{"id":1863,"date":"2025-12-17T10:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/?page_id=1863"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:28:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:28:21","slug":"developing-credit-bearing-certificate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/developing-credit-bearing-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-umflint-templates umflint-template-default_no_jumbotron\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:50px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-8123\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/2025\/03\/Blue.UCEN_.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#FFF\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-2\">\n\t\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8d430da8491311e75994da11a39ffb55\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(31.152px, 1.947rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.863), 55px);font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-secondary-color\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-secondary-color\">Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs<\/span><\/mark><\/h1>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-2\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-row row\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-3\">\n\t\t\t\n<button class=\"btn btn-section w-100 px-0 wp-menu-block-toggle mobile-nav-toggle d-none\" data-target=\"wp-menu-block-side-menu\">\n          <span class=\"h-100 mr-3 mt-1 d-block mobile-nav-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t  <\/span>\n          Office of the Provost<\/button><nav id=\"wp-menu-block-side-menu\" class=\"wp-menu-block sidebar-nav wp-block-umflint-menu-block\"><div class=\"nav-sidebar-title-container\">\n                <div class=\"nav-sidebar-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\">Office of the Provost<\/a><\/div>\n                <a class=\"nav-sidebar-title-close\" href=\"#\" data-target=\"side-menu\" aria-label=\"Close\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                        <title>close<\/title><path d=\"M19,6.41L17.59,5L12,10.59L6.41,5L5,6.41L10.59,12L5,17.59L6.41,19L12,13.41L17.59,19L19,17.59L13.41,12L19,6.41Z\" \/>\n                    <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n            <\/div><ul id=\"menu-side-menu\" class=\"menu nav nav-sidebar flex-column\"><li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-60\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-60 nav-item\"><a title=\"Academic Affairs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-affairs\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Academic Affairs<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1271\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1271 nav-item\"><a title=\"Leadership Searches\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/leadership-searches\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Leadership Searches<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-63\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-63 nav-item\"><a title=\"Communications\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/communications\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Communications<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1625\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1625 nav-item\"><a title=\"Current Newsletter\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/newsletter\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Current Newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-57\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-57 nav-item\"><a title=\"Faculty &amp; Staff Awards\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/faculty-staff-awards\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Faculty &amp; Staff Awards<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1260\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1260 nav-item\"><a title=\"Jack W. Thompson, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professorship\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/jack-thompson\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Jack W. Thompson, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professorship<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-25\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-25 nav-item\"><a title=\"Academic Events\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-events\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Academic Events<\/a>\n<ul class=\"subitems-menu\" >\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-147\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-147 nav-item\"><a title=\"Commencement\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/registrar\/graduation-and-commencement\" class=\"nav-link\">Commencement<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-174\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-174 nav-item\"><a title=\"Common Read\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/commonread\" class=\"nav-link\">Common Read<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1030\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1030 nav-item\"><a title=\"Critical Issues in Education\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/critical-issues-in-education\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Critical Issues in Education<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-16\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-16 nav-item\"><a title=\"Resources\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Resources<\/a>\n<ul class=\"subitems-menu\" >\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1409\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1409 nav-item\"><a title=\"Interfolio\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/interfolio\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Interfolio<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-13\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13 nav-item\"><a title=\"Contact Us\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/contact-us\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Contact Us<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-9\">\n\t\t\t\n<nav aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb mb-3\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\">Office of the Provost<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/\">Provost Policies<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\">Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs<\/li><\/ol><\/nav>\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-4 wp-block-wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-4\">\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Policy Type:<\/strong> Administrative Policy<br><strong>Date Adopted:<\/strong> February 15, 2023<br><strong>Version:<\/strong> 2.0<br><strong>Review Cycle:<\/strong> Every 2 years<br><strong>Date Last Reviewed:<\/strong> May 22, 2025<br><strong>Office Responsible:<\/strong> Office of the Provost<br><strong>Approving Administrator:<\/strong> Vice Provost for Engaged Learning and Teaching Innovation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Policy Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This policy provides requirements for faculty who are developing credit-bearing certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Scope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Applies to:<\/strong> All undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Policy Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A credit-bearing certificate at the University of Michigan-Flint is an award \u2013 requiring fewer credits than a Bachelor\/Masters\/Doctorate program \u2013 that appears on a student&#8217;s official transcript. The following items must be followed when developing credit-bearing certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">1. Purpose of Certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certificates should provide students with a specialized set of courses that supplement a primary field of study, advance an area of expertise, or provide an interdisciplinary experience within a defined body of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">2. Catalog Description Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each certificate program should draft a short introductory paragraph that will be shared on its catalog page, which clearly provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An overview of the certificate program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples of how the certificate can support a career path<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The student populations that may earn the certificate\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E.g., &#8220;The public health certificate is open to all students, except those within the public health major.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">3. Learning Outcomes and Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each certificate program must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clearly define outcomes that demonstrate what knowledge and skills students will gain as a result of successfully completing the program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure assessment processes that validate achievement of expected outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">4. Grade Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While programs may have individual grade requirements, the university defines successful completion of a certificate program as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A minimum grade of <strong>C (2.0)<\/strong> earned in each course within an undergraduate certificate program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A minimum grade of <strong>B (3.0)<\/strong> earned in each course within a graduate certificate program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">5. Program Design and Scheduling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certificate programs should be designed and courses scheduled in alignment with programmatic and student needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">6. Credit Hour Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certificate programs, including prerequisites, must be between <strong>9 and 18 credit hours<\/strong>, at least 9 of which must be taken at UM-Flint. Some post-graduate certificates, with accreditation requirements, may be excluded from this requirement at the discretion of the academic program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">7. Currency of Coursework<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The university is committed to ensuring individuals earning certificates have a credential that is grounded in current knowledge and practice. Students pursuing a certificate who would like to count previously completed coursework older than 3 years must have it reviewed by the departmental\/programmatic home of the certificate to determine previous course content alignment to current certificate requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">8. Double-Counting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Undergraduate to Graduate:<\/strong> Students who receive credit for undergraduate courses cannot receive graduate credit for such cross-listed courses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graduate Certificate with Graduate Degree:<\/strong> Graduate certificate programs may be taken separately or in conjunction with a graduate degree program, with credits from the certificate eligible to be used in the graduate degree program. Departments can determine which certificate credits, if any, can be used within a graduate degree program; such certificate credits can be used if the student has been admitted to the graduate degree program within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program when completing said courses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graduate Degree to Graduate Certificate:<\/strong> Graduate courses taken as a degree-seeking student may be used within a graduate certificate program if the student is admitted to the certificate program and courses are completed within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">9. Stand-Alone Certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition:<\/strong> Stand-alone certificates are designed for students not seeking a bachelor&#8217;s, master&#8217;s, or doctoral degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Completion Timeline:<\/strong> Students in a stand-alone certificate should be able to complete the certificate within 12-18 months. Individual plans of study can be negotiated at the discretion of the academic program, if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Aid:<\/strong> Stand-alone certificates are not automatically eligible for federal financial aid but can become eligible through a separate application process. The academic program must contact the Office of Financial Aid to apply for federal financial aid eligibility for stand-alone certificates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">10. Stackable Credentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These credentials are a part of an educational pathway where skills and accompaniments earned build on each other leading to the student earning a higher-level credential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To count toward a degree, a stand-alone certificate must be completed within five years of completing the degree. Any exception to the five years must be reviewed and determined by the departmental\/programmatic home of the certificate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In cases where the same course is required among multiple certificates, its credits apply to the degree only once.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">11. Approval Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certificate approval follows the standard university approval process for new minors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Version History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-bordered\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Date of Change<\/th><th>Version<\/th><th>Description of Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>February 15, 2023<\/td><td>1.0<\/td><td>Adopted<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May 22, 2025<\/td><td>2.0<\/td><td>Adopted (Updated time requirements from five to seven years in sections 8b and 8c)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>For questions about developing credit-bearing certificate programs, please contact the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1n9wfF-0ALJWBNoQO7qBjv5zCfHiqU7Kr\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Print-only Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/developing-credit-bearing-certificate\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":1824,"parent":1796,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1863","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1863"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2080,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1863\/revisions\/2080"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}