Source Book
Certificate Programs

A certificate means a credential issued by an institution in recognition of the completion of a curriculum other than one leading to a degree;

i.e. a cluster of credit-bearing coursework that is recognized by SU and identified for the purposes of recruiting, advertising, admission, or acknowledgement of successful completion.

All credit-bearing certificates must be registered with the New York State Education Department, guided by the Regulations of the Commissioner (click on link: Part 50 General Regulation on Program Registration).

Different Types of Certificates
NYSED classifies all certificate programs into the following two categories:

1. Certificate programs (all undergraduate programs)
   An undergraduate certificate program is one that requires:
   • at a minimum that the applicant have a high school diploma or equivalent;

   • that the curriculum be of a depth and breadth consistent with the undergraduate degree programs; and

   • that the curriculum ensure a level of sophistication consistent with students in a bachelor's degree.

2. Advanced Certificate (C.A.S.) programs (all post-baccalaureate and post-master's programs)
   A graduate certificate program is one that requires:
   • at a minimum that the applicant have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution ;

   • that the curriculum be of a depth and breadth consistent with graduate degree programs that require a bachelor's degree;

   • the curriculum ensures a level of sophistication consistent with students who hold a bachelor's degree and are undertaking graduate level work; and

   • all courses that can count toward a graduate certificate must be consistent with the standard established for SU graduate courses.

The Approval Process
The Senate Committee on Curricula determined that those programs that fall within the above definition(s) must follow the same approval process as new or modified degree programs.

Certificate programs should follow the same format and outline used for all new degree program proposals.

* See the Graduate School Program Guide for additional information regarding graduate certificates.

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