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If you’re going back to school to finish a degree or earn a new one, that degree should mean something beyond the credential. It should lead to something real and substantive in your life, such as a better job, a higher salary, or work that is more interesting or meaningful to you.
A specialization can help with that by giving your degree a more defined focus. It’s a way for you to customize the standard curriculum so you graduate with knowledge and skills in a more concentrated area.
For Colorado State University Global graduate Clint Farley, that focus connected his degree program to a field he already knew well. While earning his Bachelor of Science in Project Management, he chose one of the university’s newest specializations, construction management.
“I chose the construction management specialization because I have been around construction my entire life,” Farley said. “Construction is one of the fields where we can make something from nothing and bring tears to people’s eyes when they see the result.”
His background helped him understand project management concepts that were new to him. Construction gave him a framework for understanding them.
“Construction management helped me understand project management principles and foundations by giving me a way to relate to them,” he said. “Many project management concepts were foreign to me when I first began my degree program, despite being very interesting. Construction provided a way to relate concepts to things that I have done.”
Why not just finish the degree?
Completing a degree is a significant achievement, especially for students who began their college journey years ago and returned to school after taking on work, family responsibilities, military service, or facing other challenges.
However, for many students, earning a degree is not their only goal; they also want their education to align with something specific—such as a known field, a desired role, a necessary skill, or an area of work they wish to explore further.
That was true for Farley, who completed his degree at the age of 42 after what he described as “many bumps and detours along the way.”
“To me, the degree is useless without a connection between coursework and a specific field that the learner would like to go into,” he said.
His comment reflects a common understanding among working adults: coursework becomes more valuable when students can see how it relates to their experience and goals.
Farley found this connection in courses like sustainable construction.
“Anyone that is going to succeed in construction management needs to understand sustainability, but many of the topics were new to me,” he said. “I found them fascinating and really enjoyed developing an understanding of the concepts.”
How do CSU Global specializations work?
At CSU Global, a specialization consists of a set of courses that are added to a degree program. For undergraduate students, a specialization includes five courses totaling 15 credit hours. For graduate students, it consists of four courses totaling 12 credit hours.
Importantly, a specialization does not increase the total number of credits required for a degree. Instead, students choose specialization courses as part of the credits needed for their bachelor’s or master’s program.
Similar to concentrations, emphasis areas, tracks, or minors at traditional universities, a specialization allows students to delve into a specific subject while completing their primary degree.
Students still fulfill the required coursework for their degree. The specialization provides a focused area of study that aligns with their interests, experiences, or the career path they wish to pursue.
Are specializations common in higher education?
Yes. Across higher education, many traditional colleges and universities give students ways to customize their degrees.
Business students may choose a concentration in finance, marketing, human resources, or supply chain management. MBA students may select a track in analytics, leadership, real estate, or international business. Other students may add a minor or emphasis area to connect their degree to a second area of interest.
CSU Global brings this concept into a fully online format designed for working adults. Students can pursue specializations alongside their bachelor’s and master’s programs, which are structured around eight-week courses, monthly start dates, and no set class times. Specializations are available in career-forward areas like cybersecurity, project management, Azure AI automation.
CSU Global also offers a locked-in tuition guarantee and $0 student fees, helping students plan for the cost of their education from the start.
Who should consider a specialization?
A specialization may be useful for students who want their degree to connect more directly to a field, skill set, or professional goal.
That may include students who want to:
- Build on experience they already have
- Explore a second area of interest without changing their major
- Connect a broad degree to a specific field
- Add focused coursework in an area employers may recognize
- Prepare for a career change, promotion, or next professional step
- Make coursework feel more relevant to the work they want to do
For undergraduate students, pursuing a specialization can transform the goal of “finishing my degree” into a more focused long-term plan. For graduate students, it can enhance a master’s program by adding depth and helping to connect advanced coursework to specific professional objectives.
How is a specialization different from a certificate?
A specialization and a certificate are not the same thing but rather distinct concepts in education.
A specialization is part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program that allows students to focus part of their degree in a specific area.
On the other hand, a certificate is a separate credential that can serve as a stackable option, sometimes applicable toward a degree. For instance, CSU Global offers an undergraduate certificate in construction management, which is an independent academic option separate from the undergraduate specialization.
Choosing between the two depends on a student’s goals. A student aiming to complete a full degree may opt for a specialization to tailor their education. In contrast, a student seeking a shorter credential, a stackable option, or someone who already holds a degree and wishes to acquire new skills might prefer a certificate.
Many students at CSU Global are not starting from scratch; they often bring work experience, prior education, and diverse interests to the classroom. A specialization can enhance this background while introducing new tools and concepts.
As Farley’s experience illustrates, the right specialization can do more than simply add courses to a degree; it can also help students find direction in their careers.
To learn more, explore CSU Global’s academic programs, which include online bachelor’s degrees, master’s programs, undergraduate specializations, graduate specializations, and certificate options.
FAQs about degree specializations
What is a degree specialization?
A degree specialization is a focused set of courses added to a larger degree program. It allows students to study a specific subject area while completing their bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Is a specialization the same as a major?
No. A major is the primary degree program. A specialization is an additional area of focus that supplements the major.
Does a specialization add credits to the degree?
At CSU Global, a specialization does not add extra credits beyond the degree requirements. Students choose specialization courses as part of the credits required for their bachelor’s or master’s program.
Is a specialization the same as a certificate?
No. A specialization is part of a degree program. A certificate is a separate credential and may be stackable, depending on the program. “Stackable” means the credits can apply to a degree program later.
Why should working adults consider a specialization?
A specialization can help working adults connect their degree to their current experience, career goals, or a field they want to enter. It can also make coursework feel more practical and relevant.
Can graduate students choose specializations?
Yes. CSU Global offers graduate specializations that allow master’s students to add focused coursework in a specific area to help connect their graduate program to a professional goal, industry interest, or area of advanced study.
Can a specialization help with a career change?
A specialization can help students add focused coursework in a new or related field. Career outcomes depend on factors such as experience, location, employer requirements, and the specific role, but a specialization may help students connect their degree to a clearer professional direction.