Academic Programs

Undergraduate, embedded and standalone, as well as post-baccalaureate certificates are defined by OSU as “a specified interdisciplinary program of study leading to an official certificate and notation on the transcript.” Undergraduate certificates require a minimum of 27 credits.

A certificate program is distinguished from an academic unit minor in that the courses are from more than one academic unit rather than from a single academic unit. It is distinguished from an option in that the certificate program is separate from, but complementary to, a specific major degree program rather than providing an alternative series of courses within the framework of a single degree program.

At the baccalaureate level, there are three ways to complete a certificate program: a student takes the certificate in conjunction with a formal degree program at the University, a student already has a baccalaureate degree and is earning a post-baccalaureate certificate, or a student is pursuing only an undergraduate certificate. A student not completing a certificate program by the time of conferral of the baccalaureate degree, but who does so at a later time, can receive a subsequent certificate from OSU. This same rule can be applied to someone who completes a certificate and not a degree program; they can receive a subsequent degree from OSU should they choose to continue later and pursue a degree.

Proposals to establish a new undergraduate or post-baccalaureate certificate follow the guidelines for a New Academic Program and are approved via the new program process in the curricular proposal system.

Additional Information: Academic Regulation #27 and Academic Regulation #32.