The Way It Works

The graduate certificate programs, ranging from 12 to 21 credit hours, are designed to allow students to take courses in an area of specialization, enhancing their academic and professional experience. Students may work towards a graduate certificate in addition to pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree or students may enroll in stand-alone graduate certificate programs for the purpose of personal and professional development. In some programs, certificate program course credit can be applied toward a graduate degree. College credit certificates are not intended as a degree, but as a supplement to a student's specific educational goals or professional career preparation and shall be noted on a student's transcript as an official credential of the university.

In accordance with the Academic Standards Policy in the Graduate Bulletin, all graduate students pursuing a graduate-level certificate must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B") or better across all graduate courses applied toward the graduate certificate (5000-level or above) in order for the graduate certificate to be awarded. 

Students should contact the respective department/unit for more information regarding admissions and general graduate certificate program requirements.

In the event that the student completes a degree program prior to completing the requirements for the certificate, the student would be required to be readmitted as a degree seeking or non-degree seeking student to complete the certificate program.

Note: Students completing an undergraduate degree may not enter a graduate certificate program unless they are admitted as a degree-seeking graduate student or post-baccalaureate non-degree student. Undergraduate students cannot start taking graduate courses for the graduate certificate until the bachelor’s degree is awarded.

*DS= Available to Degree Seeking Students

*NDS= Available to Non-Degree Seeking Students