An undergraduate certificate is defined in the OSU Catalog as “a specified interdisciplinary program of study leading to an official certificate and notation on the transcript.” An undergraduate certificate requires a minimum of 27 credits.
A certificate program is distinguished from a departmental minor in that the courses are from more than one department rather than from a single department. It is distinguished from an option in that the certificate program is separate from but complementary to a specific major degree program rather than providing an alternative series of courses within the framework of a single degree program.
At the baccalaureate level, the certificate program must be taken in conjunction with a formal degree program at the university. A student not completing a certificate program by the time of conferral of the baccalaureate degree, but who does so at a later time, can receive a subsequent certificate through the Alumni College with the permission of the certificate program director/committee (see Academic Regulation #27).
A post-baccalaureate certificate is defined in the OSU Catalog as "a specified program of study of undergraduate courses leading to an official certificate and notation on the transcript." A completed baccalaureate degree program is required. A post-baccalaureate certificate program requires a minimum of 27 credits.
Proposals to establish a new undergraduate or post-baccalaureate certificate follow the OUS Outline for New Certificates and are approved via the Category I approval process.
Approval & Revisions: Faculty Senate Meeting #317 April 1975; Revisions: January 11, 1983; August 6, 1986; April 2004 Additional Information: OUS Outline for New Certificates; Category I Proposals; Academic Regulation #27