Professional Science Management

Online Graduate Certificate in Professional Science Management

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$0 Application Fee
$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation

0 Entrance Exams
No GRE/GMAT Required

About This Program

The graduate certificate in professional science management from American Public University (APU) enables you to learn how to become a leader in your environmental field by coupling management and leadership skills with advanced environmental policy and management courses.  You’ll be prepared to lead teams that plan and execute policy and projects in government, private, or nonprofit scientific organizations.

Through your online science management classes, develop your skills in communication, leadership, project management, problem solving, critical thinking, negotiation, and communication. In addition, you’ll study best practices to plan, execute, monitor, and control natural resource management projects, as well as business management and organizational psychology.

Science management courses in this online graduate certificate deepen your knowledge of environmental management while preparing you to be a leader in the field, all without committing to a degree program.

What You Will Do

  1. Learn the major barriers to successful implementation of projects
  2. Develop soft skills such as effective communication and negotiation
  3. Become familiar with creating effective management strategies
  4. Study best practices in project management for planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling a natural resource management project, including its financial considerations
  5. Master effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills by using qualitative and quantitative approaches

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Cost Per Credit
$455 | $250*
$386.75** | $409.50***
Courses Start Monthly
Online
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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 2739

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This course examines the area of business law and applies it to the business environment. Traditional topics covered include: the legal environment of business, contract law, property, sales contracts, commercial paper, agency law, ethics and the regulatory environment. The course also examines the issue of the global economy from the view that the largest companies dominate in the creation of jobs and technological innovation.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/24/24 - 11/29/24 12/02/24 - 01/26/25 Fall 2024 Session D 8 Week session
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4697

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The intent of this course is to encourage and foster the graduate student’s analytical thinking and written communication skills. Students will learn advanced analytical techniques and communication strategies that professors at the graduate level across all academic areas expect them to know. Exposed to challenging ideas and potentially new strategies in examining a variety of topics, students will be expected to focus upon critical thinking principles and theories within those topics and then respond to assignments that require them to produce critical essays and a course project. Students will hone their reasoning skills through engagement in the forums and sharpen their writing skills through multiple drafts of papers with substantial feedback from their peers and their instructor. The culmination of the course will be a project that demonstrates the student’s growth as a thinker and as a writer.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2722

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This course is a study of the major corporate finance and financial management theory, strategy, processes, functions, and other issues. Topics include the finance function, concepts of sources and uses of funds, analysis and estimation of need for funds (short- and long-term), short-term sources, working capital management policy, long-term sources, capital structure policy and implementation, capital budgeting and the cost of capital. Students must have access to Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel software. Please refer to the Course Materials section for additional details on materials and pricing or contact [email protected].
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/24/24 - 11/29/24 12/02/24 - 01/26/25 Fall 2024 Session D 8 Week session
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2680

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This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2763

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Required first course in the Management program. This course will provide a framework for assessing individual and group behaviors in organizational settings. The primary emphasis will be on developing practical administrative/managerial skills in improving employee performance.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/24/24 - 11/29/24 12/02/24 - 01/26/25 Fall 2024 Session D 8 Week session
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2732

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This course utilizes an experiential format to focus on a variety of concepts and practices associated with developing and managing an effective team. As such, students will engage with classmates in virtual groups for much of the classwork. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the different approaches to management, motivation, and performance, along with some barriers to effective team efforts.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/24/24 - 11/29/24 12/02/24 - 01/26/25 Fall 2024 Session D 8 Week session
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Dec 2
Register by Nov 29

Admission Requirements

  • All APU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
  • Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Materials Cost

Technology fee: $85 per course 

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions coach at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

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Consumer Information

Disclosures

Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.

 

1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

Cost of Attendance

Learn more about American Public University's cost components and full cost of attendance