Additional Options

Degree Options

A Rackham certificate of graduate studies is a non-degree credential for study and participation in a scholarly community around a focused topic of special academic interest. A certificate requires a specified set of courses and activities that supplement and enrich a student’s primary program of study.

A student in a Rackham or non-Rackham degree program may apply to the graduate school for a certificate program after having completed at least one term. Some certificate programs, however, are open to admission of persons who are not university graduate students but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Such applicants apply directly to the certificate program through Rackham Admissions.

Certificates require a minimum of 9 credits of coursework plus an additional requirement equivalent to 3 credits, for a total of 12 credits. The additional 3 credit equivalent requirement is defined and approved by the certificate faculty. This may take the form of an internship, practicum, research project, professional development activity, or similar experience. Alternatively, the certificate may require additional coursework of at least three credits of coursework. Certificates may require no more than 19 credits.

The following general rules apply:

  • Only graduate level courses eligible for Rackham credit may be used to meet certificate requirements; no transfer credit may be applied. All credits must be completed on the home campus on which the degree program is administered.
  • The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of B (3.0 on a 4.0 point scale) in courses counted for the certificate program.
  • Not more than one-sixth (five of 30) of the credits required for a master’s degree may be double-counted with a certificate.

If a certificate requires 9 credits of coursework, only 3 credits may be double-counted. Double-counted credits may not be used for a third master’s or certificate program. Read more on the Rackham website.

Cellular Biotechnology Training Program (CBTP)

The mission of the Cellular Biotechnology Training Program is to prepare graduate students for scientific careers that will transform human health through biotechnological innovation. Students from diverse scientific disciplines are provided training in interdisciplinary thinking related to biotechnology and guidance about careers in industry, government, entrepreneurship, policy, and academia.

Requires industrial internship, annual symposium participation, attendance at monthly meetings and lunches. CBTP trainees must take the program’s flagship course, PharmSci 706 (Biopharmaceutical Product Development), in addition to  PIBS 503 Research Responsibility and Ethics and 504  Rigor and Reproducibility.


Certificate in Engineering Education Research

The vision of the EER Program is to be internationally known and respected for innovative research and expertise that impacts scholarship, practice, and policy. The mission of the program is to improve engineering education at all levels by conducting rigorous and innovative engineering education research, preparing graduate students for successful, cutting edge research careers, and disseminating knowledge and expertise. 

Requires 9 credit hours of coursework (with a B average) and a related engineering education research project. Three credits can be double counted.


Computational Discovery and Engineering Certificate Program

The Graduate Certificate in Computational Discovery and Engineering (CDE) trains participants to conduct computationally intensive research, and prepares them to function effectively in interdisciplinary research and product development settings that employ high-performance computing. 

Requires nine graduate credit hours of coursework in approved courses and a CDE-related experience approved by the CDE Program Committee. Three credits can be double counted.


Data Science Certificate Program

The overarching goal of the Graduate Data Science Certificate Program is to train a cadre of skillful data scientists with significant multidisciplinary knowledge, broad analytical skills and agile technological abilities. 

Requires nine graduate credit hours of coursework in approved courses and a Data Science related experience (3 credit semester equivalent). Only one course may be double counted (up to 3 credits).


Graduate Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship

For students who wish to complement your degree with leadership, business, and innovation skills and stand out to employers.

Requires a minimum of 12 credits. It is possible to double count some credits between the certificate and your primary degree program.


Precision Health Graduate Certificate Program

The goal of the Precision Health Graduate Certificate is to train a cadre of precision health scientists to apply cutting-edge, multidisciplinary knowledge in the pursuit of improving patient and population health. Designed for masters and doctoral students enrolled in degree-granting graduate programs at the University of Michigan, the Precision Health Graduate Certificate is approved by the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Applications are due August 1 for fall term and December 1 for winter term.

Requires 12 total credit hours. 


Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP) Graduate Certificate Program

The Science and Technology in Public Policy (STPP) graduate certificate program is designed for students already enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Michigan. Master’s or doctoral students from any field are welcome to apply. No background in science or in policy is required.  Students learn how science and technology are influenced by politics and policy; analyze the role of science and technology in the policymaking process; develop policy writing skills; gain methods and tools for science and technology policy analysis; and explore the political and policy landscape of specific science and technology areas, including biotechnology, information and communication technology, energy policy, and more.

Requires 12 credit hours of course work (two core courses and two electives).


Sustainability programs

Engineering Sustainable Systems (ESS) Dual Degree Program

The dual degree confers a Master of Science (MS) degree from the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) from the College of Engineering. Students must be admitted by both units (SEAS, ChE) and meet the admission standards of both units.

New applicants must submit an application to both the Department of Chemical Engineering (program code 00115, [email protected]) and the School for Environment and Sustainability ([email protected]).


Climate Change Solutions

Climate Change Solutions (Numeric code 02388 / Program level = certificate)

Any student with a bachelor’s degree who has been admitted to one of the University’s science (natural or social), engineering, or professional graduate degree programs or who is currently enrolled in one of these graduate programs is eligible to submit an application to the Climate Change Solutions Graduate Certificate Program.

Earth’s climate is changing with far-reaching consequences. The challenges presented by climate change are large and broad, and for students to become leaders that pioneer solutions a breadth of expertise is needed. In the Climate Change Solutions Graduate Certificate Program, students will address the physical basis of changing climate, its impacts on humanity and be introduced to engineering solutions. The core courses establish a knowledge of climate science and the effects of warming on society, strategies for slowing and reversing the amount of warming that will be realized, and methods for responding to growing consequences of climate change. The three core courses cross the formal framework of climate change, mitigation, and adaptation.

Requires 12 credit hours of coursework, including three core courses and one elective of the student’s choice. These courses can be taken in any order.


Tauber Institute for Global Operations

Are you ready to lead? The Tauber Institute for Global Operations specializes in helping talented engineers learn business and management skills so that they are ready to take on high-level positions and responsibilities early in their careers. Tauber students are guaranteed an internship, often working with executives and industry leaders.


Technology Transfer  Fellows Program

The Fellows Program at U-M Tech Transfer is for graduate students who are interested in learning about the commercialization process and intellectual property. Fellows work part-time to assist Tech Transfer licensing specialists to assess the technical and market potential of new U-M inventions.


PhD in Scientific Computing

The PhD in Scientific Computing program is intended for students who will make extensive use of large-scale computation, computational methods, or algorithms for advanced computer architectures in their doctoral studies. A firm knowledge of the scientific discipline is essential. This is not a stand-alone degree; it is a joint degree program. Students must be accepted into the PhD program of a home department.