The Graduate Catalog: Graduate Certificate Programs
and flow chart (PDF)
There are two types of graduate certificate program—those that require fewer than sixteen semester hours
of coursework, and those that require sixteen to twenty-nine hours.
- Graduate Certificate Programs of Fewer than Sixteen Hours (Such as Graduate Portfolio Programs)
Final Approval
Executive vice president and provost
Description
This type of graduate certificate program is offered in addition to or as part of a student’s degree program. The certificate program consists of a set of approved courses and other academic requirements that focus on an area of study related to the student’s major. The following process is used to
- add a graduate certificate program;
- delete a graduate certificate program; or
- rename a graduate certificate program.
Graduate portfolio programs normally require twelve hours of approved coursework and other academic requirements, such as a culminating project or presentation. A description of graduate portfolio programs is published by the Graduate School.
Approval and Notification Process
- Graduate Certificate Programs of Sixteen to Twenty-Nine Hours (Such as the Artist
Diploma in Music Performance)
Final Approval
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
Under section 5.48 of the rules governing the THECB, graduate certificates that require sixteen to twenty-nine semester hours of coursework must be reported to the THECB and will be approved automatically, subject to review.
Description
The Graduate School has not established a policy regarding the approval of graduate certificate programs of sixteen to twenty-nine hours. Requests for new certificate programs of this type will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact the assistant dean of graduate studies for additional information.
The Artist Diploma in Music Performance is offered independently of a degree program and involves twenty-seven hours of approved coursework and other requirements. The proposal for this certificate was submitted using the THECB’s New Program Request Form for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. The University’s approval and notification process followed the procedure for new master’s degrees.
|
Graduate Certificate Programs of Fewer than Sixteen Hours (Such as Graduate Portfolio Programs) |
|
a. |
Participating Faculty Members
|
b. |
Graduate Studies Committee(s), department(s), and college(s) A proposal to add a graduate certificate program must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) of each participating graduate program and by the department chair or academic program director and the dean for each participating area. It is then sent to the graduate dean for submission to the Graduate Assembly. |
c. |
Graduate Assembly New program proposals submitted to the Graduate School are referred to the Academic Committee, a standing committee of the Graduate Assembly, for review. The Academic Committee meets with the proposer(s) to discuss the proposal. The committee may suggest revisions to the proposal, approve the proposal on behalf of the Graduate Assembly, or decide not to approve the proposal. The action of the Academic Committee is reported to the Graduate Assembly. |
d. |
Graduate dean
|
e. |
Provost (acting on behalf of the president) Proposals submitted to the provost may be either approved or disapproved on behalf of the president. |
f. |
Executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, UT System (EVCAA) The executive vice chancellor forwards the proposal to the THECB for information. 1 |
g. |
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) The THECB staff updates the THECB’s certificate program inventory and the assistant commissioner for academic affairs and research notifies the provost that the change has been made. |
h. |
Provost The provost notifies the graduate dean and others on campus that the change has been approved and entered into the THECB certificate program inventory. |
i. |
Graduate School The Graduate School informs the dean(s), department chair(s), and proposers that the change has been approved and entered into the THECB certificate program inventory. |
|
1The University is required to notify the THECB only about graduate certificate programs that require sixteen hours of coursework or more. However, the University has chosen to report graduate certificate program requiring fewer hours, so that they will be included in the THECB’s public certificate program inventory. |
|
