Complement your Penn Engineering degrees with an Online Graduate Certificate in a rapidly expanding field. Our certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals will get you started with the basics of programming, while our certificates in Data Science, Software Systems, and Artificial Intelligence will give you the opportunity to dive deeper into those critical areas of computer science.
These for-credit credentials for Penn Engineering degree program alumni will give you a distinct advantage when seeking growth in your career.
Courses & Policies
The Online Graduate Certificate from Penn Engineering Online is a for-credit credential that will produce an academic transcript and paper certificate. To earn a certificate, students can take a maximum of four (4) course units. Two of these four course units may be double-counted from your Penn Engineering graduate degree program.
Students may earn a maximum of two certificates. No course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two credentials.
While most individuals will complete the Online Graduate Certificate program within one year, students may choose to extend their studies. In this case, all Certificate requirements must be met within a maximum of two years.
*Note: Degree students will receive first priority for course registration.
Data Science Online Graduate Certificate
The Data Science Graduate Certificate allows you to take a deeper dive into cutting-edge topics within the field of data science, equipping you to explore and solve some of society’s greatest challenges.
Software Systems Online Graduate Certificate
The Software Systems Online Graduate Certificate is ideal for those who would like a deeper dive into the tools and protocols that many modern software systems utilize. Backend developers aiming to expand their expertise and tackle challenging software design problems in large-scale development will particularly benefit.
Artificial Intelligence Online Graduate Certificate
Complete the Artificial Intelligence Online Graduate Certificate to dive into the world of AI with courses that explore algorithms for knowledge-based agents, large language models, natural language processing, and deep learning. This is ideal for students who would like to learn the foundations of AI and its real-world applications.
Computer Science Fundamentals Online Graduate Certificate
Designed specifically for students without a background in computer science, the Computer Science Fundamentals Online Graduate Certificate follows the core curriculum of our highly regarded online Master of Computer and Information Technology degree (MCIT Online), teaching the basics of computer programming.
Health Care and Technology Online Graduate Certificate
Designed in collaboration with Penn Medicine to address the demand for technology professionals who can innovate in health care, the Online Graduate Certificate in Health Care and Technology is well-suited to computer science professionals who are entering the health care field.
Eligibility
Penn Engineering alumni are eligible to apply for Online Graduate Certificates. Current students may start the application for an Online Graduate Certificate during their last semester as a degree student and must graduate from their degree program before becoming an Online Graduate Certificate student. Below is a guide to show which Certificate students are eligible for based on their Penn Engineering major:
The Data Science Online Graduate Certificate is open to graduates of:
- All Penn Engineering Majors*
*MSE-DS Online and On-Campus students are not eligible due to over qualification
The Software Systems Online Graduate Certificate is open to graduates of:
- MSE-DS Online
- MSE-AI Online
- MCIT Online
- Penn CIS Majors
- Penn ESE Majors
The Artificial Intelligence Online Graduate Certificate is open to graduates of:
- MSE-DS Online
- MCIT Online
- Penn CIS Majors
- Penn ESE Majors
*MSE-AI Online students are not eligible due to over qualification
The Computer Science Fundamentals Online Graduate Certificate is open to graduates of:
- All Penn Engineering Majors
- CS undergraduate students are not eligible due to over qualification
*MSE-AI Online, MSE-DS Online and On-Campus, MCIT Online and On-Campus, and MSE in CIS programs are not eligible due to over qualification
The Health Care and Technology Online Graduate Certificate is open to:
- Graduates of all Penn Engineering majors
- All students currently enrolled in one of Penn Engineering’s online master degree programs
- MCIT Online
- MSE-DS Online
- MSE-AI Online
- PLEASE NOTE: All SEAS students entering the certificate must take the HCIN 6022 Digital Health course as part of their degree studies and then they may apply to this certificate program during their last semester in their Penn Engineering online program. Students in MCIT Online will take this as an “Elective”; students in MSE-DS Online or MSE-AI Online must take this as a “Free Elective”. SEAS students taking this course for credit in an engineering degree must complete a final project focused on an area of computer science. Penn Engineering alumni who have not yet taken HCIN 6022 at the time of applying will need to take HCIN 6022 after enrolling in the certificate program as part of the certificate requirements.
Application
In order to register for an Online Graduate Certificate, Penn Engineering Online applicants will need to submit documentation through the application portal. The application consists of:
Personal Statement
In one to two paragraphs, please:
- Explain how an Online Graduate Certificate will benefit you.
- Write out a course plan for which courses (if any) will be double-counted from your Penn Engineering degree and which courses you are planning to take for the certificate and in which terms you plan to take them.
Unofficial Penn Engineering Transcript
Scan a copy of your official transcript or download a pdf from Path@Penn (Penn InTouch for Spring 2022 and earlier graduates).
Application Deadlines
| Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | Spring 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Form Opens | December 16, 2024 | April 7, 2025 | August 4, 2025 |
| Application Form Closes | March 3, 2025 | June 23, 2025 | November 24, 2025 |
| Decision Notification | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling |
| Confirmation Form Due | April 7, 2025 | July 11, 2025 | December 1, 2025 |
| Orientation Starts | April 2025 | July 2025 | December 2025 |
| Classes Begin | May 2025 | August 2025 | January 2026 |
Note: Admission decisions will be released no more than 30 days after your application form is submitted.
Costs
2025–2026 | Academic Year Costs* |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,675 per course unit |
| Online Services Fees | $162 per course unit |
| *Tuition and fees are posted as a guide and will be adjusted on a yearly basis. **Half Credit Courses are billed at half tuition and half fees. |
***Online Graduate Certificates are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Experience
Discover more about the Penn Engineering Online learning experience and what you can expect from virtual learning.
Online Graduate Certificate students will have access to the same resources as Penn Engineering Online degree students and continue their access to Penn Alumni services.
- Virtual and in-person events
- Academic advising
- Career services for current Penn Engineering Online students and Penn Alumni
- Penn Engineering Online student services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a student visa through a Penn Engineering Online degree program or certificate course?
No, we cannot sponsor visas for students because these programs and courses are based entirely online.
Can I begin an Online Graduate Certificate and apply to a Penn Engineering Online Degree?
Students may begin one of the above Online Graduate Certificates and may be eligible to apply to a Penn Engineering Degree under the following conditions:
- Have completed a maximum of two Online Graduate Certificate course units
- Have received a grade of B or higher in the Online Graduate Certificate course units
Note: Students may NOT apply to a degree program once they have completed three or more Online Graduate Certificate course units.
I am a current Penn Engineering degree student; when may I begin applying for the Online Graduate Certificate Programs?
Current Penn Engineering students may begin the Graduate Certificate application process in the final term of their degree program.
Can I complete an Online Graduate Certificate after I graduate from my Penn Engineering degree and then apply to a Dual Degree program?
Yes. However, students can never triple-count a course and only a maximum of four course units can be brought into the Dual Degree. With this, you would still be completing six course units for the Dual Degree.
If I do not complete an Online Graduate Certificate, can I apply to the Dual Degree program?
Yes. However, please review all Dual Degree policies for degree completion and double counting courses on the Dual Degree webpage. At least six course units must be taken towards your dual degree. Only four course units from your prior Penn Engineering graduate programs (degree or certificate) may transfer in.
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