Stackable Certificates (Engineering)

The Value of Stackable Online Certificates

Stackable online certificates offer the opportunity to customize your advanced education and learn about the topics you are most interested in, applicable in your current role or future career.

Modular and flexible education credentials enable individuals to specialize or diversify their expertise. Each certificate can be earned as a standalone credential and/or as a step toward a future degree. It combines immediate career benefits with the long-term advantage of an advanced degree, offering students a dynamic and customizable approach to their educational and professional development.

Online stackable certificates can provide:

• Flexibility and customization through a tailored-to-you learning pathway
• Career relevance and impact in real time, along with potential for enhanced employability
• Cost-effective education with gradual investment toward a master’s degree*
• Motivation to incrementally reach milestones and stay focused on topics that matter to you
• Credit transferability to help you ease into the commitment to earn a degree
• Continuous learning mindset to develop your knowledge and adapt to industry changes

*Financial aid is available for master’s degrees, but it is not available for the certificate (non-degree) programs in Industrial and Systems Engineering.
 

Earning a Master's Degree at UofL

Multiple graduate certificates can be stacked towards a Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (MS ISE) or a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (MEng EM) without requiring additional coursework. Eligible certificate programs include, but are not limited to the following:

• Analytics for Engineering Decision-Making (9 chr) [see courses in UofL catalog]
• Engineering Logistics Certificate (9 chr) [see course in UofL catalog]
• Healthcare Systems Engineering Certificate (9 chr) [see courses]
• Six Sigma Certificate (9 chr) [see course in UofL catalog]
• Other online graduate certificates that may meet degree requirements (ex. AI in Medicine [see course in UofL catalog]).
   

MSISE or MEEM Online Degree Pathway: 
From Certificates to Master’s

Upon completion of the first engineering certificate, and before starting a second certificate, students must initiate a degree (MSISE or MEEM) plan with their advisor, expressing their interest in earning a master’s along with the second and third certificate.

Students must apply and be admitted into the MSISE or MEEM program and continue with completing the program’s core courses and elective courses or other certificate(s).
 

MSISE and MEEM Graduation Requirements

Students must achieve a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average to earn a certificate. Only courses in which the student has earned a B grade or better may count toward the degree program.

Students may apply course credit earned from one or more graduate certificate programs towards a master’s or doctoral degree, but they must apply to the degree program prior to beginning a second certificate that will count toward the degree. 

Use of academic credit earned from certificates is subject to admission to the degree-granting program and must be consistent with both curricular and residency requirements of the degree program. 

Explore the Stackable Certificate Option When You’re Ready

Already admitted or enrolled?
Please contact: Dr. Jacob Maxwell Read Academic Advisor jacob.read@louisville.edu 502.852.9166

Thinking of starting at UofL? Please contact: The Online Learning Team online@louisville.edu 800.871.8635