Certificate Programs in Engineering

Twelve. They are: Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering; Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience; Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Data Analytics; Data Science; Energy Systems Engineering; Health Systems Engineering; Industrial Engineering and Operations Research; Optimization; Probabilistic Modeling; Polymer Science and Engineering; Technical Entrepreneurship.

A graduate certificate is a short, focused sequence of graduate courses — typically four — in one specialized area. It lets you build relevant and timely skills in an area related to current technological challenges without committing to a full degree, or pursue training that complements your path of graduate study. A master’s degree at the Rossin College is 30 credits; every certificate that publishes a credit count is 12 or 15.

It varies by program, and not every program publishes a figure. 5 certificates are 12 credits — Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Data Science, Probabilistic Modeling, Polymer Science and Engineering and Technical Entrepreneurship — and Energy Systems Engineering is 15. Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience states a sequence of four courses rather than a credit total. For all programs, contact the department that offers the program that interests you for details.

In several programs, yes. The four Industrial and Systems Engineering certificates are non-degree programs whose earned credits may be applied toward an ISE master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate in Data Science applies all 12 of its credits toward the 30-credit M.S. in Data Science. Courses taken for the Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience certificate count toward an M.S. or PhD as well, and the Probabilistic Modeling certificate’s courses count toward a student’s main degree program without incurring additional tuition charges. Check with the individual program — this is not a blanket college policy.

Two are fully online: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Science and Engineering. A further four are offered on campus or online — Data Science, Health Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and Optimization — per the department's own published program list. Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience is hybrid, and Technical Entrepreneurship is taught entirely in person. The remaining four certificates do not publish a delivery mode: Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering, Data Analytics, Energy Systems Engineering and Probabilistic Modeling.

In several programs, yes. The four Industrial and Systems Engineering certificates are explicitly non-degree programs. The Probabilistic Modeling certificate is open to non-degree graduate students who meet Lehigh’s admission criteria, including the criteria for international students. The Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience certificate can be taken on its own or combined with a master’s or doctoral degree.

Yes, in the programs designed for it. Graduate students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department can earn a graduate certificate as part of their master’s or doctoral program, taking a series of four courses in a specific area; those courses count toward the main program and do not incur additional tuition charges. The Probabilistic Modeling certificate is directly accessible to all graduate students at Lehigh University. The Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience certificate can be combined with any M.S. or PhD, and its courses count toward that degree.

No. The GRE is not required or considered for any Rossin College graduate program. The Probabilistic Modeling certificate page states the same thing in its own terms: no graduate entrance exams are required.

$50 USD, for applications at all levels and in all semesters, paid online by credit card or electronic check as part of the online application.

Certificate coursework is offered during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Admissions is rolling and on the same time table as master's admissions: December 15 for a Spring start date; May 15 for a Summer start date; and, July 15 for Fall start date. Individual departments set their own application open dates and available start terms, so contact the department that offers the certificate to confirm which terms it admits to.

Yes, for some. Edcor-affiliated employees and employees of a Lehigh direct corporate partner each receive a 20% tuition discount on all Rossin College master’s and graduate certificate programs, and EdAssist-affiliated employees receive a 20% discount on the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering certificate and the Polymer Science & Engineering certificate among other select programs. Applicants through any of the three can also request a free application-fee waiver. See Partnerships and discounts.

Angelo Lambroschino, graduate recruiting manager for the Rossin College, is the first point of contact — see his page for how to reach him. You can also meet an advisor or a current graduate student, or request information.

The Rossin College offers 21 master’s programs and 11 PhD programs in engineering. See master’s programs in engineering and PhD programs in engineering. Non-degree options are also available for students who want to take graduate courses without enrolling in a program.