Undergraduate Certificate Programs
An undergraduate certificate is a credential that is conferred upon the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program of study. An undergraduate certificate program may be completed as a stand-alone program or concurrently with a bachelor’s degree program. Unless otherwise specified, all undergraduate academic policies and procedures apply to undergraduate certificate students.
Curriculum Requirements and Policies for Undergraduate Certificates
Any course credit obtained as part of a certificate may be applied to either a major or minor within a degree program. There is no limit on the number of courses that can apply both to a certificate and a degree. Certificates are intended to be "stackable," such that a course taken may apply to more than one certificate simultaneously, and multiple certificates may be obtained on the way to an undergraduate degree. However, in the case of certificates embedded in a major, courses required for the certificate may not all count toward the specific curricular requirements of the major.
Admissions and Registration
Undergraduate certificates are available both to students seeking degrees and to non-degree seeking students. Students already matriculated to CCSU and pursuing a degree may add a certificate program by meeting any additional admission requirements established by the program, completing any application materials specific to the program, and by submitting the Registrar's Change of Major Form. Students taking courses within a program who wish to declare for the certificate must do so before completing the final course in the program.
Students not currently matriculated to CCSU can apply to a certificate program by completing the online application through the University Office of Admissions. Applicants must submit the following:
• Highschool transcript(s)
• College transcripts (if any)
• Non-refundable application fee
Applicants may also be required to complete any application materials required by a particular certificate program and/or meet additional requirements set by the program. Students who complete a certificate and wish to pursue a degree can use the CCSU Reactivation Form.
Transfer Credit. Whether in a degree seeking program or not, students pursuing a certificate may request the application of transferred credit. The determination of whether a transferred course meets the specific certificate requirements will be made by the program. Students may transfer no more than 50% of the credits required to complete a certificate into the program. Students requesting transferred credit for experiential or other non-traditional forms of learning may do so through CCSU's existing policy for Acceptance of Non-Traditional Credit.
Non-matriculated students interested in pursuing individual courses within a certificate program may register through CCSU's Registrar’s Office. Prospective students will need to meet any prerequisites or permissions required to enroll in a course.
Program Completion
Certificate seeking students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 and receive grades of C- or better in all courses required for the certificate unless otherwise specified. At least 50% of courses must have been completed at CCSU. Certificates will be conferred at the 4 times during the academic year that degrees are conferred: May, August, December, and January.
As in the case of undergraduate degrees, the Office of the Registrar reviews a student’s graduation evaluation and notifies them of any remaining program requirements. After a student has completed all requirements the certificate will be conferred in the term associated with the completion of their last program requirement(s). The certificate will appear on the academic transcript.
Certificate requirements must be completed in full for a student to participate in commencement exercises. Students who complete a certificate but who have not obtained a degree are not eligible for graduation honors.