Description of Course Structure
Courses Include Industry Experts and Experienced Educators
Most courses are offered online, and in George Mason's Continuing Professional Education unit we provide you with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to step into an industry or advance your career. We partner with leading associations and organizations so you can quickly upskill or reskill your abilities, prepare for third-party certifications, and help you earn the CEUs you need to maintain your position or certification. These non-credit courses make you an in-demand professional with the skill sets employers are looking for.
Self-paced courses can be started at any time, and those with a live, online learning component have frequent start dates throughout the year. While live courses require that you log in at certain times and days, you may do so wherever you have a consistent connection. Courses vary in the length of time they take to complete — some take a few days, others will require several months of your time.
If you cannot find the informationyou are looking for on our website we are happy to answer any questions you may have, just contact us at cpeinfo@gmu.edu or click on the request information button.
Choose Your Type of Learning
CPE offers many ways to learn new skill sets that enhance your current role and help you step into new career opportunities.
- Individual courses focus on a specific set of skills or industry knowledge but can vary widely in terms of contact hours. You can spend a week completing a course, or more than a year.
- Immersive courses typically take a minimum of 25 contact hours to complete but can take as many as 60. When you complete an immersive course, you'll receive a digital badge that easily verifies a set of skills you achieved to future employers.
- Bootcamps, like individual courses, usually focus on mastering a specific technical skill that can directly impact your current position or project or help you transition to a new career in a brief amount of time, typically three to four months.
- Professional Certificates can vary widely in terms of contact hours. They can consist of a single course with a multitude of topics or include a series of courses. Some certificates also offer a digital badge that can verify the specific industry skills learned. When you successfully complete the Professional Certificate program, you'll receive a certificate that speaks to your new skill set.