Graduate Certificate in Veteran Services

The Graduate Certificate in Veteran Services curriculum is designed to involve the learner as an active participant in the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for competent practice when working with veterans. It is the intent of the program to graduate students with:

• an understanding of the psychosocial, social, vocational, and health needs of veterans, and the impact of those needs upon the veteran and their family system;
• the ability to facilitate various types of groups for veterans; and
• the ability to network and link veterans and their families with specialized services.

The Graduate Certificate in Veteran Services program is a distance education, graduate certificate program designed to provide comprehensive training to serve and work with veterans. Our mission is to provide high quality instruction to prepare students for a rewarding career working with veterans.

The graduate certificate in Veterans Services is designed for:

• Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors who wish to advance their knowledge
• Veterans who want to serve other veterans
• Active-duty personnel interested in a career serving veterans
• Students and professionals in rehabilitation sciences, health and human services, counseling, and social science
• Veterans’ Administration employees who wish to advance their knowledge
• Education and career advisors who work with veterans
• Veterans’ services officers
• Human resources professionals in organizations committed to hiring veterans
• Law-enforcement personnel and other first responders
• Military family members who wish to advocate more effectively

Graduates will have career opportunities in almost every aspect of the helping profession in substance abuse counseling, health and human services, community mental health centers, community resource centers, homeless shelters and services, Veteran Affairs’ hospitals including their specialty units and research/service centers.

Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The mission of the graduate certificate in Veterans Services at Texas Tech University Health Sciences center forwards the mission of the University by providing a practitioner training program focused on the unique needs of diverse communities. As part of the college’s ongoing commitment to veterans, this certificate provides professionals with skills and knowledge they need to support veterans as they transition to civilian life. We are committed to preparing entry-level professionals to work competently and ethically through the mastery of evidence-based practices. Our focus centers on empowering veterans to make informed choices, build viable careers, and live more independently within the community.

The objectives of our program are linked to our mission statement. They are to provide:

• Educational experiences that facilitate the development of knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to the practice of qualified health professionals with a diverse veteran population in a wide variety of contexts.
• Learning opportunities to support the ability to implement culturally responsive and ethically sound health professionals throughout their careers, and to advocate for individuals with disabilities and the profession.
• Clinical training experiences focused on translating acquired knowledge, attitudes and skills to evidence-based practice in a wide range of real-world environments.

Admission Information

The Graduate Certificate in Veteran Services enrolls students in both the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Admissions Requirements

1. Applicants for the CRVS program must complete the TTUHSC SHP application. Additional forms will be added to your checklist afer you have submitted the online application. Required supporting documentation (if applicable) can be uploaded from your Student Status page.
2. Application Fee - The $75 Application Fee may be paid by credit card through the online application system. You may also pay by check or money order; mail a check or money order to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (3601 4th Street MS 6294, Lubbock, TX 79430). Please make checks and money orders payable to "TTUHSC." Your application will not be considered for admission until your fee has been paid.

3. Official Transcripts - The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs must receive a current, official transcript from every institution that you've attended. If you have attended TTU or TTUHSC, you only need to send official transcripts from the other institutions you've attended. Transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the institution and must have been printed within the last year. Please send all official transcripts to the following address:

   TTUHSC SHP Admissions and Student Affairs
   3601 4th Street MS 6294
   Lubbock, TX 79430

4. Bachelor’s Degree - Individuals applying to the program should already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably with prior work experience, paid or voluntary, in human service settings.
5. Minimum GPA - Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.5 is required; this includes all courses taken at every institution attended, or must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours from all institutions.
6. Resume – A current resume is required to be submitted through the online application system.
7. Letters of Recommendation – Two letters of recommendation are required for an application to be complete, but the program prefers three letters of recommendation be submitted. Letters of recommendation are submitted online through the SHP Application. A recommender's name and email address will be required. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to our recommendation form for them to submit electronically.
8. International Applicants - All foreign coursework must be evaluated by a Foreign Credential Service. We also require TOEFL/IELTS Scores for any applicant for whom English is their second language (scores are considered on a case by case basis). Please refer to our International Applicants webpage for more information and TOEFL/IELTS exemptions.

Application Process

Persons applying with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Fulfillment of the basic requirements does not guarantee admission.

The applications for admission to the graduate certificate in Veteran’s Services are reviewed and rank ordered according to:

• Academic performance
• Career goals
• Previous work or volunteer experience to the field
• Unique individual contributions to the field
• Writing skills
• Computer literacy

It is the applicant’s responsibility to assure that all supporting documentation is received by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Application materials and detailed information on application procedures and admission criteria can be accessed via the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Health Professions application website.

Graduate Certificate in Veteran Services Curriculum