Regulations & Policies

Academic Affairs - Enrollment Services

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

To establish a policy regarding credit bearing undergraduate certificate programs.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

Credit bearing, undergraduate 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, credit bearing certificate programs must establish student learning outcomes and assess the extent to which students achieve these outcomes. Additional information about the assessment of learning outcomes can be found in the Academic Learning Compact (ALC) UNF policy 2.0510P.

With the approval of the sponsoring college, students can apply required coursework to both the certificate program and, if applicable, their chosen undergraduate degree program. Students do not, however, have the right to return for a retroactive certificate award.Credits awarded and used towards prior degrees cannot be applied to the undergraduate certificate.

Students are subject to the individual requirements of the undergraduate certificate program and will need to complete at least fifty percent of the required coursework in residence at the university (e.g., face-to-face, distance, or credit hours obtained while enrolled in an approved UNF study abroad program). 

III. ELIGIBILITY AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS

Each program will develop its own elegibility criteria for certificate programs. Acceptance to the undergraduate certificate program is dependent on student elegibility and, if required, departamental approval. Some undergraduate certificates must be declared as an additional curriculum and are only available to currently enrolled degree-seeking students or those in certain majors. Other certificates are open to both non-degree and degree seeking students. 

Currently enrolled degree-seeking UNF students must contact their academic advisor to discuss their intent to add a certificate to their program of study. The academic advisor will submit the request to add a certificate to the Office of Records and Registration for processing. Students are not enrolled in a certificate program by virtue of being enrolled in related courses. 

Non-degree seeking students must submit an admisions application, pay an application fee, and be accepted into the desired certificate program in accordance with program-specific admissions criteria. 

All undergraduate certificate students must meet all prerequisites for courses in which they wish to enroll. Students pursuing an undergraduate certificate will be required to meet the same academic requirements as those defined for degree-seeking students to remain in "good standing" as per UNF Policy 2.0610P

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. Certificate conferral is not part of the commencement ceremony; however, students must submit a graduation application to request certificate 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 the Enrollment Services.

Successful completion of an undergraduate certificate program will be noted on a student's official transcript separately from their degree program. 

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