Wharton School Announces Changes to Certificate of

PHILADELPHIA, July 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Aresty Institute of Executive Education of the Wharton School has expanded the subject focus and enhanced the benefits of the Wharton Certificate of Professional Development . The certificate, which will now be granted in multiple topic areas, has been specifically designed for professionals seeking a more flexible and targeted way of advancing their business knowledge.  Upon completion, executives will have acquired timely tools and best practices for building their organization's strategy and performance and gained the strategic skills necessary to tackle immediate and long-term challenges facing their organization.

The Wharton Certificate of Professional Development (CPD) offers executives the unique opportunity to customize their learning through a portfolio of specific programs, and do it all in their own timeframe—without the constraints of a traditional academic semester schedule. A combination of rigorous core and elective programs are available in four areas: finance, leadership, general management, and negotiation . Each education track draws on participants' individual professional goals and challenges participants with hands-on, interactive learning sessions led by Wharton's world-renowned faculty.

Participants, if they prefer, can choose to further customize their certificate by selecting any combination of programs offered by Wharton Executive Education. This option is available to those who would like more freedom in their course selection.

To earn the Wharton CPD, participants must complete four programs within a four-to-six-year period.

Upon completion of the Wharton CPD, executives will receive the following benefits: a lifetime 20 percent discount on all Wharton Executive Education programs that are three days or more in length; an automatic membership in Wharton's exclusive CPD Circle , with their name, company and photograph published on Wharton's website; a complimentary subscription to Wharton Magazine , a quarterly publication that serves as the primary source of news and emerging trends from the Wharton School; and a one-time 10 percent program discount to a colleague referred to a Wharton Executive Education open enrollment program.

For more information about the Wharton Certificate of Professional Development, please visit www.WhartonCPD.com .

About Wharton Executive Education

Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates ongoing economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and a powerful alumni network of 92,000 graduates.

Eleena de Lisser Aresty Institute of Executive Education The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania +1 215.898.7239 Email: