School of Professional Studies introduces faster track to advanced degree
Clark University’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) will offer two new certificates in rapidly expanding fields — Health Informatics and Educational Leadership — beginning this fall. Clark’s SPS has also reduced the requirements needed to obtain a master’s degree, reducing the number of courses required to 10 from 12.
“For more than 70 years, members of the greater Worcester community have looked to Clark’s School of Professional Studies, formerly the College of Professional and Continuing Education, to help them stay relevant in the workforce,” said Assistant Dean Mary M. Piecewicz.
“We’re pleased to be able to expand our offerings in these burgeoning new disciplines and are committed to making sure that busy working professionals are able to obtain the skills they need to advance their careers more quickly and at a reduced cost.”
The School of Professional Studies will offer a Certificate in Health Informatics, a field the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted will grow 15 percent by 2024. Clark’s certificate comprises four courses and enables candidates to explore data analysis tools and gain insight into health care information technology and management. Health informatics jobs range from risk adjustment to medical quality assurance.
The Certificate in Educational Leadership, which includes six courses, helps educators and administrators at all levels to build competencies in leadership, participatory decision-making, and educational policy development and analysis, thus preparing them to be the innovators of tomorrow. Professionals in the field of education who pursue this certificate often include superintendents and district-level administrators, directors of charter management organizations, administrators at state agencies, and experienced principals and teachers who aspire to system-level roles.
Certificates can be earned through online or hybrid courses. Completed course credits may be applied to respective master’s programs. For more information, contact Clark Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@clarku.edu or visit clarku.edu/sps.
Clark University has been a leader in providing graduate education to mid-career professionals and recent college graduate seeking to advance their careers. For more than 75 years, the School of Professional Studies has focused on innovation, leadership and effective practice. With students from more than 90 countries and partnerships with 150 nonprofits and businesses around the world, Clark’s School of Professional Studies recognizes that today’s classroom spans the world.
