Graduate Professionalism Academy
The Graduate Professionalism Academy is an optional, flexible and self-paced program designed to help graduate students build valuable skills while earning badges/certificates along the way. Through the academy, you’ll be able to:
- Boost your resume or CV.
- Build personal and professional skills that last a lifetime.
- Explore current career trends and tools.
- Earn digital badges and certificates to showcase your achievements.
This year, you’ll have the chance to earn credentials from Beyond Graduate School, ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Credly and Coursera. Digital badges are verified credentials that recognize your skills, knowledge and accomplishments. They can be shared on LinkedIn, added to your resume and even included in your email signature.
is a career training platform for master’s students.
Finish the lessons in the Deep Dive. Take the quiz to test your knowledge. Earn 80% or higher and be eligible for a badge.
Complete all the quizzes for the Deep Dives listed below and be eligible for a certificate of completion.
To earn your certificate of completion, you'll need to complete the quizzes for all seven in the platform.
Email member@beyondgradschool.com to request your badge or certificate of completion.
Check out ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ offered for graduate students.
Coursera provides ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students access to a robust catalog of noncredit courses and certificates at no cost through the global online learning platform.
Current ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students can access the Coursera platform through single sign-on (using your @jacks.sdstate.edu email and password).
. It's important to join and search in the SDState Coursera instance to ensure the content you are interested in is available. If you are prompted to input payment details, you are in the wrong place!
GradSense Toolkit
is a website to help you plan financially for graduate school. Learn what funding options are available for which degrees, plan your future with our debt to earnings calculator, and create a budget that will see you through your program. Then, go deeper with interactive quizzes, inspiring stories from recent graduates, and links to additional financial planning resources. GradSense is an initiative of the  generously supported by .
Three-Minute Thesis Competition
This year’s Three-Minute Thesis competition will be held in the Lewis and Clark Room, University Student Union, on Feb. 12, 2026, at 5 p.m. We encourage all graduate students to participate. Interested students must register no later than Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. More detailed information will be sent out to registered students after that date.
- Date: Feb. 12, 2026, 5 p.m.
- Location: Lewis and Clark Room – University Student Union
- Registration Deadline: Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day
The event is open to all graduate students, regardless of discipline or type of degree being earned. Students not completing a thesis or research paper are welcome to present on a project, portfolio, written work or any other type of creative activity. A group of staff judges will select the top two posters to receive awards.
- Date: April 14, 2026, 2-6 p.m.
- Location: Volstorff Ballroom – University Student Union
- Registration Deadline: Friday, April 5, 2026
