The Penn State Graduate Program in Acoustics is offering three graduate certificate options: one in physical acoustics, one in noise control and building acoustics and one in audio devices and signal processing. Credit: iStock.
Penn State acoustics offers online certificate program for career advancement
The program offers working professionals in the opportunity to upskill or reskill
July 2, 2026
By Sarah Small
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Graduate Program in Acoustics is now offering three graduate certificate options, enabling working professions, as well as engineering graduate students in other discipline areas, the opportunity to further their careers by upskilling or reskilling. The program recently rounded out its first academic year, having matriculated its first class in the fall of 2025.
“Penn State acoustics has a long history of delivering courses online. We launched our online program in 1987, well before anybody else did,” said Julianna Simon, director of the program. “This certificate program continues that tradition. It allows people to acquire skills that really aren't taught anywhere else in the country so they can do their jobs better or to change their careers.”
The program, administered by the College of Engineering through Penn State World Campus, offers three different certificates: one in physical acoustics, one in noise control and building acoustics and one in audio devices and signal processing. Each certificate consists of three courses — two required courses and one elective — which are typically taken one at a time, although can be taken simultaneously. A student may go on to earn a master of engineering degree by completing all three certificate programs and then the master of engineering capstone course.
“The certificate program is more than a one-off course, but less than a full master’s degree program,” she said. “It allows students to gain expertise in an area without committing to several years to get a full master of engineering degree.”
General Dynamic Electric Boat (GDEB) Company sent the first group of students this past fall to enroll in the certificate programs so their employees could upskill while still working full time.
“The Submarine Acoustics Enterprise has benefitted greatly from the Penn State acoustic certificate program to help meet the present and future stealth needs of the U.S. Navy,” said Robert Westhaver, GDEB ship signatures integration team leader.
According to Simon, General Dynamic Electric Boat Company intends to send 24 students a year for the next five years to take three courses in an area and get a certificate.
“Penn State’s non-degree certificate option for acoustics courses not only provided me the opportunity to dip my toe in the water, but it also gave me the second chance I needed to step into a career that mattered to me,” said Andrew Santopietro, GDEB ship signatures engineer. “That initiative made me stand out and eventually got me a job working in the acoustics department within Electric Boat.”
Individuals interested in learning more or enrolling can contact Amber Schraff, alg5056@psu.edu.
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