Professional & Career Development

Graduate Professional Development Certificate Program

The Office of Graduate Studies is excited to announce we are relaunching a significantly enhanced Graduate Professional Development Certificate Program. Beginning Fall 2026, USF graduate students will have the opportunity to earn a non-credit certificate in professional development. Sign up starting August 1, 2026!

Purpose

The Graduate Professional Development Certificate Program is designed to help graduate students and postdoctoral scholars succeed in their academic program or postdoc training at USF and beyond. The program will provide graduate students and postdocs with a variety of professional development opportunities centered around four areas: Academic & Research Development, Career Exploration & Job Searching, Personal Wellness and Professionalism, and Individual Development Plans. The goal of the program is provide a platform for USF graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to enhance their knowledge and skills as they prepare for their future careers.

Why participate?

  • Learn about and engage in opportunities to further your academic, professional and career development
  • Track your involvement with professional development activities
  • Customize your development path to match your professional goals.
  • Reflect on your skills and experiences and connect them to potential career paths
  • Enhance your resume or CV with a certificate
  • Share your certificate online with a Graduate Professional Development Badge, which can be added to LinkedIn, ePortfolios, Social Media, and Handshake
  • It's FREE for USF graduate students and postdoctoral scholars!

Professional Development Areas

  1. Academic & Research Development
    1. Learn to navigate academia and graduate school
    2. Develop research and scholarship skills, academic writing skills, and grantsmanship
    3. Foster and manage relationships with faculty and advisors
  2. Career Exploration and Job Searches
    1. Understand and explore career options
    2. Develop job search skills
    3. Build and maintain a network
  3. Wellness and Professionalism
    1. Communication – Refine written, visual, and oral communication skills for a variety of audiences and mediums
    2. Teaching & Mentoring – Understand and apply principles of teaching and mentoring
    3. Leadership & Management – Understand and develop leadership and management skills; foster entrepreneurial thinking
    4. Wellness & Resilience – Promote self-care, health, and wellness; cultivate life skills
  4. ACHIEVE Individual Development Plan

Professional Development opportunities will be offered in two formats:

  • LEARN Opportunities – Workshops, trainings, and seminars
  • ACT Opportunities – Experiential opportunities and extensive trainings (ex. Participate in the Graduate Student Research Symposium, Have your resume reviewed)

Award

Students that complete requirements will receive a professional development certificate (non-credit) from the Office of Graduate Studies. Students and Postdocs will also earn a Professional Development Badge that they can share with employers on their LinkedIn profile or ePortfolio. 

Certificate Requirements

  • Participate in workshops, events, and development opportunities accruing a total of 15 professional development (PD) points.
    • LEARN Opportunities – Workshops, trainings, and seminars – 1 PD point
    • ACT Opportunities – Experiential opportunities, extensive trainings – 2 PD points
  • After each professional development opportunity (workshop or activity), complete the corresponding assignment in Canvas to receive points towards the certificate.
  • Upon completing the 15 points, students will be asked to submit a final reflection assignment to complete the certificate requirements.
  • Student must complete the requirements of the certificate between August 1, 2026 – August 19, 2027 to be awarded a certificate for the 2026-2027 academic year.

How to get started

  1. Join the Graduate Professional Development Certificate Program by completing the online form starting August 1, 2026.
  2. Enroll in the Canvas course to facilitate tracking of professional development activities. A link to enroll will be sent to your email.
  3. Explore the Graduate Professional Development Canvas Site to view list of workshops, events, and activities at are eligible to count towards the certificate. Students can select opportunities that align with their interests and are relevant to their stage of graduate study.
  4. Attend the workshop or event, or complete the development activity.
  5. Complete the assignment associated with the workshop or activity to receive PD point(s).
  6. After accruing 15 PD points, complete and submit final reflection assignment by August 19, 2027.
  7. Earn your credential badge and certificate!! 

Contact

The Graduate Professional Development Certificate Program is an Office of Graduate Studies and USF Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM) joint initiative since 2020.

For questions, contact gradPD@usf.edu.