Gateway to Essential Workforce Skills Certificate

Get a strong start on your future while you’re still in high school. The Essential Workforce Skills Certificate allows you to build the foundational skills employers value most while earning college credit that counts toward your future degree. Through this certificate, you’ll complete dual-credit courses that build communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills for success in college and the workplace.

The program is available on DSU’s campus, online, or through approved in-district high school dual credit partnerships. Eligible students can take courses at a reduced dual-credit rate, saving time and money while beginning their journey toward an associate or bachelor’s degree before graduating high school.

Essential skills for any career

This certificate develops essential workforce skills such as communication, quantitative reasoning, inquiry and analysis, and critical thinking. Employers identify these skills, including writing, speaking, listening, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving, as key to workplace success. The courses in this certificate strengthen these high-demand skills while fulfilling foundational general education requirements. Because the certificate is stackable, all four courses apply toward any associate or bachelor’s degree, providing a flexible starting point for a wide range of academic and career pathways.