WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Three online graduate certificates from Purdue University offer an accessible, affordable way for professionals to boost their knowledge and skills in microelectronics and semiconductors, defense technologies, and international development — or all three.

The online graduate certificate in microelectronics and semiconductors is a flexible, distance-based entry point for engineers and technology professionals looking to advance their knowledge and careers in the field. The nine-credit program focuses on critical skills and expertise in semiconductor materials; advanced semiconductor device design and modeling; integrated circuit and system design; and advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration. Purdue is a global leader in research and education involving microelectronics materials, devices, chip design, tool development, manufacturing, packaging and sustainability. For more information about Purdue’s 100% online microelectronics and semiconductors graduate certificate, visit the program website.

The online graduate certificate in strategic defense technologies is an interdisciplinary professional development opportunity for anyone whose work requires analyzing, understanding, designing and executing defense and civilian strategies involving technologies supporting the strategic interests of the United States. The curriculum offers a unique blend of strategy, military studies, social science and policy analysis to enhance skills and job prospects in defense, military and security fields. It equips learners to make informed decisions about emerging technologies that enhance national defense and security. The nine-credit program distinguishes itself by integrating technical skills with the critical thinking found in a liberal arts education, being competency-based and prioritizing innovation. For more information about Purdue’s 100% online graduate certificate in strategic defense technologies, visit the program website.

The online graduate certificate in international development is designed for professionals working in global settings, including program and project managers, politicians, policy analysts, administrators, engineers, and scientists. The nine-credit program’s interdisciplinary approach blends agricultural expertise, engineering insight and a political science foundation, attracting students from diverse backgrounds and offering valuable insights across fields. The curriculum focuses on examining problems through a global lens and applying a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. It covers international development foundations and strategies with electives that allow students to focus on areas such as agricultural policy, global communication, public policy, sustainable engineering and more. The program equips students with skills needed to effectively tackle a wide range of international development issues in such vital areas as food security, trade, sustainability and community resilience. For more information about Purdue’s 100% online graduate certificate in international development, visit the program website.

Online graduate certificates from Purdue can be stacked to build a customized skill set. They also can be rolled into a graduate degree if an individual decides to take that leap. Purdue offers fully online master’s degrees in microelectronics and semiconductors and strategy and defense engineering.

In today’s skills economy, many professionals are seeking out training that is quick, affordable and focused on building specific career skills with a good return on investment — just what Purdue’s stackable graduate certificates can offer.

“I think of graduate certificates as time- and cost-effective career advancement pathways for busy working professionals who want to see immediate benefits towards their professional goals,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue’s senior vice president for partnerships and online.

In the case of the international development graduate certificate, for example, Purdue recognized both a growing need for professional international development education and job growth in the field, said Joshua Detre, senior principal strategic research development administrator in Purdue’s College of Agriculture.

“To make the program more accessible and practical than traditional graduate degrees, we chose a certificate format, appealing to a broader range of students,” Detre said.

Online courses from Purdue are developed and taught by internationally known faculty from Purdue’s flagship campus, rated as the most recognized public university in the U.S. by American Caldwell. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Purdue a top 10 Most Innovative University for seven years running.

For more information on Purdue’s graduate certificates, master’s degrees and other fully online offerings, visit this website.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.