Advanced professional education for the AI era.
American College of Advanced Studies™ (ACAS) provides focused, interdisciplinary professional education for accomplished adult learners who seek advanced knowledge and applied capability without pursuing an additional academic degree. ACAS offers non-degree professional certificate programs designed for experienced professionals, executives, and doctorally prepared professionals.
Eight certificates across five professional domains.
ACAS’s 2026–2027 flagship portfolio is organized into five professional domains and eight proposed flagship certificate programs. All program titles, hours, curriculum, delivery, faculty, fees, and admissions requirements remain subject to final institutional approval and applicable law.
AI may assist learning; it may not replace learning.
AI tools may be used only in ways permitted by the course or assignment. Students remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, legality, confidentiality, and professional appropriateness of submitted work. Students must verify important claims and sources, disclose material AI assistance when required, and maintain human professional judgment and accountability.
Built for accomplished adult learners.
ACAS serves experienced professionals, executives, doctorally prepared professionals, and qualified graduate-level professionals who seek advanced knowledge and applied capability without pursuing an additional academic degree. Applicants must satisfy one of two principal preparation pathways.
One standard across all eight certificates.
ACAS does not award academic degrees. ACAS certificates are non-degree professional credentials documenting completion of an approved ACAS professional education program.
| Program feature | Standard |
|---|---|
| Instructional hours | 100 instructional hours |
| Typical duration | 12 weeks |
| Delivery | Online distance education |
| Structure | 10-module sequence with applied assignments, case analyses, faculty interaction and a capstone project |
| Assessment | Knowledge assessments 20% · applied case analyses 20% · professional assignments 20% · participation and discussion 10% · capstone project 30% |
| Minimum completion standard | 70% overall under the current framework, subject to final approved policy |
| Credential | Postdoctoral Professional Certificate — a non-degree professional credential, subject to approved nomenclature |
| Total mandatory institutional charges | $2,400 — $2,190 tuition plus $210 application fee |
Request information about the 2026–2027 catalog period.
Tell us which program interests you and we will send the program syllabus, the enrollment agreement summary, and the required consumer disclosures.
ACAS is preparing an application for approval to operate as a non-accredited, non-degree institution under the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Unless and until approval is granted, ACAS must not represent itself as BPPE-approved. Program availability and final credential nomenclature are subject to regulatory approval.
ACAS is not presented as an accredited institution unless and until it obtains accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency. BPPE approval to operate is not the same as accreditation and does not mean that the Bureau endorses an institution or its programs. Read the full consumer disclosures.