participants for better performance, health, education and social harmony. The sports development and management certificate program is available fully online.
Total Credits: 12
Price Group: 2
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES
The graduate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages is designed to prepare students to teach in a variety of community, international, workplace and adult settings. Whether you are beginning your career in TESOL or looking to make a difference in the lives of English learners, this flexible 15-credit program can be tailored to help you meet your goals.
After successfully completing this graduate certificate, if the student decides to pursue Salem State’s MAT TESOL, these credits may be applied towards that program, if all other conditions are fulfilled.
Total Credits: 15
Price Group: 1
TEACHER LEADERSHIP
Designed to support current and future teacher leaders, participants engage in a one-year, four-course sequence. Educators will learn the art of facilitation, professional learning design, data-informed decision making and action research–all competencies needed to effectively serve in informal and formal teacher leadership roles at the school level. Throughout, educators will focus on developing the mindset and stance of a teacher leader.
The certificate also offers the option of taking additional courses, for up to 18-credits total, for those interested in pursuing a CAGS degree at a later time, or for those interested in a particular content specialization.
Total Credits: 12
Price Group: 1
WRITING AND RHETORIC
The certificate in writing and rhetoric program is designed for current and future teachers of writing whose careers depend upon a strong foundation in literacy and keen rhetorical analysis. Our courses give students a thorough introduction to Writing and Rhetoric as a scholarly field as well as hands-on, administrative and teaching experience through our internship program.
This program is ideal for current secondary education teachers across the disciplines, community college and first year writing teachers, and students interested in pursuing further graduate studies in departments of English.
Total Credits: 12
Price Group: 1
The below cost per credit includes tuition and fees. Graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid (with the exception of Educational Leadership). Price Group MA Residents Non-MA Residents
*Admission requirements for 2026
An initial educator license or a minimum of three years of experience working directly with children on the Autism spectrum or in a related field (social work, nursing), and/or permission of the program coordinator.
An initial/professional educator license, or transcript documenting matriculation into an education preparation program leading to licensure.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
Students currently enrolled in a Salem State graduate program should follow the concurrent enrollment process instead of using the graduate online application. Contact the School of Graduate Studies at graduate@salemstate.edu or 978.542.6323 for more information on the concurrent enrollment process.
Contact the program coordinator for your program of interest today!
Apply: salemstate.edu/apply
Financial Aid: salemstate.edu/finaid
Email: gradadmissions@salemstate.edu
Phone: 978.542.6200
For accommodations and access information, visit salemstate.edu/access .