KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 2, 2025

When Astrid Garavis planned a future with a biochemistry degree from Kennesaw State University, she knew a career in medicine was ahead. Although her undergraduate experience provided her valuable time doing research in a laboratory, Garavis realized she could benefit from several practical skills before preparing to apply to medical school.

That’s when she attended an open house and discovered certification classes offered through KSU’s Community and Professional Education (CPE). The open house sparked new opportunities for her, and while she was still a student at KSU, Garavis earned a phlebotomy certificate through a two-month course. After graduation, she added a more in-depth medical assistant certification to her resume.

“I had this part of biochemistry, the research, but I didn’t have any connection with the clinical sides or experience with a doctor,” Garavis said. “By getting that certification, they would help place you into an externship, so it was the ‘in’ I was seeking. That’s how I got my job – from that externship.”

Now, while Garavis is looking forward to applying to medical school, she is working full time as a medical assistant in the Wellstar Health System, while working part time at CPE in the Intensive English Program.

Adding value for students

The opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of career fields is a key part of CPE certification programs. Like Garavis and her path of medical assisting, KSU students pursuing degrees can find ways to boost their resumes in one of more than 400 online classes and 56 professional certificate courses offered through CPE.

Kennesaw State CPE offers both in-person and online courses, allowing students to learn at their own pace and fit education around their personal and professional lives. In addition, the time commitment for earning certificates is shorter than earning a full degree, giving students a more immediate boost to their qualifications when they need it.

“Professional certificate courses are resume-building additions to any college applications and are a great benefit for specific courses of study or programs at any college within the university,” said Pat Walker, executive director of Community and Professional Education. “Students obtaining a professional certification or a certificate are also preparing themselves for the workforce.”

For example, the paralegal certificate focuses on the nuts and bolts of a law office and legal management areas for students planning on a law career. A certification in AutoCAD, on the other hand, provides fundamental software instruction for students planning careers in architecture, engineering, and construction management. A culinary apprenticeship certificate is an intensive hands-on program for students interested in the food industry, and multiple certificates in cybersecurity are designed to help students advance their careers in a growing, in-demand field.

For students pursuing higher degrees in any number of fields, the certifications can enhance their skills.

“Many students need to work to pay for school, and certificates give them the opportunity to find a position within their desired area of future work,” Walker said. “It also enables students to learn more about working in a specific area of study before determining their major.”

Practical experience in the field

Most of the certificate courses in CPE have opportunities for direct connections with professionals in their chosen career fields. Many CPE certificate courses are taught by instructors working in the industry, which can encourage networking with experts and peers in their respective fields, and the courses build a sense of community among students and instructors.

Furthermore, there are the ways students can get hands-on experience with area professionals.

“Many of our professional courses have externship opportunities that are part of the course work,” Walker said. “For example, our certified nursing assistant and medical assistant programs have externship programs at local hospitals and long-term care facilities. Also, our culinary apprenticeship program offers an externship at multiple local fine dining establishments.”

For students like Garavis, connections through externships can make a big difference in charting a career path.

“For me, with the medical assisting, Wellstar has a pairing with Kennesaw State allowing us to be placed into family medicine, orthopedic offices, any kind of specialty office, and also urgent care,” Garavis said. “You’re sent for two months to different clinic sites, and you get to work alongside the medical assistants, the nurses, and you get that clinical experience you need to be certified. It’s built into the program.”

That additional experience has given Garavis an edge she might not have gained otherwise.

“Yes, I have a biochemistry degree, but I can also say, ‘I have experience in the medical field,’” she said. “Working with all these doctors has really helped me, and I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I hadn’t gone through the medical assistant program.”

Certificate courses at CPE are designed with accessibility in mind, as anyone interested in taking a course may enroll. Students who align the certifications with the education they gain through their KSU degree programs can bring benefits for years to come.

“Overall, professional certifications help students be better prepared for obtaining a job after completing their degree,” Walker said.

This article also appears in the current issue of Summit Magazine.

– Story by Scott Wiltsee

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.