GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

College athletics run on more than game-day energy. Behind every successful program are leaders who understand compliance, manage legal risk, and drive strategic decisions across a complex organization. The Graduate Certificate in Athletic Administration prepares you to be one of them.

This interdisciplinary certificate draws on established coursework in legal and compliance studies and strategic management of athletics to build a credential that athletic departments, conferences, and sports organizations value. Every course stacks directly into the M.S. in Higher Education Leadership, so your certificate isn't a stepping stone — it's the first chapter of a larger degree if you choose to continue. Hybrid course delivery make this program built for professionals and graduate students who want flexibility without compromise.

For more information on this program, contact program coordinator Denise Roseland.

The graduate certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed for individuals who have already earned a master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution (or equivalent). Our program is tailored to meet your unique needs, whether your background is community, higher education, or school counseling.

Additional admission requirements:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in the program.
• A personal statement — a brief autobiography that includes information about you, your life experiences that led you to pursue a degree in professional counseling, and your career goals (i.e., what you hope to do with this degree).
• A background check through ViewPoint.
• A counseling application assessment of previous coursework taken.

State-specific professional licensure information for this program »

The graduate certificate in Educator to School Counselor is a blended-format program designed for individuals who have already earned a master’s degree and are seeking to obtain their School Counseling (7054) license in Wisconsin. This innovative 25-credit program begins each summer and can be completed in as little as one year or up to 3 years. Additional courses may be required for non-teachers.

The curriculum equips students with school counseling knowledge, skills, and practical experience to make a lasting impact on the lives of K-12 students — academically, personally, socially and emotionally. The program is designed using a cohort model to facilitate learning within relationships and collaboration with colleagues.

Why choose our program

• Built on Relationships: We believe education is personal. Our cohort model blends targeted in-person intensives with collaborative online learning, fostering deep professional connections and friendships that last long after graduation.
• Meaningful In-Person Connection: Start the program with a hands-on, five-day summer residency on campus (June 15–19, 2026). You’ll reconnect with your peers mid-year during a weekend intensive in January, ensuring the human element remains at the heart of your studies.
• Flexibility for Professionals: Balance your career and education with a mix of synchronous and asynchronous online coursework. Whether you want to finish in 1 year or spread it across multiple years, our program adapts to your life, not the other way around.
• Practical Internship Integration: Keep your momentum. If you are currently employed at a PK-12 school, you may be eligible to complete your internship requirements right in your home district, allowing you to apply what you learn in real-time within your own community.
• Your Experience Matters: We’ve built this program for professionals like you. Use your existing knowledge of education and/or counseling to address the critical mental health needs in your community.

Program outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and functions of a culturally responsive and trauma informed school counselor
• Facilitate student support through consultation, collaboration and connection to resources
• Apply content knowledge, skills, and behaviors to develop their competence as professional school counselors
• Utilize multiple methods of data collection and assessment to guide tiered interventions
• Advocate for systems change to increase access and opportunity for all students

Student Testimonials

"Our two in-person, experiential opportunities during this program, the Summer Intensive and Winterim Group Counseling course, were irreplaceable in their impact. From the initial meetings with colleagues to the ropes challenge to developing group counseling plans, our cohort was able to develop a beneficial symbiosis that amplified all of our learning. School counseling is a calling, and being in the presence of others with that same passion was inspirational and unforgettable."

"(My cohort) are some of the most hard-working, dedicated, loyal colleagues I’ve ever met. No matter what, no matter when, our students come first. We collaborate each day to ensure the needs of our students are being met; if those needs are not met, we are brainstorming to determine what we can do and who we need to involve."

"This program has opened my eyes to my love and capacity for systems change advocacy. More specifically, I now think of myself as a gentle disruptor, a school counselor who questions the status quo when it fails to serve my values of equity, social justice, and, as corny as it sounds, liberation for all students, with an intentional focus on those who are historically marginalized. My framework as a school counselor has gone from focusing on improving individual students’ academic, social-emotional, and post-secondary outcomes to designing systems, policies, practices, and environments that make success in these areas more accessible to everyone."

Applications for the 2026-27 school year (June 2026 start) are now being accepted. Admissions for the next summer’s cohort are rolling and reviewed monthly until the program is filled. Priority will be given to individuals who are employed as a school counselor with a temporary license.

To express interest in the program or to ask questions, contact program coordinator Anne Garvey Shah at garveysa@uww.edu.

Additional admission requirements:

• Must have completed a master’s degree with a 3.00 grade point average
• Must have experience working in a school or counseling related field
• A cover letter expressing your interest in the program
• A resume documenting your professional experience
• A personal statement — a brief autobiography that details your experiences in the field of education and/or counseling and what you hope to accomplish through this certificate program
• A background check through ViewPoint.

State-specific professional licensure information for this program »

Today's colleges and universities need professionals with focused expertise in areas like legal risk management, assessment, and institutional governance — and they need them now. The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration gives you a direct path to those high-demand skills without the commitment of a full master's program. This stackable credential is designed to meet you where you are. If you're a current professional looking to upskill quickly, the certificate validates specialized knowledge that employers recognize. If you're a current or future master's student, it adds a career-specific credential to your résumé before you've even finished your degree. All certificate coursework integrates with UW-Whitewater's M.S. in Higher Education Leadership — the same program with a 100% job placement rate among recent graduates. Flexible hybrid delivery lets you build expertise on your schedule, not someone else’s.

For more information on this program, contact program coordinator Denise Roseland.

The graduate certificate in School Counseling is designed for individuals who have already earned a master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution (or equivalent). The program — specifically crafted for those who lack emphasis in school counseling — will help you excel in the school setting, empowering you to guide and support students on their educational journeys.

Additional admission requirements:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in the program
• A personal statement — a brief autobiography that includes information about you, your life experiences that led you to pursue a degree in professional counseling, and your career goals (i.e., what you hope to do with this degree).
• A background check through ViewPoint.
• A counseling application assessment of previous coursework taken.

State-specific professional licensure information for this program »

The graduate certificate in School Social Work equips you with the specialized skills and knowledge to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs that can hinder their learning and development. With hands-on training and real-world experience, you’ll be empowered to provide crisis intervention, conduct home visits, and connect students and families to critical support services.

Additional admission requirements:

• Enrollment in the Master of Social Work program at UW-Whitewater
  • Students must choose to add a school social work graduate certificate when they apply to the UW-Whitewater MSW program
• A background check through ViewPoint.

State-specific professional licensure information for this program »

 The graduate certificate in Post-MSW School Social Work is designed for individuals who have already obtained a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited program and are interested in school social work. Position yourself to be a sought-after professional who makes a profound impact on the education system and beyond.

Please note that the Post-MSW School Social Work program is not offered every year. We recommend contacting the program coordinator at msw@uww.edu to confirm its current availability.

Additional admission requirements:

• A 3.00 graduate grade point average
• A personal statement that is three pages long (double spaced with one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font) and addresses five questions:
  • Why are you pursuing school social work at this time?
  • Why are you choosing the UW-Whitewater post-MSW school social work certificate?
  • What are your long-term professional goals?
  • How does the UW-Whitewater post-MSW school social work certificate fit into your long-term goals?
  • If you received an MSW more than five years ago, explain how you have kept current with the latest information in social work.
• Contact information, including name, organization, position/title, relationship, telephone number and email address) for two individuals that are knowledgeable about your potential to do graduate work and function successfully as a counselor
• A background check through ViewPoint.

State-specific professional licensure information for this program »

Understanding the student experience isn't just part of the job — it's the foundation of every good decision you'll make as a higher education leader. The Graduate Certificate in Student Affairs and Leadership Practices builds your fluency in student development theory, equity-minded practice, and the developmental principles that drive effective policy, programming, and student support.

Whether you're preparing for your first role in student affairs or deepening the expertise you bring to your current position, this certificate grounds your leadership in what matters most: the students you serve. Faculty partner with higher education administrators to deliver real-world experiences in every course. All coursework stacks seamlessly into the M.S. in Higher Education Leadership, so you can earn a focused credential now and continue toward your master's degree when you're ready. Hybrid course delivery means you keep working while you learn.

For more information on this program, contact program coordinator Denise Roseland.

The graduate certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling — available only to students who are enrolled in UW-Whitewater’s Master of Social Work program — provides the specialized knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in this rewarding, in-demand field. Develop a deep understanding of addition, evidence-based treatment approaches, and effective techniques through coursework and hands-on experience to support individuals on their path to recovery.