Looking for a way to get noticed fast in this changing job market? Gain a respected credential and specialized career skills you can put to work right away.
With UW specializations, a short-format offering from UW Professional & Continuing Education, people can learn in-demand career skills in a range of fields, from brand management to grant writing to UX research.
What’s a Specialization?
UW specializations are a chance for students to develop focused skills and competencies in high-demand areas as they learn from expert instructors in a convenient, online format.
These programs also require less time commitment than earning a certificate or a degree — many UW specializations can be completed in 12 weeks or less.
“We’ve designed UW specializations so adult learners can fit world-class education into their busy lives,” says Sandra Janusch, associate vice provost of international and academic programs for UW Continuum College. “These specialized skills can give our graduates the edge they want to stand out in the job market and make a greater impact in today’s changing professional landscape.”
UWPCE now offers more than 20 different specializations across a variety of fields, including business, communications, marketing, programming and tech.
Employers: Skills and Specializations Wanted
Employers worldwide are facing critical skill gaps in the workforce. And as businesses adapt to changing labor needs, employees must be prepared to quickly learn new skills to keep up with workforce demand. For example, according to LinkedIn’s Work Change Report, 38% of executives worldwide prioritize ‘agility’ when looking to hire entry-level job candidates — and 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change by 2030.
Janusch says that’s why each UW specialization is tailored to give learners expertise they can use to take on new, more complex projects in their current job or move into a new role.
“Adding specialized skills you’ve gained through the University of Washington can make your career profile more visible to potential employers.”
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Danial Powers, director of enrollment services at Continuum College
As hiring managers across the job market look to LinkedIn and online resumes to find candidates with fine-tuned skills, many people are deciding now is the right time to go back for learning to upskill or reskill, says Danial Powers, director of enrollment services at Continuum College.
“Adding specialized skills you’ve gained through the University of Washington can make your career profile more visible to potential employers,” Powers says.
Powers says some UW specializations may be the right next step for alumni of UW certificate or degree programs, many of whom say they’re inspired to keep learning even more.
Skills To Attract the Right Kind of Attention
Whether you’re preparing to pivot your work or pursue a new passion, courses, certificates or specializations can be important layers for any career path.
While completing a UW specialization, students get direct support from instructors, who guide individual online learning, small-group practice scenarios and real-world portfolio projects. UW learners also have opportunities to network with leading employers, working professionals and a community of peers.
Learners who successfully complete a specialization also earn a certificate of completion and a digital badge, University of Washington credentials they can use to validate their specialized skills and new competencies.
Credentials like specializations matter when it comes to staying prepared for the future of work. Anne Szeto, who led strategic recruiting and academic relations at Amazon for more than a decade, said on an episode of the podcast Learn/Earn/Relearn that credentials can be an early signal to hiring managers about what skills you can contribute toward a company’s success.
“We also look for other signals, like curiosity and willingness to go back for continuing education,” Szeto says. “There are so many different ways to think about finding a new role. My best advice is to pursue multiple paths. We also look for folks to show that they’re passionate about a specific space.”