Graduate certificates offer a focused, shorter alternative to a master's degree, or they can be pursued alongside your current graduate studies. Discover how you can add a graduate certificate to your academic journey and use accelerated or shared credits to save time and effort. Students may be interested in a graduate certificate to enhance a specific skill set. Many students seeking certificates use them to further their career, find a new job, or meet state or national licensing requirements.
A current listing and brief description of graduate certificate programs may be found online. For more information on graduate certificate admissions, see the Certificate Admissions page.
Adding a certificate
If you are currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD program, you may submit the Add a Graduate Certificate form. You must add the certificate before you complete your degree. If you've already graduated, you'll need to apply for admission as a new student to earn additional credentials.
Prospective students may apply using the online application prior to beginning certificate coursework. For more information about the certificate admissions process, see the certificate admissions page.
Viewing certificate requirements
Currently enrolled Michigan Tech students (graduate and undergraduate) may view a What-If audit on their Academic Audit dashboard. This audit will show the current certificate curricula and how your registered and completed graduate courses apply to the credential. Please note that curricula are updated each catalog year and are not final until you matriculate.
Prospective students can contact the Graduate Program Director for information about course requirements.
Accelerated credits
Credits earned for a Michigan Tech bachelor’s degree may apply toward a graduate certificate and accelerate your progress toward this credential.
The following rules and limitations apply:
- Three (3) credits may be used for one graduate certificate
- A different three (3) credits may be applied to a second graduate certificate
- All credits must be approved by the graduate program director
- The undergraduate GPA must be 2.75 or higher
Ask your graduate program director to complete the Accelerated Courses form to indicate which course(s) will be used.
Approved credits will display on your Academic Audit after the Graduate School and Registrar’s Office has processed your program’s request.
Sharing credits between certificates
If you are pursuing more than one graduate certificate, credits may be shared between certificates to allow you to earn more certificates with less time and expense.
The following rules apply:
- A maximum of one-third of the credits in a certificate may be shared with a second
certificate.
- Example 1: If one certificate requires 9 credits and a second certificate requires 12 credits, a maximum of three (3) credits may be shared between the two certificates.
- Example 2: If both certificates are 12 credits, a maximum of four (4) credits may be shared between the two certificates.
- Once credits are shared between two certificates, they may not be shared with a third certificate.
On your Academic Audit, you will be able to see shared courses on both audits. If the course you want to share isn’t shared with the certificates you expect, please contact the Graduate School for assistance.
Sharing credits between certificates and degrees
All credits earned toward a graduate certificate that meet the requirements of a graduate degree may be used to satisfy the requirements of both. You must apply to the degree program in order to earn that credential.
Some programs have designed curricula where three certificates can 'stack' to earn a master's degree. If you're interested in this option, prospective students should contact the Graduate Program Director for more information.
Earning your certificate
Once you have completed at least six credits, you’ll be eligible to submit an Application to Graduate on your Student Profile. You should complete this application in the semester you plan to complete the requirement, but you must complete it no later than your final semester of enrollment at Michigan Tech.
In rare instances, you may be required to submit a Course Schedule form, which outlines the specific courses applied to your certificate. If this form is necessary for your certificate, your program or the Graduate School will notify you.
Official Policy Information
The policies governing graduate programs at Michigan Tech are approved by the University Senate. This webpage provides a simplified overview for your convenience. For complete and official details, please refer to the following policies:
- Policy 411.1 - Graduate Certificates
- Policy 35-21 - Guidelines for Accelerated Graduate Certificates
- Policy 413.1 - Accelerated Master’s Programs