Introduction
The Office of Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater will provide an administrative structure to support graduate certificate programs at the post-baccalaureate and the post-master’s levels. These programs are intended to complement the broad range of degree and licensure programs already available at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Certificate programs will provide opportunities for practitioners to further specialize in areas of value to their respective fields. Certificates may represent stand-alone programs designed to provide specialties that enhance an undergraduate degree, they may be earned in the process of fulfilling graduate degree requirements, or they may symbolize specialties gained after the completion of a master’s degree.

Graduate certificates are awarded by individual academic departments, and are not considered an academic degree by the University. As such, individuals completing graduate certificates are not eligible for participation in commencement activities.
 

General Policy Requirements
1. A graduate certificate program must require a student to complete no less than 9 graduate credits, and require no more than 18 graduate credits.

2. A maximum of 40% of the credit hours towards any certificate program may be accepted as transfer credits.

3. Students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate School and who wish to pursue approved graduate certificate programs must apply for admission to such programs before one-half of the required credits are completed.

4. Students pursuing a graduate certificate will be required to meet the same requirements as those defined for degree-seeking students (e.g., admitted to the Graduate School either in "good standing" or on "probationary basis"; to complete a certificate program, a student must be in "good standing").

5. Proposals for programs may be adopted for an indefinite time period, or for a period of a specific number of years (a sunset clause). If the program is approved for a fixed period, it expires at the end of the period unless a program review specifically recommends its continuation (which may be for an indefinite period or for an additional fixed period).

6. All graduate certificate programs will be reviewed within the course of the regular graduate-level Audit and Review process.
 

Curricular Approval Process for New Graduate Certificate Programs
1. Proposals of new graduate certificate programs are created and submitted by constituent graduate faculty in accordance with approval process of academic sub-majors (see Curricular Proposal Form #1). As such, the proposal must include:

A. a catalog description of the program and the designation of the graduate certificate program coordinator (for the purposes of communication with the Graduate School);

B. a set of clear and appropriate educational objectives at the post-baccalaureate level (what should a student know/be able to do upon completion of the program);

C. a proposed course sequence associated with the certificate, including titles and course descriptions for both existing courses and any new courses that may be developed (new courses must be submitted for approval prior to or together with the proposal), this should also include:

a. a brief rationale for each course;

b. an indication of which courses will be delivered using distance education;

c. a delineation of any requirements of the program that are in addition to coursework, including but not limited to laboratories, practica, internships, projects.

D. a 4-year Plan of Course Offerings;

E. a discussion of the extent to which the curriculum overlaps with the curriculum of existing degree/ licensure programs;

F. an assessment plan for the program;

G. a statement of resources needed to support the program (staffing, equipment, library materials, etc.); and

H. a statement of the need for the proposed program and the basis for such a need, supported by either externally or internally derived data.

3. The final proposal appearing before Graduate Council must be accompanied by responses (e.g., approve, no objection, disapprove) from the department heads and deans of the schools in which the contributing coursework is housed (e.g., Signature Page, Form #1).

4. The Graduate Council will consider all graduate certificate program proposals for academic and vocational merit taking into consideration any potential impact on existing degree and/or licensure programs.

5. Those meeting the criteria set forth by the Graduate Council are then recommended to the Provost for approval.