What is an Undergraduate Certificate?
An Undergraduate Certificate is an integrated group of courses (as defined here 12 or more credits) that are 1) cross-disciplinary, but with a thematic consistency, and 2) form a distinctive complement to a student's major and degree program, or 3) leads to the acquisition of a defined set of skills or expertise that will enhance the success of the student upon graduation.
Undergraduate Certificates meet a clearly defined educational need of a constituency group, such as continuing education or accreditation for a particular profession; provide a basic competency in an emerging area within a discipline or across disciplines; or respond to a specific state mandate.
Requirements for an Undergraduate Certificate
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A minimum of 12 credits of course work taken for a letter grade. -->
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A minimum of 12 credit hours at the 200-level or above with a minimum of 6 of those credits being at or above the 300-level.
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The student must complete a three-credit breadth component. The breadth component requires that a student take courses in at least two disciplines, with a minimum of three credits to be completed in a second discipline.
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Student must earn a C or better in each required certificate course to receive the certificate.
Administrative and Academic Structure
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There must be a designated Faculty Director for each certificate. The Director shall represent the curriculum and any affiliated faculty in multidisciplinary certificates.
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Minimum admission requirements for a certificate will be that students must be in good academic standing and can enter at any time in their undergraduate career. However, the faculty offering the certificate can impose additional requirements for a certificate.
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Courses taken prior to admission to the certificate can be used in the certificate.
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The Director approves the individual certificate curriculum for each student and informs the Registrar when the certificate is complete and may be awarded.
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The awarded certificate is to be posted on the student's official transcript but will not appear on the diploma.
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All certificate proposals must be developed by a faculty body that involves faculty in contributing or affected academic units. The proposal must be approved through the faculty curriculum committee of the college or colleges participating in the certificate, and then submitted to Undergraduate Council. Certificates reviewed and recommended for approval by UC will then be forwarded to University Senate for final approval.