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In this context, a certificate is official university recognition of completion of a specific set of graduate courses designated by a school or department. Certificates are available in a number of areas, and are listed on this website. http://www.grad.ilstu.edu/programs/grad_cert.shtml
These certificates are not the same as requirements for teacher certification, which is handled through the Office of Clinical Experience and Certification Processes (CECP) http://www.coe.ilstu.edu/teacheredcenter/cecp/
You apply through the Office of Admissions, just as you apply for a degree program. You need to apply separately for each certificate, even if you are already in a degree program in that same department. This admission is separate and distinct from other admissions, e.g., degree, sequence, and requires payment of the application fee and submission of all official college transcripts showing that an undergraduate degree has been earned from an accredited institution (you have already submitted your transcripts when if you are in a degree program). The admission fee is waived for students pursuing a certificate at the same level as their current degree program. Check with Admissions for details.
Each department/school publishes any additional requirements for its certificate. Some certificates are only open to students in a specific degree program. Others are open to anyone with an undergraduate degree. The process for admissions to graduate-level certificates is the same as for degree programs. When the application and supporting documents are received, Graduate Admissions will forward a decision sheet to the Graduate-Level Certificate Advisor. This is to be returned to Admissions by the school or department, and Admissions notifies the student of the decision.
Yes. As with degree programs, the coordinator of your certificate program submits a Plans of Study to the Graduate School early in the semester in which the student is completing the certificate course work. Plan of Study templates should be developed by each certificate program and made available to their students.
As with degree programs, the student must fill out and submit to the Graduate School, the Application for Completion of a Non-Degree Certificate. This is available for downloading from the Graduate School web-site. The fee is $30. If the student does not complete the certificate courses in the semester for filing, their application will be cancelled and they will need to reapply (at no additional charge).
Students are not eligible for Commencement participation, unless specified by the Dean of the College arranging Commencement.
When will I receive my certificate? Within a few weeks of verification of completion, the transcript will reflect the completion of the certificate. The printed certificates will not be mailed until after 8-10 weeks of completion.
No. Certificate only students are not eligible for graduate assistantships, fellowships nor financial aid intended for degree-seeking students. Graduate tuition waivers may be granted at the discretion of the awarding unit.
Courses taken as part of a graduate certificate can be counted towards a master’s degree following degree grading criteria (Regulation 1230) if the courses are appropriate for the specific degree program, and are taken within an approved time frame.
All requirements for a graduate level certificate must be completed within six calendar years, beginning with the date the student first registers as a graduate level certificate student. This limitation applies to enrollment in all graduate course work for the certificate including work for which transfer credit is allowed. Refer to the time limitation regulation for master’s degrees (Regulation 2320) for additional criteria which would apply.
No more than 40% of course work hours required can be transferred from other accredited institutions to satisfy the certificate requirements.
In order to be awarded the certificate, a student must have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 in the set of courses required for the certificate.
Students must complete the same prerequisites or have the equivalent experiences as graduate degree candidates to enroll in specific courses.
No differentiation in course requirements will exist between graduate certificate courses and graduate degree courses.
Students seeking a graduate level certificate are subject to the academic policies and regulations indicated in the Graduate Catalog.
The granting of a graduate level certificate will appear on the University transcript.
Some programs include sequence options (in italics below the program). You may:
Admissions requirements/criteria/testing information may also be found in the Graduate Catalog under the program listing.
(requires a minimum of 9 but no more than 17 semester hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor's degree).
| Certificate Title | Graduate Coordinator | Phone (309) |
|---|---|---|
Learning Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 |
438-7873 | |
| Learning Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 |
438-7873 | |
| Deaf and Hard of Hearing Auditory/Oral Specialist | 438-7873 | |
| Learning Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 Multiple Disabilities Specialist |
438-7873 | |
| Learning Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 |
438-7873 | |
| Learning Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 Transition Specialist |
438-7873 | |
| Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate | 438-7400 | |
| Graduate Certificate in Project Management | 438-2695 | |
| Graduate Certificate in the Social Aspects of Aging | 438-5850 | |
| Graduate Certificate in Training Development | 438-2695 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate | 438-7361 |
(requires a minimum of 18 semester hours of graduate courses beyond the baccalaureate degree, but less than a master's degree).
| Certificate Title | Graduate Coordinator | Phone (309) |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Route to Secondary Teacher Certification | 438-2839 | |
| Teaching of Writing in High School/Middle School | 438-3651 |
(requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate courses beyond the master's degree but less than a doctoral degree).
| Certificate Title | Graduate Coordinator | Phone (309) |
|---|---|---|
| Chief School Business Official Endorsement | 438-3948 | |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | 438-7400 | |
| General Administrative Certification | 438-3948 | |
| Superintendent Endorsement in Educational Administration | 438-3948 | |
| Director of Special Education | 438-5562 |
