2016-2017 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Undergraduate Certificate in Liberal Education and Professional Skills

• Admission Requirements
• Certificate Requirements

A certificate in liberal education and professional skills (LEPS) provides students with declared liberal arts and interdisciplinary majors an opportunity to develop workplace-related skills, knowledge, and competencies beyond those they already acquire in the coursework toward their degree. Additionally, the program's curriculum encourages students to reflect on career paths in light of their liberal education and synthesize newly acquired professional skills in an applied, problem-solving context. A LEPS certificate indicates that students have acquired additional experience and skills related to:

• Workplace writing
• Professional speaking
• Financial literacy
• Technological literacy
• Project management
• Team-based problem solving

Admission Requirements

Anyone admitted to GVSU as a degree-seeking or nondegree-seeking student may complete this certificate. The minimum number of credits required to complete the certificate is 12.

Certificate Requirements

In order to complete the certificate, must earn a bachelor's degree and select a total of 12 credits from a list of required and elective courses. For elective courses, students must select one course from each of the two groups of electives.

Required Courses (6 credits)

• IDS 400 - Liberal Education and Problem Solving in the Workplace Credits: 2
• LIB 382 - Leadership Portfolio Development Credits: 1
• WRT 350 - Business Communication Credits: 3

Elective Courses (6 credits)

Group 1: Technological Literacy (select 1 course)

• CIS 150 - Introduction to Computing Credits: 3
• CIS 231 - Problem Solving Using Spreadsheets Credits: 3

Group 2: Financial Literacy (select 1 course)

• ECO 200 - Business Economics Credits: 3
• ACC 212 - Principles of Financial Accounting Credits: 3

Cocurricular Programming

Students pursuing the LEPS certificate are strongly encouraged to participate in the Brooks Professional Series, which provides additional professionalization activities related to networking, career exploration, and the job search. More information about this cocurricular programming is available from the Office of Integrative Learning and Advising, 133 LMH, (616) 331-4321.