Administering a Graduate Certificate Program

The University of Oregon offers a number of graduate certificates in specific academic and professional subjects. Students pursuing graduate certificates must be admitted to the university, but are not required to be degree-seeking.

Students should read pursuing a graduate certificate for more information.

Graduate Certificates


Tuition Assessment

The tuition charged to students enrolled in a graduate degree program will not be affected by their enrolling in a graduate certificate program.

Students who are not admitted to a graduate degree program who are pursuing a graduate certificate on a standalone basis will be assessed the tuition rate associated with the certificate program.


Admission Process

In order to pursue a graduate certificate, a student must be admitted to the University of Oregon as a graduate-level student, either in a master’s or doctoral program or, in the case of a stand-alone certificate program, as an "Admitted Graduate Non-Degree" student.

The admission process is specific to each certificate program. To get started, the student should contact the department/program offering the graduate certificate.

The student must complete and submit the graduate certificate declaration form within one term after being admitted to the certificate program.


Financial Aid and Graduate Certificates

Students pursuing a standalone graduate certificate (that is, without also being concurrently enrolled in a graduate degree program) may not access federal financial aid unless the graduate certificate program has been individually approved as Title IV aid-eligible.

For more information, contact Jim Brooks, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.


Important Information about Pursuing and Completing a Graduate Certificate

Graduate certificates consist of a minimum of 24 credits of graduate level coursework taken at the UO. Specific course requirements are established by the department at the time that the graduate certificate program is established.

Coursework taken prior to acceptance into the certificate program may count toward certificate requirements, with approval from the department offering the certificate.

However, to be considered, such coursework must have been completed as an admitted graduate student in one of the following classifications:

  • Admitted Graduate Non-Degree
  • Conditional Master’s
  • Master’s
  • Conditional Doctoral
  • Doctoral
  • Pre-master’s
  • Post-master’s
  • Postbaccalaureate Graduate

Graduate certificate students are subject to the following general policies governing satisfactory progress:

  • Continuous enrollment
  • Minimum three-credit registration each term
  • Maintenance of a 3.0+ cumulative GPA
  • Completion of the program within seven years
  • Maintaining satisfactory progress/good standing

Graduating with the Certificate

No later than Friday of Week 2 in the term of graduation (for the graduate certificate, the graduate degree, or both the degree and the certificate), the student must apply for graduation and be sure to indicate on the application the certificate they plan to receive.

No later than the Tuesday after grades are due for the term of graduation, the department/program must submit a statement of completion for graduate certificate in GradWeb confirming that the student has fulfilled all requirements for the certificate.


Establishing a Graduate Certificate Program

The standard process for creating a new degree program must also be used for creating a new graduate certificate program.