Certificate Admission
A certificate program is a sequence of courses that provides specialized knowledge and skills for personal enrichment, professional advancement, or career change. Certificate programs may provide:
- A basic introduction to an established field of study.
- An interdisciplinary approach linking several fields.
- A concentrated focus on a sub-field.
In most cases, certificates function independently of degree programs.
Graduate certificates are designed for students at the following levels:
- Post-Baccalaureate. For students who have completed a bachelor's degree and are enrolled for graduate credit, but are not enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
- Graduate. For students who are enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
- Post-Graduate. For students who have completed a master's or doctoral degree and are enrolled for graduate credit, but are not enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
A certificate also may be designed for students across two or more levels.
Admission
You must have a baccalaureate degree. A minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average is recommended.
You must declare your intent to pursue a certificate program before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence. Submit an application or declaration of intent to the certificate program administrative office.
If you are not already admitted to the Graduate School, complete the UW System admission application.
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Articulation with Degree Programs
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Students may count credits toward both a UWM post-baccalaureate certificate and a UWM graduate degree, subject to Graduate School transfer policy.
Graduate certificate
No more than 50% of the credits required for a certificate may count toward meeting degree requirements.
Post-master's certificate
Credits applied toward a UWM graduate degree may not count toward a post-master's certificate.
Certificates and concentrations
Students may not earn a certificate and a concentration in the same area.
GPA Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Verification of Certificate Completion
For each student who completes the certificate program, the certificate program director will sign and send to the Graduate School a form listing the course number and title, grade, and semester of enrollment for all courses that meet certificate program requirements. Certificate completion will be posted on a student's official transcript.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
18 or fewer credits
Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
19 or more credits
Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.