New Graduate/Undergraduate Certificates

Effective this date and until rescinded, certificate programs of academic work shall not be added to the curriculum of the University of Georgia unless approved in accordance with the Bylaws of the University Council of the University of Georgia and submitted by the President of the University of Georgia to the Office of the Chancellor, Board of Regents, for information.

Policy and implementing guidance outlined herein are applicable to all certificate programs. Excluded from this policy are the certification activities of schools and colleges involving professional associations and state governments. No provisions stated herein are intended to conflict with the Bylaws of the University of Georgia or the Academic Affairs Handbook of the Board of Regents.

For purposes of this policy, certificates may be offered by one existing academic unit or by multiple academic units:

Formal Proposals

• Formal Proposal for Certificates Offered by One Academic Unit:
  • A formal proposal is required when an academic unit contemplates adding a new certificate to the institution's curricula. The formal proposal will include the following:
    • Purpose and Educational Objectives
    • Need
    • Student Demand
    • Program of Study
    • Model Programs and Accreditation
    • Student Learning Outcomes
    • Assessment and Admissions
• Formal Proposal for Certificates Offered by Multiple Academic Units: 
  • A formal proposal is required when multiple academic units contemplate adding a new certificate to the institution's curricula. The formal proposal will include the following:
    • Purpose and Educational Objectives
    • Need
    • Student Demand
    • Program of Study
    • Model Programs and Accreditation
    • Student Learning Outcomes
    • Assessment
    • Faculty
    • Facilities and Resources
    • Budget
    • Administration
  • Board of Regents' approval is not required to establish a certificate program; however, prior notification to the Chancellor of the Board of Regents is necessary.

Certificates are viewed as a complement or addition to an existing degree, rather than a freestanding credential. Thus, to preclude certificates from usurping the traditional role of degrees, the following guidance is strongly suggested:

• Undergraduate certificates should be completed only by students who are making progress toward an undergraduate degree or by students who already have an undergraduate degree and wish to return for the sole purpose of securing a particular certificate.
• Graduate certificates should be completed only by graduate students who are either prospective candidates for a degree or non-degree candidates who hold a master's or a doctoral degree.

For more information on this policy, click here.

To submit a request, please follow the steps below:

• Click here to see a list of approved graduate certificates.
• Click here to see a list of approved undergraduate certificates.
• You will need to upload your New Certificate Proposal Form request to:  SUBMIT A REQUEST.
• New certificate proposals will need to be reviewed and approved by the Faculty Senate.  A representative from your department will need to be present at this meeting to discuss the proposal as well as answer any questions or concerns that might arise.
• Once your request has been approved by both the Franklin College Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate, the request will be emailed to the Office of Curriculum Systems and to the Department Head. 
• Please refer to the Proposal for New Certificates Approval Routing Chart.

QUESTIONS?  Please contact April Brown at albrown@uga.edu.