For those who would rather go to work than go to school, Kirkwood offers certificate and diploma programs that provide hands-on experience in an industry, skilled trade, or technological field in as little as nine months to one year.
You'll start work with an upper hand on those who didn’t receive specialized training. And, if you choose to further your education later, many of our certificate and diploma programs transfer into two-year degree programs.
In order to earn a certificate through Kirkwood, you must apply through the corresponding two-year program. Once you are accepted, you can indicate the certificate or diploma of your choice.
Participants in certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid, or Kirkwood scholarships due to the short length of the program. Only students enrolled in diploma or two-year degree programs are eligible for financial aid.
Program Areas are a collection of Kirkwood’s academic program options organized by similar career/interest categories. If you’re not ready to commit to a specific program yet, a Program Area is perfect for you! You can also customize any of our programs to meet your transfer needs, if that’s your goal.