Office of Professional Studies and Experiential Learning

Program director: Lisa Schwiebert
Phone: (205) 975-4521
Email: OPSEL@uab.edu
Website: https://www.uab.edu/graduate/students/current-students/career-development/opsel

OPSEL Information

OPSEL courses, seminars and workshops are offered to improve the academic and professional communication skills of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff with the goals of supporting scholarship, research integrity, productivity, effective communication, mentoring and leadership, college teaching, and the development and refinement of professional skills.

Those interested in pursuing the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) degree (MA or MS) will find information about the program and how to apply on the IGS webpage at: Master of Arts and Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies - Graduate School | UAB

Similarly, individuals interested in pursuing any of the following graduate-level certificates through OPSEL will find more information about the programs and how to apply at:  Office of Professional Studies and Experiential Learning - Graduate School | UAB 

Upon completion, graduate certificates earned through OPSEL will appear on official UAB transcripts. For more information regarding the course requirements click on the hyperlinks below.

Interdisciplinary Graduate StudiesMS and MA degrees available 

UAB offers two master’s degrees in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS): The Master of Arts and the Master of Science. Both IGS degrees are designed to provide students with opportunities to blend two areas of expertise in order to best meet the needs of contemporary hybrid careers. The IGS degree allows students to personalize a master’s degree to align with their professional, academic, and personal goals. Students may choose to combine any two (2) UAB graduate certificates that have affiliated with the IGS program in order to gain knowledge and skills they want as they seek professional advancement or personal development.

Academic Advising - Certificate available 

The graduate certificate in Academic Advising (AADV) is designed to provide current and prospective academic advisors with opportunities to gain knowledge, skills, and competencies required to advance their academic advising practices in manners that best support students in their academic success and persistence towards degree completion.  Scholars who complete the Academic Advising graduate certificate will display their knowledge of and ability to apply desirable competencies within, yet not limited to, individual advising and academic support sessions and group advising sessions as well as environments associated with appreciative admissions, orientation, academic transitions, major discoveries, and career preparations. Courses in the AADV graduate certificate program are offered in the standard letter grading format and may be incorporating into the IGS degree. The program is also available as a track in the Master of Science in Higher Education Administration.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Advocacy - Certificate available (email: DiversityEd@uab.edu)

The graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy (DEIA) is designed to provide learners with opportunities to gain knowledge, skills, and competencies associated with advancing personal, social, and cultural initiatives to combat interpersonal and systemic inequities as well as foster cultures of inclusion and justice.  Learners who complete the DEIA graduate certificate will display their knowledge of and ability to apply desirable competencies within, yet not limited to post-secondary education institutions, civic engagement, nonprofit, and politically minded organizations, health care providers, as well as the business and industry sectors.  Courses in the DEIA graduate certificate program are offered in the standard letter grading format and may be incorporating into the IGS degree.

Leadership & Professional DevelopmentCertificate available

The LEAD certificate is designed to provide students with opportunities to master leadership and professional development competencies. The dynamic nature of today’s society and economy requires us all to think critically, communicate effectively, and transfer skills into multiple environments. LEAD facilitates learning and competencies required for academic, career, and personal success. Courses in the LEAD graduate certificate program are offered in the standard letter grading format and may be incorporating into the IGS degree.

Mentoring & LeadershipCertificate available 

The Mentoring and Leadership certificate is designed to provide students with opportunities to build strong mentoring and leadership skills while exploring what it takes to be a mentoring leader. The certificate offers courses in mentoring, leadership, communication skills, and more.

Courses in the Mentoring and Leadership graduate certificate are offered in the pass/no pass grading format.

Research CommunicationCertificate available

The graduate certificate in Research Communication (RECM) is a graduate-level credential that is designed to provide foundational knowledge and applicable experience in effective communication of research and key research findings to academic audiences, professional audiences, and to the general public across different communicative platforms. The RECM certificate focuses on developing current UAB graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and employees in both science and non-science fields to learn how to effectively communicate research and research findings. The certificate offers courses in presentation and discussion skills, academic writing, grant writing, writing for broad audiences, and more. Courses in the RECM graduate certificate program are offered in the Pass/No Pass as well as standard letter grading format. The standard letter grade format courses may be incorporated into the IGS degree. 

Research Laboratory Management - Certificate available

The Research Laboratory Management certificate prepares graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and staff, who are engaged in science-related research, to effectively lead and manage all aspects of an active scientific laboratory. Managing laboratory needs, such as budgetary and regulatory / safety compliance, is essential for career success in today’s research marketplace. Courses in the Research Laboratory Management graduate certificate are offered in the pass/no pass as well as the standard letter grading formats. Graded courses may be incorporated into the IGS degree.

Teaching at the College LevelCertificates available

UAB offers two CIRTL graduate certificates designed to provide you with opportunities to improve your teaching. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, employees, and community members are welcome to take one or more CIRTL courses. CIRTL@UAB is part of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) Network. Built around the core values of Learning through Diversity, Teaching as Research, and Interdisciplinary Learning Communities, CIRTL is dedicated to preparing the next generation of college faculty. UAB offers two CIRTL certificates:

  1. CIRTL Practitioner (15 credits) requires courses to help you gain teaching skills to prepare learners to develop, deliver, and assess learning opportunities for diverse populations.
  2. CIRTL Scholar (21 credits) builds on the Practitioner certificate and guides participants in developing and implementing a Teaching-As-Research (TAR) project to enhance teaching effectiveness. If you choose to complete the CIRTL Scholar certificate, you will also be awarded the CIRTL Practitioner certificate.

Admission to the Certificate Programs

Current UAB graduate students - fill out and submit the “Intent to Pursue” form located on each of the certificate’s webpage.

For new students – click here to complete the UAB Graduate School Application indicating which certificate you wish to pursue.

Registration

For more information on how to register for classes, visit https://www.uab.edu/students/academics/register-for-classes.

Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising

RequirementsHours
Core Classes
AADV 600Academic Advising History and Practices3
HEA 660College Student Development3
AADV 610Assessment in Academic Advising3
AADV 620Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy in Academic Advising 3
Electives3
Special Topics Seminar in Academic Advising
Special Topics Workshop in Academic Advising

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching - Practitioner

RequirementsHours
GRD 705Teaching at the College Level2-3
GRD 716Developing a Teaching Portfolio2
GRD 750CIRTL Seminar in Learning2
GRD 751CIRTL Teaching Methods2
GRD 755CIRTL Teaching Practicum3
Elective Courses: 5
Presentation and Discussion Skills
Presenting Effectively
Writing Successfully
Mentoring 101
Introduction to Mentoring & Leadership
Writing & Reviewing Research
Professional Writing & Publishing
Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks
Developing and Managing Your Professional Image
Managing & Leading Teams
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Navigating the Job Market
Improvisational Techniques to Improve Leadership, Teaching, and Research Communication
Advanced Evidence-based Teaching
Introduction to Online Teaching
Total Hours16-17

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching - Scholar

RequirementsHours
GRD 705Teaching at the College Level2-3
GRD 716Developing a Teaching Portfolio2
GRD 750CIRTL Seminar in Learning2
GRD 751CIRTL Teaching Methods2
GRD 755CIRTL Teaching Practicum3
GRD 759CIRTL Teaching-as-Research in STEM Courses3
GRD 760CIRTL Teaching-as-Research Project3
Elective Courses: 5
Presentation and Discussion Skills
Presenting Effectively
Writing Successfully
Mentoring 101
Introduction to Mentoring & Leadership
Writing & Reviewing Research
Professional Writing & Publishing
Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks
Developing and Managing Your Professional Image
Managing & Leading Teams
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Navigating the Job Market
Improvisational Techniques to Improve Leadership, Teaching, and Research Communication
Introduction to Evidence-based Teaching
CIRTL Seminar on STEM Academic Teaching Careers
Advanced Evidence-based Teaching
CIRTL The College Classroom
CIRTL Effective Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning
CIRTL Diversity in the College Classroom
CIRTL Special Topics
CIRTL Individualized Seminar
CIRTL Individualized Teaching and Learning Project
CIRTL Individualized Teaching Experience II
Introduction to Online Teaching
Total Hours22-23

Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Advocacy

RequirementsHours
Core Courses
DEIA 510Diversity Policy Politics and Practice3
DEIA 520Equity and Inclusion3
DEIA 530Leadership in Social Justice Advocacy, Self and Others3
DEIA 590Engaged Scholarship in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy1-4
Electives3
Total Hours13-16

Certificate Leadership and Professional Development

RequirementsHours
LEAD 500Introduction to Leadership Behaviors, Characteristics and Theories3
LEAD 520Ethics in the Workplace3
LEAD 540Team Development and Dynamics2
LEAD 590Leadership by Design2
Electives5
Professional Writing for Leadership
Professional Presentations for Leaders
Professional Interveiw and Interviewing Skills for Leaders
Introduction to Organizational Change Processes
Prioritization and Decision Making for Leadership
Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
Servant Leadership
Followership
Gender Dynamics and Leadership
Inter-generational Leadership
Building Effective Teams
Planning and Leading a Meeting for Leaders
Conflict Negotiation in Leadership
Planning and Facilitating a Retreat
Leadership and Professional Development Workshop
Total Hours15

Graduate Certificate in Mentoring and Leadership

RequirementsHours
GRD/MENT 719Introduction to Mentoring & Leadership3
GRD 735Leadership 1011
GRD 713Mentoring 1011
Choose ten (10) credit hours from the folloiwng electives:10
Presentation and Discussion Skills
Teaching at the College Level
Grants and Fellowships 101
Presenting Effectively
Writing Successfully
Preparing TAs to Be Effective Teachers
Writing & Reviewing Research
Professional Writing & Publishing
Developing and Managing Your Professional Image
Managing & Leading Teams
Ethical Leadership Development
Leadership Survival Skills
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Critical Decisions in Mentoring & Leadership
Navigating the Job Market
Faculty Mentoring in Higher Education
Improvisational Techniques to Improve Leadership, Teaching, and Research Communication
Total Hours15

Graduate Certificate in Postdoctoral Professional Development

RequirementsHours
Certficate Core Classes
GRD 709Writing Fellowships3
GRD 717Principles of Scientific Integrity3
GRD 773Research Lab Management3
Certificate Electives6
Presenting Effectively
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Writing & Reviewing Research
Introduction to Mentoring & Leadership
Managing & Leading Teams
Research Communication Portfolio
Introduction to Online Teaching
Introduction to Bioinformatics
From Idea to IPO
Leading Innovation
Total Hours15

Certificate in Research Communication

RequirementsHours
GRD/RECM 701Presentation and Discussion Skills3
GRD/RECM 722Writing Research for Broad Audiences3
GRD/RECM 739Research Communication Portfolio3
Electives8
Message Construction
Analysis of Communication Audiences
Writing in Popular Periodicals
Business Writing
Technical Writing
Writing and Medicine
Grants and Fellowships 101
Presenting Effectively
Writing Successfully
Writing Research for Academic Audiences
Writing & Reviewing Research
Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Improvisational Techniques to Improve Leadership, Teaching, and Research Communication
Web Analytics
Total Hours17

Certificate in Research Lab Management

RequirementsHours
Required Coursework
GRD/RLM 773Research Lab Management3
MBA 631Management and Organizations3
GRD 706Grants and Fellowships 1011
GRD/RLM 774Introduction to Regulatory Compliance1
GRD/RLM 775Research Lab Safety1
Electives6
Accounting and Finance for Managers
From Idea to IPO
Presentation and Discussion Skills
Introduction to Mentoring & Leadership
Communication and Diversity Leadership
Writing & Reviewing Research
Total Hours15