51ÁÔÆæ

Certificate Requirements

Admission

All students interested in obtaining a graduate certificate must formally apply through the Graduate School.

Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted in to a certificate program.

Application

  • All graduate certificate applicants—including those already enrolled in a 51ÁÔÆæ graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School via the Graduate School Admission Application. All applicants are requested to pay a non-refundable $25 application fee.
  • Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Graduate School Admission Application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.

Certificate Completion

For certificate completion, students must submit an application to the Graduate School using their PAWS account, and pay any required completion application fees.

For qualifying students, the certificate program director will verify for the Graduate School the course number and title, grade and semester of enrollment for all courses that meet certificate program requirements. Certificate completion will be posted on a student’s official transcript in line with 51ÁÔÆæ’s official conferral dates, and an official paper certificate will be sent to the student from the Graduate School.

Criteria for Awarding a Certificate

Graduate certificates are awarded to students who:

  • Meet the certificate requirements within the allotted time limit
  • Have a minimum 3.00 overall grade point average (without rounding)
  • Have a minimum 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses (without rounding)

Double-Counted Certificate Credits

51ÁÔÆæ graduate certificate credits can double count toward either a 51ÁÔÆæ graduate degree or a second 51ÁÔÆæ graduate certificate. To double count credit, you must submit a Certificate Double-Counted Credit Evaluation Form to the Graduate School.

Certificate Double-Counted Credit Evaluation Form [PDF]

If you are looking for the Accelerated Master’s Credit Evaluation Form or the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form, visit the Forms and Downloads page.

Double-Counted Credits Between Two Graduate Certificate Programs

When two 51ÁÔÆæ certificates are pursued concurrently or sequentially, no more than 50% of required credits may be shared from one graduate certificate program to another, provided that both programs specify the courses as approved, required, or elective.

Double-Counted Credits Between Certificate and Degree Programs

  1. Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting 51ÁÔÆæ graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
    • Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
    • All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a 51ÁÔÆæ graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
    • Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
  2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
  3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
  4. Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.

GPA Requirement

A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average in certificate courses taken at 51ÁÔÆæ is required.

Graduate Transfer Credit

No more than 20% of the required credits for the certificate program may be taken at an institution other than 51ÁÔÆæ. Some certificate programs do not allow any transfer credits. To qualify, the work must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduate-level from an accredited institution.
  • Taken within five years of admission to your 51ÁÔÆæ certificate program.
  • Not have been used to meet previous degree requirements.
  • Grade of B or better (B- is not acceptable).
  • Approved by your certificate program unit.

To transfer credit, you must submit a Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form to the Graduate School.

Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form [PDF]

If you are looking for the Accelerated Master’s Credit Evaluation Form or the Certificate Double-Counted Credit Evaluation Form, visit the Forms and Downloads page.

Transfer institutions must send an official transcript of the coursework directly to the 51ÁÔÆæ Graduate School. Unofficial transcripts are not accepted. 51ÁÔÆæ coursework does not require a transcript. To take coursework at another institution as part of your certificate program, you must obtain permission from your advisor and from the Graduate School.

Transfer credit will be posted on your official record after you have completed one semester in your certificate program. Transfer work is not calculated into the 51ÁÔÆæ GPA; only 51ÁÔÆæ coursework is calculated into the GPA.

Pursuing Concurrent Certificates

A student may work toward a maximum of two 51ÁÔÆæ graduate certificates concurrently. This does not change the time limit for completion of each certificate.

Time Limit

Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:

  • 18 or fewer credits: Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
  • 19 or more credits: Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.

For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.