A graduate certificate or diploma (the terms are used interchangeably in North America) in natural and physical sciences denotes specialization in a sub-field or discipline of the natural and physical sciences gained through intensive graduate-level study. As such, it supplements an already established area of expertise (in the natural and physical sciences or not related to the field) and adds value to a previously earned Bachelor's or graduate degree. Delivered in various formats from residential to online, graduate certificates in natural and physical sciences comprise 4 - 6 courses (typically 12 - 18 credit hours) taken in a prescribed sequence at the graduate level.
The concurrent graduate certificate or diploma in the natural sciences allows students currently enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral degree program in the field to pursue an in-depth exploration of one aspect of their field.
The stand-alone, direct-entry graduate certificate/diploma program in natural science provides an opportunity for graduate-level study of theory and research to students who are not interested in pursuing a full graduate degree. This could include professionals with a Bachelor's degree working in the field or anyone who does not have the time or interest in a traditional graduate program in natural science. Then too, some students who take the stand-alone certificate already have a graduate degree and use their certificate to augment a particular area of interest.
Graduate certificates in the natural and physical sciences may be obtained in any branch including in the natural sciences - biological science and earth science, and in the physical sciences - astronomy, physics and chemistry.
Featured Grad Schools offering a Graduate Certificate in Natural Sciences
