Graduate Certificate Programs

A certificate program is a coherent set of academic courses, considerably narrower in scope and objectives than a degree or major, which leads to a certificate. A certificate program is normally oriented toward occupations and/or career skills. It contains a minimum of 12 units of courses numbered 3000 and above and a minimum of 20 total units unless the program consists entirely of 5000- and/or 6000-level courses, in which case the required minimum is 15 units. Each certificate program contains a required core of at least three courses and 12 units.
 
Some certificate programs have admission requirements that are described in the appropriate catalog chapter. (See the chapter describing the major most closely associated with the certificate.) To receive a certificate, you must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course applied to the program which is numbered below 6000 and a grade of "B" or better in each course applied to the program which is numbered 6000 and above. One course numbered below 6000 may be applied to a certificate program with a "CR" grade; no course numbered 6000 or above may be applied with a "CR" grade. At least 75% of the courses in a certificate program and all 5000- and 6000-level courses must be taken at Cal State East Bay for you to receive the certificate. You may meet this requirement with coursework taken at Cal State East Bay in matriculated or extension status. Prerequisites which are part of a regular degree major need not to be included within the certificate program, but must be clearly identified. No academic certificate program can have a title that is identical or similar to that of a legal license or certificate unless it meets the requirements for that license or certificate. You may not receive a certificate with the same title as the degree major, option, or minor that you have already received.
 
Certificate programs are designed to serve students who have a limited time to spend at Cal State East Bay and/or who wish to learn specific subjects, concepts, skills, and competencies. Most certificate programs add a specific occupational skill to an academic major that was previously completed or is being completed concurrently. Such programs are compatible with the related major and contain no prerequisites not included in the major and/or required G.E. Some certificate programs are designed to provide the preprofessional background for students contemplating transfer to other universities offering programs not available at CSUEB. These certificate programs have been made compatible with the professional program by including all prerequisite or strongly recommended preparatory courses that are offered by Cal State East Bay. Still other certificate programs are the equivalent of minors that can be earned without a degree. These are normally completed by students who already possess a baccalaureate degree and want to add some skills in a new field without completing another entire degree. Such certificate programs meet at least the minimum requirements for an academic minor in the discipline. A Special Certificate Program is also available. See the Interdisciplinary Studies chapters.