Graduate Certificate Program Policies

Overview

Graduate certificate programs are a way for universities to provide the latest disciplinary knowledge in the most flexible and convenient formats for the professional development of its alums and others who desire further education. Graduate certificate programs are very popular options at UCF for graduate study without having to commit to an existing master's or doctoral program. One of the benefits of enrolling in a graduate certificate program is that later, should students decide to do so, they can usually apply all of the credits earned in the graduate certificate to a graduate program. The graduate certificate program is meant to be flexible and offer a short-term of study that provides specialized knowledge that supplements an existing degree. Graduate certificate programs are particularly helpful to those professions where licensure and continuing professional development are required. Many of our graduate certificate programs are offered online for convenience. One of the most important benefits of our graduate certificate programs is that they are taught by our graduate faculty using regular graduate courses at the university.

UCF has over 70 graduate certificate programs available to supplement existing graduate programs or to provide specialized knowledge in disciplines that complement the education of working professionals in the metropolitan area served by UCF. Many of our area employees have advanced graduate degrees and can enhance their education with specialized groups of courses. Frequently, a package of specialized courses that forms a certificate will increase employment credentials, lead to career enhancement, and produce more income.

It is the intent of these programs to be current and to provide specialized, state-of-the-art content to area employees. Often certificate programs are offered using flexible and nontraditional delivery systems that provide the best service to the employees in this metropolitan area. Distributed learning, weekend courses, evening courses, and accelerated term courses are acceptable.

Certificate programs are often ideal for nondegree students who would like to sample graduate courses before committing to a graduate degree program. Certificate programs may round out a graduate degree program, providing a special emphasis that supplements a graduate degree. Frequently, a certificate program can provide an interdisciplinary focus that provides more depth and understanding to an existing graduate program.

Any academic unit may propose a graduate certificate program that encompasses graduate courses in its graduate program. If an interdisciplinary certificate program is proposed, it must be acceptable to departments and faculty offering the courses and graduate programs on which the certificate program is based.

Certificate Program Admission Requirements

Students currently admitted to a graduate degree program or to nondegree status can apply and are eligible to enroll in graduate certificate programs. In addition, individuals who have previously completed bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees are eligible to enroll in certificate programs. In order to apply to a graduate certificate program, a student must submit an online admissions application, pay a $30 application fee, and submit an official transcript showing an earned bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited or recognized foreign institution. On the online application, the student must designate the certificate program that he/she wishes to enter. Students are required to submit the application and obtain formal admission to the graduate certificate program by the end of add/drop period in the semester in which the student registers for the final course in the certificate program.

Admission to a certificate program does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. However, once a person is accepted into a master's, specialist or doctoral graduate program, credits from a completed UCF certificate program may be applied toward an existing graduate program with the consent of the program. Nondegree students who are enrolled in a certificate program are not eligible for tuition support, assistantships, fellowships, or federal financial aid. Students are advised to apply for the graduate certificate program well in advance of completion of all required courses; formal admission is required by the end of add/drop period in the semester in which the student registers for the final course in the certificate program.

Students must complete the certificate requirements listed in the Graduate Catalog at the time of their formal admission to the certificate program.

Course Requirements and Loads

A certificate program must include a minimum of nine semester hours. The course work must consist of an integrated and organized sequence of study; course substitutions are not permitted.

No internship or independent study courses may be used in a certificate program. The use of practicum courses in certificate programs is not generally encouraged, but may be used in programs where there is a strong professional setting and on-campus faculty supervision. Alternative delivery programs are acceptable and encouraged.

A course may not apply toward more than one certificate program. Certificate students must take the full number of required hours. If an overlap of course work occurs between two or more certificate programs for the same student, the student must complete the total required hours by taking electives approved by the program.

All courses that are offered as part of a certificate program must be graduate-level courses. Students must earn course grades of "B-" or better to get credit toward the certificate. Courses may be retaken to achieve a better grade. However, the certificate will only be awarded if the graduate status GPA in the certificate program of study is 3.0 or higher.

Applicable Credits

Transfer of Credit

No graduate credit hours taken at other institutions can be applied to a graduate certificate program at UCF. If requested prior to the completion of the certificate program requirements, graduate credit hours taken at UCF from a prior baccalaureate, master's, specialist, or doctoral degree may be applied toward a certificate, with the consent of the program, provided they are no more than three years old. The request for using credits from prior years must be submitted no later than the end of the add/drop period in the semester in which the student takes the final course in the certificate program.

Recency of Credit

The student has three years from the date of admission to the certificate program to complete the certificate. In addition, no course older than three years at the time of completion may be used.

Completion of Graduate Certificate

In order to be processed for completion of a graduate certificate program, students must obtain formal admission into the graduate certificate program by the end of the add/drop period in the semester in which the student registers for the final course in the certificate program (see Certificate Program Admission Requirements above). In addition, students nearing completion of a graduate certificate program must file an application for completion (Graduate Certificate Completion Form) with the office that offers the program. The Graduate Certificate Completion form should be filed by the time that the student is registering for the final course in the certificate program, and such forms must be filed no later than the end of the semester in which the student enrolls in the last course required for the certificate program.

The Graduate Certificate Completion Form should be submitted to the department office that offers the graduate certificate program so that the required courses can be listed and final grades can be verified. The certificate program director's approval signature signifies that requirements have been met according to the program of study and university policies. A college review and approval signature is required before the completion form is submitted to UCF Graduate Studies for final verification, processing, and release of the certificate. Students will only be processed for completion of a graduate certificate if they have previously submitted a certificate application form, have been formally admitted to the program, and have filed a Graduate Certificate Completion form. Students must be enrolled in the semester in which the Graduate Certificate Completion is submitted.

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