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CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Certificate programs provide opportunities for postgraduate training to those with undergraduate degrees. Certificate programs are narrower in scope and shorter in duration than master’s degrees. Certificate programs are not “degree” programs.

Admission Requirements

Students who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program and who wish to earn a certificate in addition to their degree or students who are not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program are eligible for admission to a certificate program.

Students who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program have already met University requirements for admission. In this case, no formal application process is necessary. The student should contact the Certificate Program Advisor and complete a form requesting permission to enter and complete the certificate program. If the request is approved, this form will be signed by the Certificate Program Advisor and the Dean of the College or Director of the Center in which the certificate program is housed. A copy of this form will be sent to the Graduate Advisor of Record for the student’s degree program, the department in which the student’s program is housed, and the Graduate School.

Students who are not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program will be required to apply for admission to UTSA as a special (non-degree-seeking) graduate student and to indicate their intent to seek admission into a certificate program. Applicants will be required to meet University admission requirements for special graduate students. Once admitted as a special graduate student, the student should contact the Certificate Program Advisor and complete a form requesting permission to enter and complete the certificate program. The form will be signed by the Certificate Program Advisor and the Dean of the College or Director of the Center in which the certificate program is housed. A copy of this form will be sent to the Graduate School.

If it is determined by the Certificate Program Advisor that a student requires prerequisite background courses to adequately prepare for the courses included in the certificate program, this will be noted in the student’s file. The student will be notified that the prerequisite courses must be taken before enrolling in certificate program coursework.

Any student who is admitted into a certificate program without being currently enrolled in a graduate degree program is considered to be a special graduate student. If the student wishes to enter a degree program, they will be required to apply to that program as a degree-seeking student. Admittance into or completion of a certificate program is not considered to be qualification for entry into a graduate degree program.

Students who are pursuing a certificate as special graduate students will not be eligible for financial aid.

Students who are admitted into a certificate program while also pursuing a graduate degree will be classified as degree-seeking students.

Course Restrictions

All courses offered in a certificate program must be approved graduate-level courses. See individual certificate program descriptions for program-specific requirements. Currently, the following graduate certificate programs are offered:

Certificate of Professional Development in Geographic Information Science
Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

Completion of Requirements for Certificate

Completion of a certificate program, with or without completion of a degree program, will be recorded on the student’s transcript if the following conditions are met:

  1. The student’s Certificate Program Advisor has prepared a Certificate Degree Plan, which will be sent to the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the semester in which the student completes the requirements of the certificate.
  2. The student has applied officially for the certificate in the Office of the Registrar no later than October 1 for the Fall Semester, February 1 for the Spring Semester, or June 1 for the Summer Semester. The application of any student applying for a certificate after the established deadlines will be processed the following semester.

It is the responsibility of the student to meet with the Certificate Program Advisor during the last semester of certificate coursework in order to determine that all requirements of completion are met. It is also the responsibility of the student to apply to the Office of the Registrar for the certificate by the established deadline.

The student’s completion of a certificate program, with or without completion of a degree program, will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

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