Certificate Programs
| Certificate | Duration | For Who? | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Certificate in Foresight | Week-long “boot camp” immersion | Designed for those who need foresight basics in a timely fashion | Virtual or Houston |
| Custom Professional Certificate in Foresight | 2.5 day custom certificate training | Designed for a group who needs foresight basics in a timely fashion within one organization | Virtual or we come to you |
| Graduate Certificate in Foresight | 4 graduate courses within the foresight program | Designed for those seeking a more in-depth exploration of foresight | Virtual |
Professional Certificate in Foresight
This intensive 5-day, project-based boot camp is designed to immerse participants in the basics of doing foresight work. In this hands-on approach, participants take a sample project through our Framework Foresight process, with theory, exercises, and discussions salted in. Participants receive the textbook, Thinking about the Future, accompanying worksheets, a professional certificate in Foresight, and four (4) CEUs (Continuing Education Units) from the University of Houston for attending the seminar. Students can also obtain a separate departmental certificate of achievement if they complete a foresight project after program delivery, which qualifies as one criterion for full membership to the Association of Professional Futurists (APF).
We offer the Professional Certificate in Foresight virtually and in-person. For more information about dates, cost and to sign up, click here.
Custom Professional Certificate in Foresight
We offer custom 2.5 day training courses based on our week-long Certificate “boot camp” on your site. We provide instructor(s), presentations, worksheets, readings, and a text. Here is a sample agenda. You provide the setup: location, flip charts, AV, food, etc. This is a very popular offering that we conduct 3-6 times/year. If you are interested in talking to a group who has been through this one-of-a-kind training, our previous clients would be happy to provide a reference for these services. Please contact us at foresight@uh.edu for more info.
Graduate Certificate in Foresight
The University of Houston’s Foresight program offers a four-course (12 credit) Graduate Certificate in Foresight. The courses in the Certificate are currently offered within the Master’s degree in Foresight in the College of Technology. The Certificate will be noted by request on the applicant’s official University transcript.
Curriculum*
- FORE 6311: Introduction to Foresight
- An introduction into the methods, practitioners and issues of futures research.
- Prerequisite: Graduate standing
- FORE 6332: Systems Thinking
- An introduction to the systems perspective, including systems modeling and complex adaptive systems.
- Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
- FORE 6371: World Futures
- A review of global trends shaping the future, including the most important demographic, environmental, technological, economic, political, and cultural changes.
- FORE 6351: Futures Research
- An introduction to and practice in the tools and techniques used in traditional and in alternative futures forecasting.
*Other Foresight courses can be substituted with permission. Participants will enroll at the University of Houston through regular admission to the Foresight program or through Pre-Graduate enrollment.
Research & Training Projects
Top 5 reasons for working with us:
- Our student/faculty/alumni research teams are diverse in thought and life and will bring a different research perspective to your exploration and understanding of the future
- Your sponsorship helps support the development of future professionals and thus the overall strength of the field! It is extremely helpful to the students to have real-life project experience
- We are a cost-effective alternative, yet projects are led by futurists with over 50 years combined experience and training
- You can learn foresight in the process! We can bring a teaching perspective if desired
- The sponsorship money is critical to keeping the Houston Foresight program afloat, and we are one of the few dedicated foresight programs in the world!
For Our Patrons:
The Houston Foresight Program launched a concerted effort to develop a research capability as part of the program’s strategic planning back in 2014. Now the Houston Foresight Research Program offers custom research projects using faculty, alumni, and students that go on year-round. We place a tremendous value on learning-by-doing and our clients get the benefit of unique student perspectives coupled with seasoned pros leading the project.
Check out some of our past research projects in our Research Portfolio or click the client logos below:
Research projects are run through the University of Houston Research Office. They typically involve from 3 to 5 students overseen by alums, faculty and under the direction of the Program Coordinator, Dr. Andy Hines and Research Director Laura Schlehuber.
Is your organization interested in working with our futurists?
We need to chat: foresight@uh.edu
Internships
The Houston Foresight program is designed to give graduate students as much real-world practice and experience as possible. You can help our students and your organization by hosting student interns, either on-site or virtually. A student(s) will be working on a high-impact topic of interest for roughly a semester. Work typically ranges from:
- Scanning
- Doing a full “Future of____” research project
- Or simply be a part of your team in whatever capacity supports your foresight work.
These are best set up to coincide with the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Contact Andy Hines ahines@uh.edu for additional information.