Graduate Certificate Requirements

 

Plan of Study

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Transfer of Credits taken at University of Nebraska

Transfer of Credits taken outside University of Nebraska

Second Certificate

Time Limit for Graduate Degree

Quality of Work Standard

Automatic Dismissal

Completion of the Certificate

Awarding the Certificate 

Plan of Study

At the time of admission to a certificate program, an individual plan of study will be sent to the student with their official letter of admission from the Dean for Graduate Studies. This individual plan of study will list all requirements for the completion of the certificate program. These requirements may include deficiency courses and other provisions of admission, as well as specific courses required to complete the certificate. Any deviations to this plan of study must be approved by the student's adviser, graduate program committee chair, and Dean for Graduate Studies by completing a Change in Plan of Study form. Upon approval, a copy will be sent to the student and department/school.

A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of a certificate program.

 

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Transfer of Graduate Credit

Approval of transfer of graduate credit for course work taken at another accredited university (including extension credit but not including correspondence courses) is made at the time a Change in Plan of Study form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. Grades received in courses for transfer of credit must be the equivalent of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher. Transfer of graduate credits from a course taken with a pass/fail option must be recommended by the cognizant Graduate Program Committee, supported by a written evaluation from the instructor and approved by the Dean for Graduate Studies. All work accepted for transfer of credit must have been taken within the prescribed time limits for graduate certificate programs and is subject to restriction if previously used to satisfy requirements for another graduate program.

The only course work from other institutions posted on the UNO transcript will be those used on the approved plan of study.

 

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Transfer of Credits Taken at the University of Nebraska

There are no a priori limits on the transfer and applicability of credits earned in one program of the University of Nebraska toward meeting degree requirements in another such program, except as they are used to earn distinct degrees. However, such credits must be individually evaluated and approved by the appropriate Graduate Program Committee and campus Dean for Graduate Studies before they can actually be transferred. UNO students who wish to take courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, or the University of Nebraska at Kearney for transfer of credit should complete the intercampus application process available at https://intercampus.nebraska.edu/pre_inter_campus.aspx .

 

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Transfer of Credits Taken Outside the University of Nebraska

Up to one-third of the course work required for a graduate program may be accepted from an accredited institution other than a unit of the University of Nebraska when the transfer is supported by the student's adviser and the appropriate Graduate Program Committee. Final approval will be made by the UNO Dean for Graduate Studies. All other policies regarding graduate programs will apply to programs containing transfer hours.

 

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Second Certificate

Use of graduate credit earned for the first certificate will be treated in the same manner as transfer credit from another institution if applied to the requirements for a second certificate. Up to one-third of the course work required for a second graduate certificate may consist of courses from a previous graduate certificate. All other policies regarding graduate programs will apply.

 

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Time Limit for Graduate Degrees

Graduate certificate programs (as defined in the plan of study) and comprehensive exams (if required) must be completed within the time limit specified by the certificate guidelines, but in no case can the time limit be longer than ten consecutive calendar years. Course work which would be over the time limit specified by the certificate guidelines, but in no case over 10 years old (30 consecutive terms) at the completion of the certificate program (as defined in the plan of study) cannot be used for a graduate certificate. The first day of class of the earliest course which appears on the student's plan of study is the beginning of the student's graduate education.

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Quality of Work Standards

A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

  • Automatic Dismissal
    Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. In particular, the following will result in automatic dismissal from the degree or certificate program:

    Receiving a grade of "C-" (1.67 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course taken in the student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study or program of study;

    Departments/Schools may have additional and more stringent criteria for evaluating a student's performance and progress and may demand a higher level of performance than that demanded by the Graduate College. A department/school or program unit may, under some circumstances, recommend dismissal of a student from a graduate program even though quality of work standards have been maintained. Grounds for dismissal could include, but are not limited to:
    • failure to be accepted by an appropriate thesis or dissertation adviser within stipulated time limitations;
      failure to make timely progress toward the degree or certificate; and
    • failure to perform in course work, qualifying examination or research at an acceptable level in the respective department/school or program unit.

  • Probation or Dismissal
    A department/school will recommend that the Dean for Graduate Studies either dismiss, or place on probation with conditions for reinstatement as a student in good standing, in the following cases:
    • A Grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course involved in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students;

      Receiving at least nine hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for master's or specialist's degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average;

      Receiving at least six hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the program of study for doctoral degrees, regardless of the average;

       

    • Failure to maintain a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

  • Unclassified and Non-degree Students

    • For students with unclassified or non-degree admission, the above quality of work standards apply to course work taken, just as if all such courses were included in a graduate plan of study.
    • A student will be automatically dismissed from all graduate standing or placed on probation should any of the above conditions occur.

  • Additional Requirements
    Some departments/schools apply additional criteria of satisfactory performance beyond the requirements of the Graduate College. A copy of the department's/school's policy should be on file in the Graduate Studies Office and a copy distributed to every graduate student enrolled in the program.

  • Monitoring
    The Graduate Program Committees or the Supervisory Committees in their respective departments/schools shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in degree, certificate and unclassified programs and for recommending action.

    • The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of students who have received at least nine hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
    • The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of doctoral students who have received at least six hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.

      The Graduate Studies Office shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in non-degree programs.

The Dean for Graduate Studies will make the final decision and notify graduate students of their status.

  • Student Responsibilities

    • Students must be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College, as well as additional criteria of satisfactory performance in their respective department/school programs.
      It is the student's responsibility to know when his or her previous course work has failed to meet those standards.
    • Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if their department/school recommends that action based on its review of their previous performance.
  • Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" (Unsatisfactory) or "Fail"
    A grade of "U" or "Fail" in any course taken by a graduate student shall be treated the same as for a grade of "C-" or below and shall result in automatic dismissal from the graduate program.
  • The Plan of Study and Grades Which Result in Automatic Dismissal
    Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U" , "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.
  • Students Dismissed from a Graduate Program Who then Re-apply as Non-degree Students
    Students will be placed on stop enrollment for the department/school from which they were dismissed unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.
  • Policy on Petitioning for Reinstatement into a Graduate Program
    The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a gradute program is the responsibility of each deparartment/school Graduate Program Committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school Graduate Program Committee Chair.

 

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  Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" (Unsatisfactory) or "Fail"

  • Automatic Dismissal
    A grade of "U" or "Fail" in any graduate course taken by a graduate student shall be treated the same as for a grade of "C-" or below and shall result in automatic dismissal from the graduate program.
  • The Plan of Study and Grades Which Result in Automatic Dismissal
    Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U" , "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.
  • Students Dismissed from a Graduate Program Who then Re-apply as Non-degree Students
    Students will be placed on stop enrollment for the department/school from which they were dismissed unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.
  • Policy on Petitioning for Reinstatement into a Graduate Program
    The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a gradute program is the responsibility of each deparartment/school Graduate Program Committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school Graduate Program Committee Chair.

 

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Completion of the Certificate

During what is expected to be the semester the certificate is completed and prior to the posted deadline, students should complete a Certificate Completion Application Form in the Office of Graduate Studies.

If you complete the Certificate Completion Application Form and do not complete all of the requirements for the certificate, contact the Office of Graduate Studies as soon as possible. You must REAPPLY in the Office of Graduate Studies during the next semester in which you intend to complete the certificate; no additional fee is charged to reactivate your application.

The following requirements are due 12 working days prior to commencement:

  • "Incompletes" and "NR" grades from a previous term must be removed so that the grade will be in the Office of Graduate Studies.
  • Pay all fees and fines and satisfy all obligations to the University.
  • Comprehensive Examination Results or notice of completion of portfolio (if required).

For students currently enrolled in courses that are a part of their plan of study, enrollment must be maintained in order to complete the certificate. A grade for any current enrollment must be received by the Registrar's Office no later than the close of business on the fifteenth working day following the end of a semester.

 

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Awarding of the Graduate Certificate

The Office of Graduate Studies will mail the certificate to students when all requirements are completed and all obligations to the university are satisfied (i.e., parking and library fines, student accounts balances, financial aid, etc.).

The Graduate College will not approve any changes in the student's permanent record once the certificate is awarded.