White and gold tiles overlaying a picture of three graduate students walking outdoors through Tempe campus.

Stackables

Graduate education that fits your life journey

What are stackables?


Stackable graduate education offers a digestible way to earn a master’s degree — in bite-sized pieces that fit your evolving life journey.

You can start by earning a graduate certificate or microcredential in an area that interests you, then expand it to a master’s degree by sharing the completed credit hours. Or, you can earn a master’s degree and a graduate certificate at the same time. 

Two graduate students smiling and using sticky notes to collaborate

How it works

 

Certificate to master’s degree option — Complete a graduate microcertificate or certificate and apply the credit hours towards a master’s degree program.

Non-credit credential to master’s degree option — Complete an approved ASU non-credit credential and apply the credit hours towards a master's degree program.  

Two certificates to MAS degree option — Complete two graduate certificate programs and combine them into a Master of Advanced Study (MAS) degree, giving you the ultimate flexibility to build your own master's degree.

Stackable combinations

 

Review the stackable options available, learn more about the individual programs in degree search and then discuss appropriate shared coursework with your academic advisor before enrolling.

Not all credit hours of certificate or non-credit credential coursework may overlap with the master’s degree.

Certificates that have coursework that overlap with a master's degree, providing a possible stacked opportunity.

Note: Students should discuss appropriate shared coursework with their academic advisor prior to enrolling. Not all credit hours of certificate coursework may overlap with the master's degree.
 

Certificate+ additional coursework =Master's degree
Autism Spectrum Disorders (Certificate)
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
+ additional coursework =Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis), MA
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Applied Behavior Analysis (Certificate)

Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

+ additional coursework =Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis), MA
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Applied Behavior Analysis (Certificate)
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
+ additional coursework =

Psychology, MS

New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Asian Studies (Certificate)
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
+ additional coursework =Graduate students currently enrolled in any discipline may pursue a certificate in Asian studies in conjunction with their degree program. Contact The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for possible graduate programs that can share hours with this certificate.
Communication Disorders in Multilingual/Multicultural Populations (Certificate)
College of Health Solutions
+ additional coursework =

Communication Disorders, MS

College of Health Solutions

Applicants are eligible to apply to the certificate program if they are enrolled in the MS program in communication disorders at ASU.

Corrections Leadership and Management (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Criminal Justice, MA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Criminal Justice, MA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =

Criminal Justice, MA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, criminology, criminal justice or a related field, or if they are individuals who are currently enrolled in the master of criminal justice program.

Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Forensic Psychology, MS
New College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
Digital Audiences (Certificate)
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
+ additional coursework =Digital Audience Strategy, MS
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Domestic Violence and Evidence-Based Practice (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Social Work, MSW
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Domestic Violence and Evidence-Based Practice (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Social Work (Advanced Direct Practice), MSW
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Emergency Management (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Public Administration, MPA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Geographic Information Science (Certificate)
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
+ additional coursework =Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Geographic Information Science (Certificate)
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
+ additional coursework =Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they are currently pursuing a master's degree at ASU or have earned a master's degree and are currently practicing professionals. Contact The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for possible graduate programs that can share hours with this certificate.
Homeland Security (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Criminal Justice, MA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Latino Cultural Competency in Social Work (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Social Work, MSW
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Law Enforcement Administration (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =

Criminal Justice, MA

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Law Enforcement Administration (Certificate)
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
+ additional coursework =Emergency Management and Homeland Security, MA
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Certificate)
Ira A Fulton Engineering
+ additional coursework =

Engineering, MEng

Ira A Fulton Engineering

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Certificate)
Ira A Fulton Engineering
+ additional coursework =

Industrial Engineering, MS

Ira A Fulton Engineering

Music Theory Pedagogy (Certificate)
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
+ additional coursework =The certificate is intended to be pursued concurrently with enrollment in a master's degree program or doctoral degree program in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre. Contact Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts for possible graduate programs that can share hours with this certificate.

Nuclear Power Generation (Certificate)

Ira A Fulton Engineering

+ additional coursework =

Electrical Engineering, MSE

Ira A Fulton Engineering

Participatory Governance (Certificate)

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

+ additional coursework =

Public Administration, MPA

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Public Administration (Certificate)

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

+ additional coursework =

Public Administration, MPA

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Public Policy (Certificate)

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

+ additional coursework =

Public Policy, MPP

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Semiconductor Processing (Certificate)

Ira A Fulton Engineering

+ additional coursework =

Materials Science and Engineering, MS

Ira A Fulton Engineering

Sexuality Studies (Certificate)
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
+ additional coursework =The certificate is only open to current ASU degree-seeking students. However, with academic unit and Graduate College approval, up to nine credit hours of ASU nondegree credit may be transferred into the certificate program for those who eventually gain admission into an ASU graduate degree program. Contact The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for possible graduate programs that can share hours with this certificate.

Transdisciplinary Transportation Studies (Certificate)

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

+ additional coursework =

Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Trauma and Bereavement (Certificate)

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

+ additional coursework =

Social Work, MSW

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

 

Non-credit credentials that can be completed and transcripted for academic credit before enrolling in a master's degree.

Note: Not all non-credit credentials are part of an approved, transcriptable pathway. Students should discuss appropriate shared coursework with their academic advisor before enrolling.
 

Non-credit credential+ additional coursework =Graduate degree
Cybersecurity professional certification+ additional coursework =

Computer Science, MCS or

Computer Science (Cybersecurity), MCS

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Big data professional certification+ additional coursework =

Computer Science, MCS or

Computer Science (Big Data Systems), MCS

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

AI and machine learning professional certification+ additional coursework =

Computer Science, MCS

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Software engineering professional certification+ additional coursework =

Computer Science, MCS

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

MITx MicroMasters®+ additional coursework =

Supply Chain Management, MS

W. P. Carey School of Business

Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Business (AIB)+ additional coursework =

Artificial Intelligence in Business, MS or

Business Analytics, MS or

Information Systems Management, MS or

W. P. Carey MBA - Online or 

W. P. Carey MBA - Evening

W. P. Carey School of Business

Certificate in Business Analytics (BA)+ additional coursework =

Artificial Intelligence in Business, MS or

Business Analytics, MS or

Information Systems Management, MS or

W. P. Carey MBA - Online or 

W. P. Carey MBA - Evening

W. P. Carey School of Business

Certificate in Foundations of Supply Chain Management + additional coursework =

Supply Chain Management, MS or

W. P. Carey MBA - Online or 

W. P. Carey MBA - Evening

W. P. Carey School of Business
 

Certificate in Procurement Management+ additional coursework =

Supply Chain Management, MS or

W. P. Carey MBA - Online or 

W. P. Carey MBA - Evening

W. P. Carey School of Business

Certificate in Leadership+ additional coursework =

W. P. Carey MBA - Online or 

W. P. Carey MBA - Evening

W. P. Carey School of Business

Certified Public Manager Program® (CPM)+ additional coursework =

Public Administration, MPA or 

Public Policy, MPP

Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions

 

 

Two graduate certificates that can be completed to earn a master's degree.

Note: Only the graduate certificates listed below are approved main certificates. Students may complete any other ASU graduate certificate that requires at least 15 credits listed in degree search toward the stackable certificate requirements for the Master of Advanced Study in Advanced Studies.
 

Main Graduate Certificate+ Graduate Certificate =Master of Advanced Study
Biological Data Science+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Clinical Research Management+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Communication Disorders in Multilingual/Multicultural Populations+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

College of Health Solutions

Community-Engaged Practices in Design and the Arts + graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Computational Life Sciences+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Critical Theory+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Dance Teaching Artist Praxis+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Digital Audiences+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Digital Humanities+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Evolutionary Medicine+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

College of Global Futures

Food Safety and Protection+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Global Security and Competitive Statecraft+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Health Care Innovation+ graduate certificate  =Advanced Studies, MAS
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Interprofessional Healthy Aging+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Nonprofit Leadership and Management+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Real Estate+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

W. P. Carey School of Business

Responsible Innovation in Science, Engineering and Society+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

College of Global Futures

Scientific Teaching in Higher Education+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

Social Science Research Methods+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Spanish Language Pedagogy+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Statistics and Data Science+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Technical Communication+ graduate certificate + culminating event =

Advanced Studies, MAS

College of Integrative Sciences and Arts

Transdisciplinary Transportation Studies+ graduate certificate =

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Translation Studies

+ graduate certificate =

 

Advanced Studies, MAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

 

 

Contact grad-gps@asu.edu with questions or for more information.