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Master key skills for product quality and process improvement

Graduate Certificate in Quality Engineering

The Graduate Certificate in Quality Engineering equips students with the specialized skills needed for process control, testing, and quality assurance, ensuring that products meet customer expectations and regulatory standards. Designed for professionals seeking to specialize in quality control and process improvement, this certificate helps develop expertise in creating efficient systems that enhance product quality, minimize waste, and reduce costs.

Gain Expertise in Quality Engineering for Multiple Industries

Taught by industry experts, this program offers a cutting-edge curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. Students will learn how to apply engineering principles to improve processes, reduce defects, and optimize the overall quality of products and services. This certificate is ideal for students with career interests in diverse fields, including biomedical engineering, biopharmaceuticals, aerospace, electronics manufacturing, service industries and general manufacturing.

Why Choose the Graduate Certificate in Quality Engineering at St. Thomas?

  • Industry-Leading Knowledge: Learn from experienced professionals with expertise in the latest trends and tools in quality engineering, including Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, and process optimization.
  • Versatile Career Pathways: This certificate opens up career opportunities in quality assurance, product testing, manufacturing, and more, enabling you to work across a variety of industries.
  • Practical Hands-On Experience: Gain real-world skills through applied coursework, preparing you for success in the field.

Upon completion of the certificate, you can continue your education with a Master of Science program in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management, Systems Engineering, Regulatory Science, or Electrical Engineering through the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas.

Contact

Robert Bach

Clinical Professor and Director, M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Program
Robert Bach headshot
Phone Number
651-962-5510

Graduate Certificate Requirements and Course Overview

Complete these three required courses (9 credits):

  • ETLS 506 Statistical Methods for Manufacturing Quality  
  • ETLS 640 Lean Six Sigma 
  • ETLS 701 Design of Experiment

Choose one elective from this list (3 credits):

  • ETLS 551 Organizational Performance Excellence 
  • ETLS 722 Medical Device Quality Systems 
  • ETLS 513 Technical Communications 
  • ETLS 555 Advanced Product Design   
  • SEIS 631 Data Preparation and Analysis
  • SEIS 632 Data Analytics and Visualization 

View the Graduate Programs in Engineering (ETLS) course catalog.

View the Graduate Programs in Software (SEIS) course catalog.


Enhance Your Career with In-Demand Graduate Certificates

Our evening class schedules allow both industry professionals and career changers to achieve their educational goals. And each class meets just once per week.

Convenient Schedule

Our programs serve working professionals with busy lives. You choose how quickly you move through the curriculum. And you may start in any of our three starts: fall, spring or summer. Classes are offered in the evenings.

View Our Course Schedule
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Attend an Online Information Session

Discover how the Graduate Certificate in Quality Engineering can fit into your busy life. Explore program details, our cutting-edge curriculum, exceptional faculty, and strong industry partnerships. You'll also find valuable information on career development and admissions requirements.

Join us for an info session

Meet the Faculty: Industry Experts in Quality Engineering

Tom Keenan headshot

Thomas Keenan

Tom Keenan is an industrial statistician and adjunct instructor for St. Thomas. He has many years of experience working in the medical device industry (Medtronic, Inc.) as a Quality Engineer, Reliability Engineer and Six Sigma Master Black Belt in Operations, Quality, and Research & Development functions.
Thomas Keenan
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Gary Jing

Dr. Gary G. Jing is an adjunct instructor at St. Thomas. A fellow of ASQ, Gary is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and is an ASQ-certified quality manager and quality engineer. He has worked as a continuous improvement director at CommScope and is currently a Quality Manager at nVent.
Gary Jing
Dr. Carrie Strief headshot

Carrie Strief

Dr. Carrie Strief is an adjunct instructor for the St. Thomas School of Engineering and also works full-time as a Distinguished Statistician within the Global Operations Quality division of Medtronic.  Carrie has served as an industrial statistician for more than 17 years, with 4 years of experience at Boston Scientific and 13+ years at Medtronic.  Her career has focused on statistical methods critical to product quality and quality engineering: lot acceptance sampling, design of experiments, post-market reliability trending, statistical process control, and manufacturing process validation.