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Classes are open to everyone 18 years or older, regardless of education or place of employment. Private citizens and government employees are both welcome, as are international students, however the Graduate School does not issue I-20 forms. If you have questions about whether or not a course is right for you, please contact us. One unofficial transcript is issued per year without charge. Official transcripts (affixed with the Graduate School, USDA Seal) are $5.00 each and may be obtained by submitting the signed transcript request form with payment to:
Graduate School, USDA 600 Maryland Ave. SW, Suite 180 Washington, DC 20024-2520 Payment should be in the form of personal check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or cashier's check made payable to Graduate School, USDA; allow two weeks for processing. Transcripts are not released to participants who have outstanding financial obligations to the school. Read more information about our transcript policy. To check if you are confirmed for a course, please contact the Customer Service Center at (888) 744-GRAD. As an institution of continuing education, the Graduate School is not eligible under the provisions of the federal student loan program. However, on a case-by-case basis, some educational and financial institutions make exceptions based on your area of study. In these cases, you are usually required to pursue a certificate that will result in employment skills that are immediately marketable. You are advised to check with the institution prior to registering for a Graduate School course. Financial aid transcripts are issued by the Office of the Registrar. All of our courses are listed in our online course catalog. You can search by location, keyword, title, course code, training type or time of year. If you can’t find the course you are looking for, please call the Customer Service Center at (888) 744-GRAD, and we’ll help you find what you’re looking for. The Graduate School can bring our courses and programs to your agency for groups of five participants or more. For more information, please e-mail us at onsite@grad.usda.gov or find the course you would like brought on-site in our online course catalog and fill out the on-site request form located on the course description page. We can also customize any of our courses. Read more about our Customized Services. Some Graduate School courses have been designated to receive college credit recommended by the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service. Adults who wish to pursue outside degree programs should verify with their college or university which credits will transfer before registering for courses at the Graduate School. You can also transfer credits from several of our certificate programs toward a degree at one of our Partners in Education. Please visit the Training Locations and Hotels section of our Web site to locate information on cities and states. Use the View classes offered at this location link found with each location in our Training Locations and Hotels listing, or use the City Search option at the bottom of Course Search to locate classes by city, state, date, etc. Class hours may vary; please check your confirmation for exact class times. Read more about our academic policies or about the Graduate School. You must be officially enrolled in a class to initiate any ADA accommodations request. Please plan ahead to contact the Registrar’s Office at least four weeks before the course or program begins to discuss your specific needs and arrangements. You can contact the Registrar’s Office online or by calling (202) 314-3320, (888) 744-4723, or our TDD number for the hearing impaired, (202) 314-3619. To request accommodations online, find the course and session for which you are registered in our online course catalog. You can also complete the PDF version of the Participant Request for Special Accommodation Services form and then fax it to (202) 479-2500 or (866) 329-4723. Please remember that all accommodation requests must be received at least FOUR weeks in advance and that you must be officially registered to have your request processed. To Apply Applying for a certificate program is easy. There is no admission or selection process for our certificate programs; all of our participants are invited to apply. You may apply online or by fax or mail. After you apply Begin the certificate program by reviewing the specifically designed requirements and electives - click on any program title (include link) to learn more. Note that some certificate programs are primarily designed for daytime classes, some have distance learning components, and others are part of our Evening and Weekend Programs. Successful certificate completion earns you credentials vital for professional advancement and you will be awarded a certificate of accomplishment in recognition of your achievement. Contact our certificate counselor at (202) 314-3341 or certificates@grad.usda.gov for additional assistance. Unless otherwise available commercially, materials for Graduate School, USDA courses cannot be purchased without taking the course. Yes. While most of the Graduate School, USDA human resource development, financial management and management sciences courses are structured to meet the workforce needs of federal government agencies and government contractors, you may find the courses useful for gaining knowledge of federal government rules, requirements and philosophies. Also, most of our communication skills, computer skills, leadership development, and supervisory/management courses may be appropriate for you. |