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Cleveland State University

Cleveland , Ohio ,United States

Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC), Graduate Certificate

The goal of this program is to prepare students for careers in various areas of accounting, finance and corporate governance which are currently in high demand from organizations in every profit and non-profit sector. A Certificate in Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) will complement and enhance the skills of all student majors in the College of Business.

The Certificate in GRC is designed to provide opportunities for students by enhancing their fundamental knowledge of the skills that are in demand from the accounting and risk management professions. These skills will complement the major coursework taken by students who have focused on many areas, especially Accounting, Internal Auditing, Finance, and Information Systems as well as students in Criminal Justice and law related fields. This Certificate would be available to College of Business Students through their enrollment in any of the Graduate Degree Programs including MBA, MAcc, MLRHR, and MIS.

The Monte Ahuja College of Business is accredited by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and the Cleveland State University Accounting Programs hold separate AACSB Accreditation. AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting. AACSB accreditation represents the highest standards in curriculum, faculty credentials and students. Less than five percent of business schools worldwide have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education.

Not just for business students…
Graduate students at Cleveland State University do not have to be enrolled within the Monte Ahuja College of Business in order to apply. Graduate Certificates are designed to fit the needs of students or working professionals who are looking to further their career or supplement their education.

Engaged Learning:  Convenient, Accessible and Connected
Since most students are part-time, classes are offered in the evenings at our downtown campus. Whether full or part-time, Graduate Certificate programs boast class sizes that allow for personalized instruction from faculty. As a leader in innovative collaboration, programs within the Monte Ahuja College of Business connect students not just with faculty, but with businesses in the Northeast Ohio community and alumni, creating a strong connection to the region and its economic development.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

The Office of Student Employment is dedicated to supporting student success through meaningful work experiences that enhance learning, build professional skills, and foster career readiness. We serve as the central resource for all on-campus and approved off-campus employment opportunities for enrolled students.

Our office connects students with part-time "At-Will" employment opportunities that promote personal and professional development, while also supporting the operational needs of the university. We work closely with campus departments, community partners, and federal work-study programs to ensure that students gain valuable experience in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Whether you're looking for your first campus job, exploring work-study eligibility, or navigating hiring and payroll processes, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. From job search resources and resume support to supervisor training and employment compliance, we are committed to making student employment a rewarding and enriching part of your college experience.

Some Benefits of a Career with Cleveland State University! 

  • A beautiful urban campus setting in the heart of downtown Cleveland Ohio 
  • Daily living our values to collaborate with community, serve students and unleash creativity  
  • Comprehensive healthcare benefits  
  • Comprehensive paid time off benefits 
  • Tuition benefits for employees and dependents 
  • Additional professional development opportunities 
  • 14% employer contribution to public pension plans (OPERS/STRS)
  • Focus on work-life-balance and wellbeing

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Individuals with a baccalaureate degree from a college or university with full academic accreditation and who present satisfactory evidence of the ability to pursue graduate study can be considered for admission. A baccalaureate degree earned outside the United States must be equivalent to a four-year United States degree.

Applicants may be considered for regular degree admission if they meet one or more of the following conditions:

  • The applicant has a grade-point average for the bachelor's degree of at least 2.75 (A = 4.0), with a higher average in the major field.
  • Some graduate programs require a higher GPA.
  • Consult individual program admission requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
  • The applicant scores at the 50th percentile or above on average across the areas of a standardized admission examination.
  • The applicant has completed twelve or more graduate credit hours at Cleveland State University as a non-degree graduate student and has a grade-point average of 3.0 or above.
  • Please note that some programs require higher grade-point averages for admission (see program descriptions in the Graduate Catalog). 
  • The applicant has earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
  • The institution from which the student received the bachelor's degree determines a student's undergraduate grade-point average.

For those with post-baccalaureate studies, both undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages are considered in determining eligibility for admission.

  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based): 78 and at least 17 in each section
  • TOEFL PBT (Paper-Based): 550
  • IELTS: 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each section
  • Duolingo English Test: 105
  • PTE (Pearsons Test of English): 50
  • iTEP: 3.8