Certificate
Certificate programs exist at Kent State University to deliver focused instruction and formalized guidance to students in areas that address contemporary, topical and/or workplace needs. Formal recognition of certificate completion is given on the student’s transcript. Certificates may be pursued by and granted to students whether or not they are enrolled in a degree-granting major; however, all students who are granted a certificate must meet institutional admission and graduation standards.
Certificate programs normally contain between 15 and 25 credit hours of coursework from the existing course inventory, with a maximum of 9 credits of variable topic (special topics, seminar, etc.) courses. Graduate certificates that are 21 credit hours or more must be approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Please be aware that certificates that comprise more than 50 percent of new courses (i.e., not from the existing course inventory) require formal approval from the Higher Learning Commission; that approval may take more than six months to receive.
Approved certificate programs must be reviewed by its sponsoring unit every five years, and a recommendation made on the continued status of the program. This review should assess achievements relative to the stated goals of the program and be submitted to the Educational Policies Council.
NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education approves federal financial aid eligibility for non-degree programs that prepare post-baccalaureate graduates to receive state licensure to teach in an elementary or secondary school. These are called “sub-baccalaureate certificates”; however, they are not designated as certificates at Kent State.
The Ohio Department of Higher Education defines the level of certificate programs as the following:
Undergraduate General Certificate
An undergraduate general certificate requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (i.e., below the baccalaureate). It is further classified into the following categories (from the IPEDS Glossary):
- Postsecondary – Less Than One Academic Year: Total program must be minimum 16 credit hours (for federal financial aid eligibility) and maximum 29 credit hours. (Banner code: CER1-1xx)
- Postsecondary – At Least One, but Less than Two Academic Years: Total program must be minimum 30 and maximum 59 credit hours. (Banner code: CER2-2xx)
- Postsecondary – At Least Two, but Less than Four Academic Years: Total program must be minimum 60 credit hours and maximum 119 credit hours. (Banner code: CER4-4xx)
Undergraduate Technical Certificate
An undergraduate technical certificate is designed for an occupation or specific employment opportunity. This certificate should prepare students for a valid occupational license or third-party industry certification related to the field of study. A technical certificates and its associated occupational license or certification require approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
The technical certificate is further classified into two categories:
- Technical – Less Than One Year: Total program must be minimum 16 credit hours (for federal financial aid eligibility) and maximum 29 credit hours.
- Technical – One Year: Total program must be minimum 30 credit hours, with the majority of the coursework completed in a prescribed technical area.
Graduate Certificate
A graduate certificate is classified into two categories
- Post-Baccalaureate: Requires completion of a program of study beyond the bachelor’s degree but does not meet the requirements of a master’s degree. Minimum admission requirement is the bachelor’s degree. Total program must be minimum 8 credit hours for federal financial aid eligibility. (Banner code: CER6-6xx)
- Post-Master’s: Requires completion of a program of study beyond the master’s degree but does not meet the requirements of a doctorate. Minimum admission requirement is the master’s degree. Total program must be minimum 8 credit hours for federal financial aid eligibility. (Banner code: CER8-8xx)