School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies Offers Noncredit Certificate Programs for Students
Three new noncredit programs have been introduced to promote career advancement.
The Manhattan College School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) offers notable graduate, bachelor’s and associate degree programs but its fast-growing non-credit certificate programs offer another powerful option for the career advancement and personal growth of its students.
The non-credit certificate programs offer more than 150 classes in a variety of areas including professional development, workforce skills and English language learning. Recently, SCPS has introduced three new professional development non-credit programs, designed to provide educational value and positively impact the lives of those seeking to continue their professional development. All classes are open to the general public.
Certified Financial Planner
Manhattan College has been approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) to provide a new financial planning certificate program. The program is intended for a wide range of professionals, including financial planners, insurance agents, bankers, accountants and retirement specialists. 
The 10-month program offers classes that provide training and skill development in financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning and retirement savings. Demand for personal financial advisors is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate of 7% through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As part of the certification process, CFP professionals promise to adhere to its board's code of ethics and standards of conduct, committing to always work in a client’s best interests while providing financial advice.
Classes are geared towards working professionals and are offered through virtual live instruction.
“At the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at Manhattan College, we are excited to be accredited by the CFP Board and support finance professionals in acquiring their certification,” said Edgar Zavala, director of Noncredit Programs at SCPS.
Spanish Speaking Programs
All 15 classes in the Spanish Speaking Programs are taught entirely in Spanish, allowing non-English speakers the opportunity to learn in their native language. Most of the classes are technology related, but also expose students to digital marketing and data analytics.
In partnership with Educacion IT, a South America-based educational organization, offerings include courses in Blockchain Ethereum Solidity, HTML5, Java Standard 11 Web Programming and Introduction to Digital Marketing.
The duration of each program ranges from four to seven weeks and classes typically meet once or twice each week.
According to the 2020 census, 55% of the Bronx population is Hispanic, and Zavela said the need for this type of program is critical to the local community.
“These classes can be accessed by people without proficient command of the English language and gives them an opportunity to take entry-level courses that will help them determine if these are careers they want to pursue,” he said.
Intellectual Property
The certificate program in Intellectual Property (IP) is intended to give students insight into patents, trade secrets, trademarks and copyrights. The workshop is intended for both aspiring and working entrepreneurs and graduate students interested in learning about how IP impacts organizations and the global economy.
By the end of the five-session course, participants will develop a foundational understanding of IP, the protection it provides and how to protect their work from competitors.
The program is offered both synchronously online and in-person.
“Intellectual property is an important subject that enhances our focus on entrepreneurship skills for lifelong learners and professionals,” said Steven Goss, Ed.D, dean, SCPS.
Students can learn more about each program and register here.