Graduate Certificate Program

Effective November 2003

• Graduate Certificate Programs
  • Introduction. A graduate certificate program consists of a logically sequenced and academically coherent subset of coursed derived from a given discipline or related disciplines, which is intended to prepare students for professional practice in certain applied fields. Because of the program’s emphasis on application, the choice of courses often represents more practice-oriented didactic contents. A graduate certificate comprises fewer credits than a master’s degree. Courses taken toward a certificate program may eventually or simultaneously transfer to a graduate degree depending upon the requirements of the particular degree to which a student wishes to apply the credits.
  • Curriculum. Courses selected for a graduate certificate program are courses approved or offered for credit at the graduate level at Park University, and, when completed, they represent a structured, coherent body of knowledge. Graduate credit hours earned through these courses may not be less than 12 hours nor more than fifty percent of the credits necessary for a related master’s program(s). In most instances the credit hours will range between 12 and 15. No more than 25% of the hours may be transferred from another institution.
  • Administration. Proposals for graduate certificate programs may be initiated by any department or entity that is authorized to offer graduate courses. However, similar to other graduate programs and courses, graduate certificate programs are created and monitored within the structure of the Graduate School and requires approval.
  • Approval Process. The approval process for graduate certificate programs is the same as the approval process for other graduate programs. Proposals are developed and submitted by the faculty of the program or programs in which the certificate is to be housed, endorsed by program directors/department chairs and deans and reviewed by the Curriculum Committee before being submitted to the Graduate Council for review. Proposals that meet the criteria given below are submitted to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval.
    • Proposals for new graduate certificate programs must contain:
      • A statement of the educational objectives of the program at the post-baccalaureate level, specifying the skills and competencies that are expected of the students upon completion of the program.
      • An academically coherent and logical sequence of courses designed to meet these educational objectives and a statement indicating how these courses will meet the proposed educational objectives.
      • Data and documentation demonstrating the need for the program. The documentation must address the demands of the external markets (employment) and a careful estimate of the number of students who might enroll in the program.
      • A plan for assessing the effectiveness of the program.
      • Admission criteria and academic standards if other than those of the master’s program(s) from which these courses are derived.
      • Names and updated vitae of the faculty who will be teaching in the program and advising students.
    • Student Eligibility and Admission Criteria
      • General criteria for admission to any graduate certificate program include:
        • An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its foreign equivalent.
        • Each program may establish the minimum grade point average, TOEFL scores, standardized test scores and other entry criteria. Such flexibility is permitted to meet the needs of the target student population.
        • Graduate students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program may simultaneously pursue a graduate certificate program with the permission of their advisor and the approval of the Graduate Dean. Certificate-seeking students who are not degree-seeking students will be classified as certificate students for the purpose of keeping University-wide enrollment data. Certificate students will have access to the library and university-wide facilities subject to the rules governing those facilities.
        • Certificate students are not automatically eligible for admission to the related graduate program. If they wish to pursue a graduate degree, they must submit an application meeting all the entrance requirements for that program.
      • Awarding of Certificate
        • A student graduates from a certificate program when all program requirements are completed and has maintained a 3.00 grade point average (gpa). A document suitable for framing may be issued by the Department(s) or School that offers the certificate program.
      • Transcript
        • Courses and certificates completed will be transcripted by the Registrar and they will become the student’s permanent academic record.
      • Certificate Program Review
        • All graduate certificate programs will be regularly reviewed following the same review cycle as graduate programs.
      • Criteria for Approving a Graduate Certificate Program
        • The need for the program is clearly established.
        • The courses are appropriately sequenced to provide a structured and focused educational experience.
        • The program’s educational objectives are clear.
        • The program objectives are clearly reflected in the course offerings.
        • There is a clear plan for assessing the effectiveness of the program.
        • The number of hours required are within acceptable limits.
        • The department/program has the needed faculty and other resources to offer the program.
        • Faculty who offer the courses and advise students possess demonstrated qualification.
        • An appropriate number of courses constitute the program.
        • Admission criteria and the policy on transferring courses to a degree program with time limitation are clearly stated.
      • Awarding Graduate Credit for Professional Development/Certification Learning
        • This procedure provides a means by which the University may consider the awarding of graduate credit for professional development/ certification learning in order to meet emerging national educational priorities and mandates. Awarding of this credit will be based solely on professional development/ certification learning that is part of an agreement between the University and another regionally accredited institution, certifying agency, or professional development consortium.
        • Requirements for the awarding of such credit require formal agreement between Park University and a regionally accredited educational institution, agency to provide professional certifications, or professional development consortium. These agreements shall require the approval of the appropriate school faculty, the graduate dean, and the provost and will comply with all Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation guidelines.
        • Schools, in coordination with the Graduate Dean and Registrar, will be responsible for processing university approved learning credits offered by regionally accredited educational institutions, certifying agency, or professional development consortium and in ensuring the following:
          • Awards credit only for documented learning which ties the professional development/certification activity to the theories and data of the relevant academic fields;
          • Awards credit only to a matriculated student, and is prepared, upon request from another institution, to document how such learning was evaluated and the basis on which such credit was awarded;
          • Takes steps to ensure that credit for learning does not duplicate credit already awarded for courses in the student's academic program;
          • Adopts, describes in appropriate institutional publications, implements, and regularly reviews policies and procedures for awarding credit for professional development/certification learning;
          • Clearly describes, and establishes the validity of, the evaluation process and criteria for awarding credit for professional development/certification activities.

Contact for Interpretation: Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies

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