Available courses

ONLINE: Grief Support Specialist Training

ONLINE Grief Support Specialist Program


The Grief Support Specialist Program is a non-credit, online certificate program offered through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Northern Michigan University. Throughout the program, participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief. Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, vicarious grief, disenfranchised grief, complicated grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement.

The course is open to anyone and everyone.

This program is completely online and asynchronous, allowing you to learn at your own pace. The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies, and client stories. Throughout the program, the assignments and forum discussions are integral to your learning and will provide opportunities for interaction and application of concepts. 

Instructor office hours are available for guidance and support. 

*Participants have 6 months to complete all portions of the online program. Extensions may be granted if 

"Grief is an experience we all have to carry with us. Our task is to figure out how to carry that grief as survivors rather than as victims. The goal of this course is to help all of us (and those who look to us for assistance) become such survivors. We will never cure that terrible wound of grief, but we can find some healing in the midst of it, and that is what makes us survivors." - Douglas C. Smith M.Div., MA, MS | Grief Support Specialist Program Developer. 


Professional Development

Grief Support Specialist 2025

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, vicarious grief, disenfranchised grief, complicated grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. Art Therapists, Music Therapists. The course is open to anyone and everyone. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.


Sustainable Citizen Badge

This course provides an overview of key sustainability concepts and shares examples of what NMU is doing to reduce our impact on the planet. You will learn several definitions, gain insights on different aspects of sustainability, and get a variety of tools to help you live lighter on the planet. Positive social change requires many different actions at many different scales, from individuals to institutions. By working together we can create a more sustainable world. 

Become a Sustainable Citizen with us!



Bus Safety

Community Integrated Paramedicine

The Community Integrated Paramedicine Program begins 2 April 2024 and will end 21 November 2024. This program is a  non-credit certificate of completion program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. 

This program is approved as a special study under the Community Paramedicine framework through the MDHHS Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS & Systems of Care. 

Participants could be, but are not limited to Michigan currently licensed: EMTs, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies, facilitated discussions and activities.

This program is online with asynchronous and synchronous lab and clinical  components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums.

The goal of this course is to prepare currently licensed EMS providers for career opportunities in the areas of Community Paramedicine, health prevention, health behavior, and prevention of disease. Students learn a variety of skills and strategies that will provide them with the necessary proficiencies to improve population health in diverse settings. The program focuses on the social and behavioral determinants of health, with particular emphasis on health disparities and prevention.


Dan Zini - Course in Development

Grief Support Specialist Program April 2024

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, vicarious grief, disenfranchised grief, complicated grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. Art Therapists, Music Therapists. The course is open to anyone and everyone. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.


Grief Support Specialist Program 2023

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, COVID and grief, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, Vicarious Grief, Disenfranchised Grief, Complicated Grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.

Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU has evolved this program from the former Grief Specialist Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 


H5P Practice Course

Grief Support Specialist - March 2023

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, COVID and grief, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, Vicarious Grief, Disenfranchised Grief, Complicated Grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.

Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU has evolved this program from the former Grief Specialist Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 


Grief Support Specialist - September 2022

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, COVID and grief, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, Vicarious Grief, Disenfranchised Grief, Complicated Grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.

Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU has evolved this program from the former Grief Specialist Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 


Brooke's Course

Evaluation and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

RBT Training Course

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Introduction to the Michigan Learning Channel

The Michigan Learning Channel is a statewide program from Michigan's PBS stations that offers high-quality distance learning resources to students, teachers, and families. This course will introduce you to the the programming and content available on the platform, demonstrate how to access the resources both via broadcast and the website, and share best practices for engaging with the resources in and out of the classroom. At the end of the course, you will review an episode and evaluate its potential application in your classroom. 

Upon completion of this course, you will be eligible for 1.5 SCHECHs. Please follow the directions for applying and paying for your SCECHs at the end of this course. 


Grief Support Specialist Program

The Grief Support Specialist Program is an 8 week, non-credit certificate program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU. This program evolved from the Grief Specialist Program at UW-Madison.

Participants will learn the principles and many practical tools and techniques to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.  Topics include: grief counseling theories and strategies, assessments, COVID and grief, recovery tools and intervention, attachment styles and grief, children and youth coping with grief, different age coping skills, grief groups for children, Vicarious Grief, Disenfranchised Grief, Complicated Grief coping with dying, legal issues & end of life decisions, spiritual, ethical, and culture issues, group therapy, self-care and career enhancement. Brief meditation and relaxation exercises are included during the synchronous instructions.

Participants could be, but are not limited to: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Clergy Workers, Funeral Directors, Teachers/Educators, Hospice, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Employees. 

The course involves detailed lectures/instruction, illustrative case studies and client stories, facilitated discussions and activities as well a project phase where participants can design a project of importance to their employer or for their own personal development.

This program is 8 weeks and online with asynchronous and synchronous components. Two weekend ZOOM sessions are included. Synchronous Full-Day Sessions on Zoom on Saturday March 5th, Sunday, March 6th, Saturday, March 12th & Sunday, March 13th - 9:00 to 4:00 EST with an hour for lunch.

All four weekend sessions are required. 

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact on forums and work on a project under instructor guidance.

Continuing Education and Workforce Development at NMU has evolved this program from the former Grief Specialist Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 


Sample Course Template

ELI 053 - Writing and Grammar - ELI053ALL

ELI 052 Advanced Reading/Vocabulary - ELI052ALL

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