Academic Skills

Today’s workplace demands a solid foundation in academic skills. These core competencies help professionals bridge the gap between traditional academic knowledge and current workplace needs. For anyone looking to excel, mastering these skills is essential.

We offer a focused curriculum addressing key areas like communication and computer literacy — skills vital for modern professionals. Additionally, our courses in math and test prep ensure learners have the tools they need to handle everyday professional challenges and advance in their careers.

While our Academic Skills courses teach practical skills, they’re also grounded in the principles of a liberal arts education. This balance emphasizes not just expertise but also values like care, excellence, and innovation, ensuring well-rounded professional development.

Course Categories

Communications | Computer Literacy | Critical Thinking & Test Prep | Mathematics

Registration Options

All registration options require free online account creation prior to purchase. Tuition remission (TR) applies to eligible UR employees only. Alumni discount applies to UR degree programs graduates only.

ed2go: Register & pay via our partner ed2go following ed2go refund & cancellation policies. TR may be applied by completing the TR form. Alumni discount does not apply.
Enrole: Register & pay via our registration portal following UR refund & cancellation policies. TR may be applied online. Alumni discount may apply.
Application: Complete application requirements as directed. May require submitting additional materials. TR may be available upon request. Alumni discount may apply.

Academic Skills Courses

Communication

Better Proofreading & Copyediting

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course will teach you the foundational principles of copyediting, the golden rules of proofreading, and what professional editors actually do and how you can do it, too.

Effective Emails, Memos & Letters

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

Learn to compose effective e-mails, memos, and letters. Improve these common business communication vehicles by following best practices and effective tips and techniques.

Effective Presentations

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course helps learners organize, structure, and create effective presentations that feature slides as a visual aid. Uses Microsoft Powerpoint as a presentation tool and covers word count, graphics and structure.

Effective Public Speaking

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course helps you develop the skills you'll need to become an outstanding and confident public speaker. Reviews the seven stages of public speaking, from defining the audience to making the presentation.

Mastering Grammar Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course covers foundational elements of English grammar, including the parts of speech, punctuation, and sentence structure. Through interactive games and exercises, learn how to spot and fix common errors.

Troubleshooting Your Writing

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course will guide you through the writing process, from brainstorming content to polishing the final draft. Follow tips for how to speed up the writing process and ensure that you send out error-free writing.

Computer Literacy

Certificate in Computer Skills for the Office

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

Bring your Microsoft Office skills to a whole new level by diving into this suite set of powerful instructional courses. Covers Excel, Powerpoint and Word.

Microsoft Excel Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course focuses on mastering the fundamental tasks performed in Excel, including data entry, basic formula calculations, and formatting and style operations.

Microsoft Word Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course is designed to build a foundation of essential skills in Microsoft Word and to gain a greater understanding of its interface and design elements. Focuses on mastering fundamental tasks in Word.

Microsoft Powerpoint Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

Course covers the basic tools and functions required to craft custom slides using Microsoft's PowerPoint. Learn how to build a presentation from start to finish and better understand the most popular PowerPoint tools.

Quickbook Online Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

QuickBooks® Online Basics is an introductory-level course designed to build a foundation of essential skills. Students will develop a greater understanding of basic bookkeeping and accounting functions that the QuickBooks Online enables.

Critical Thinking & Test Prep

Intro to Critical Thinking

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

Critical thinking is an intellectual model for reasoning through issues to reach well-founded conclusions. This course is designed to help learners identify, define, and develop critical thinking and reasoning skills.

GRE Prep Series

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, instructor-led

Course covers techniques for taking on the verbal reasoning, analytical writing, and quantitative math sections of the GRE. Includes pointers on managing time, reducing anxiety, and how scores are calculated.

SAT/ACT Prep Course - Part 1

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, instructor-led

Course prepares you for specific types of questions in Reading, English and Science, and provides pointers on time management, anxiety relief, scoring and general standardized test-taking skills.

SAT/ACT Prep Course - Part 2

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, instructor-led

Course provides a complete review of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and basic math skills, and teaches useful tips to manage your time wisely.

SAT/ACT Prep Series

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, instructor-led

Series will prepare you to excel in all sections of the undergraduate college entrance exams. Includes preparation for verbal sections (Part 1) and math questions (Part 2) on both the SAT and ACT.

Mathematics

Financial Math Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course strengthens your math skills by providing examples of how basic math concepts apply in a variety of financial settings, including calculating interest, business expenses, and employee compensation.

Intro to Probability & Statistics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course introduces the concepts of probability and statistics. Learn to calculate probabilities in a variety of situations and explore simple ways to organize and analyze data using graphical displays and terminology.

Retail Math Basics

Level: Foundational
Learning Mode: Online, self-paced

This course covers some of the basic measurements and calculations used in the retail world. Strengthen math skills by working through examples and exercises, including calculating common retail metrics.

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