Linfield College’s highly respected adult degree program is broadening its offerings with five new certificate programs and changing its name to better reflect its focus.
The Online and Continuing Education program – formerly known as the Division of Continuing Education – now offers certificates in wine marketing, cyber security, creative writing, coaching and yoga instruction.
The five new certificates complement the five bachelor degrees and six certificates currently offered. The name change and the reorganization were made to reflect the program’s focus to provide high quality online opportunities to adult learners, whether they are seeking a bachelor’s degree or additional education to support their current profession. This change also reflects the fact that other, more traditional-age students now also seek flexible, online educational programs.
The new certificates, ranging from 12 to 24 credits, provide the breadth and depth necessary to establish a solid foundational understanding of a specific area, according to Laura Brener, director of Linfield’s OCE.
“Certificates are beneficial to individuals just starting out in a career area or those who are already in the field, but are seeking to enhance their skills in a specific area,” she said.
Certificates are also a great alternative for working adults to learn additional skills, if they don’t have the time or the finances to complete a full liberal arts degree, she added. Some employers cover the costs because it provides educational training that benefits both the employer and employee.
Additional certificates will be offered in the future as Linfield continues to develop educational opportunities to meet the needs and demands of the changing workforce and current and future students, Brener said.
The five new certificates are:
- Wine marketing: Provides an overview of the marketing discipline with a specific focus on the wine industry. It is designed to prepare students for a career in wine marketing and promotion. It is ideal for small winery owners, individuals considering a career in the wine industry or existing winery employees preparing for advancement.
- Cyber security and digital forensics: Focuses on the theoretical and practical applications of computer systems security and cyber security. This is valuable for those interested in the theoretical foundations of cyber security and the eventual application of it to real-world needs. The program will have a hands-on approach to develop, deploy and maintain a secure computing environment.
- Creative writing minor/certificate: Offers students in all disciplines the opportunity to advance their communication and critical thinking skills through the analysis and writing of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction and scripts.
- Coaching: Designed for individuals who work with children or adults in physical education, physical activity, health and coaching settings. This is relevant for the physical education or health education teacher in the schools, a first-year youth sport coach, a recent college graduate, or someone seeking professional development to enter a new field related to sports and physical activity.
- Yoga instruction: As interest in yoga continues to grow, students and studios are requiring teachers with professional training. Students will learn to teach safe and informative yoga classes as well as understand the history, philosophy and incorporation of yoga into Western culture.
The new certificates will begin in fall 2015. They join others currently offered through Linfield and include human resource management, database administration, web application development, software engineering, marketing and post-baccalaureate accounting. Linfield’s OCE also offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business information systems, international business, management, marketing and RN-BSN.
Linfield has long been a leader in adult education in Oregon, launching a program in 1975 that has grown into an exclusive online program serving students throughout the country.
For more information on Linfield Online and Continuing Education programs, contact Brener, 503-883-2449, lbrener@linfield. More information on the certificates is also available at http://www.linfield.edu/dce.
