Graduate Certificate Programs
Credit bearing, graduate certificate programs are comprised of related
courses that constitute a coherent body of study within a discipline. These
programs must be approved through the University and faculty governance
processes. Furthermore, these programs must establish student-learning outcomes
and assess the extent to which students achieve these outcomes. This is done via
the Graduate Academic Learning Compact (GALC). Additional information about the
assessment of learning outcomes can be found in the GALC policy. GALC must be
developed for all graduate certificate programs. The number of graduate credits within a graduate certificate program cannot
be less than 9 or more than one-half of the credits necessary for a related
master's degree. Certificate programs approved prior to the implementation of
this policy are exempt from these credit limitations.
Student pursuing a graduate certificate will be required to meet the same
academic requirements as those defined for degree-seeking students to remain in
"good standing."
Graduate certificate students must meet all prerequisites for courses in
which they wish to enroll.
Application of Credits towards Degree Programs
When concurrently enrolled in a graduate degree program, and with the
approval of the sponsoring college, students can apply required coursework to
both the graduate certificate program and, if applicable, their chosen graduate
degree program. Students cannot return for a retroactive certificate award
following graduation. Students who have graduated from a degree program and wish
to return to pursue a graduate certificate will need to apply to the Graduate
School, and the specific certificate program, and pay a new application fee.
If a student later returns to UNF to earn a graduate degree, up to 12 hours
of UNF credit earned as a graduate certificate student may be applied to satisfy
graduate degree requirements. Any application of such credit must be approved by
the graduate program and must be appropriate to the program. It should be noted
that not all programs allow credit earned as part of a graduate certificate to
be applied towards a similar graduate degree.
Completion of Program Requirements
Students are subject to the individual requirements of the graduate
certificate program and will need to complete at least 50 percent of the
required coursework in residence at the University (e.g., face-to-face, distance
learning). Successful completion of the graduate certificate program will be
noted on the student's official transcript separately from his or her degree
program.
The graduate certificate is not viewed as a guaranteed means of entry into a
graduate degree program.
Admissions to Graduate Certificate Programs
Currently enrolled UNF students who wish to pursue a graduate certificate
program are required to apply through the Graduate School and be accepted to the
desired program in accordance with program-specific admissions criteria.
No application fee is required.
- All students applying for graduate-level certificate programs will
submit an application to the Graduate School.
- The Graduate School will refer the application to the appropriate
department for an admission decision.
- Each program will develop its own admission criteria for certificate
programs.
- Acceptance to the graduate certificate program is dependent on student
eligibility and, if required, departmental approval.
Certificate and Transcripts
Once the program coursework is satisfied the student may be eligible to
receive a document acknowledging completion that is separate from a diploma
conferral. Printing and conferring all completion documents from university
certificate programs will be the sole responsibility of the Registrar. All
materials required to print and package the completion documents will also be
housed within Enrollment Services.
To view the University's official policy for Graduate Certificates, click here.
