IV. Establishment of Graduate Academic Certificate Programs
IV.A. University of California Certificate
Senate Regulation (SR) 735 authorizes Graduate Divisions to grant certificates of completion of graduate curriculum, also known as Graduate Academic Certificates (GACs). SR 735 requires that certificate programs, except those offered by University Extension, be approved by both the Divisional Graduate Council and CCGA. A GAC program is defined as a certificate program that:
- does not require its students to be enrolled in another graduate program;
- is not offered solely through a UC Extension Program;
- has an independent admissions process that requires at least a Bachelor’s degree for admission;
- carries a minimum of 3 quarters (or 2 semesters) of full-time resident study.
Certificate program proposals that meet the above criteria and are approved by CCGA according to SR 735 will be recognized as the only GACs that bear the official seal of the University of California. UC campuses may offer certificates without the official seal that do not conform to SR 735 requirements (e.g., are offered in conjunction with other types of professional or academic degrees and are not considered stand-alone programs).
Details of the System-level Process
The system-level process for reviewing GACs is as follows. First, the Divisional Graduate Council reviews and approves new GACs. Then, they are submitted for systemwide Senate review by CCGA. Typically, new GAC program proposals are submitted to CCGA for review as full proposals similar to those for the master’s and Ph.D. programs. The review of a new GAC program by CCGA involves at least one external expert reviewer. Proposal review requires the approval of the Graduate Council, the Divisional Council, the Vice Provost for the Faculty, and Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs.
IV.B. Campus Academic Unit Certificate
A GAC program may use shared courses or units for another degree program and uses regular UCSF courses. The academic requirements for a campus-level GAC program are as follows:
- Registration and enrollment in a graduate degree program at UCSF is required.
- The program of study must consist of a minimum of three graduate-level courses and/or ninety hours of instruction (equivalent to 6 units), the content of which is reviewed and favorably supported following the administering unit’s normal process for review of new course and program proposals.
- A required course that synthesizes aspects of the subject(s) of the program must be included.
A proposed GAC program must be approved by the Graduate Council.
Requirement verification for the award of a GAC is undertaken by the academic unit(s), and the certificate is produced and issued by the academic unit(s). The Option 2 academic unit(s) certificate is recorded on student transcripts by the Registrar’s Office after the administrative authority designated by the academic unit(s) awarding the certificate directly provides to the Registrar (Academic Records) the names of students who have completed all requirements.