Operating Policy and Procedure
HSC OP: 60.14, Transcript Recognized Certificate Program
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Health Sciences Center Operating Policy and Procedure (HSC OP) is to outline criteria for transcript-recognized certificate programs.
REVIEW: This HSC OP will be reviewed on July 1 of every odd-numbered year (ONY) by the Vice
Provost for Academic Affairs and Integrated Learning, Vice Provost for Institutional
Effectiveness, Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment, the Academics Council,
and other appropriate internal stakeholders as needed.
Recommendations forwarded to the Provost by August 1.
POLICY/PROCEDURE:
1. Institutional Definitions.
A transcript-recognized certificate is a credential awarded by the institution for
the completion of a defined and focused collection of courses that provide specialized
knowledge or skills. A transcript-recognized certificate program is narrower in scope
and shorter in duration than a degree program.
2. Instructional Criteria.
a. Program must be approved through the institution’s official processes, following HSC OP 60.11, Development, Revision, or Termination of Academic Programs;
b. Program must have an identifiable Classification of Instructional Programs code.
c. Proposed, New, Updated, or Revised Certificate Programs at the:
(1) Undergraduate level require no more than 15 semester credit hours;
(2) Post-baccalaureate and Graduate levels require a minimum of 12 semester credit hours and do not exceed 18 credit hours.
i. Note: Existing certificate programs exceeding the maximum will be legacied subject to a periodic program review.
d. Proposed, New, Updated, or Revised Certificate Programs must have a defined expected program completion length of one academic year for 12-18 credit hours of coursework for full-time students (two academic years for any legacied certificates above 19 credit hours of coursework);
(1) Note: Completion lengths may be extended in instances where certificates are concurrent with or embedded within existing TTUHSC degree programs
e. No more than one-half of the total credit hours required for a certificate program may be applied from an existing degree program;
f. If the degree program is a continuation of the certificate program, then all coursework may be applied to the degree program;
g. Program applicants must follow school-specific admission procedures; and
h. Program must follow the Office of Registrar’s transcript guidelines.
Note: Students pursuing a certificate may not be eligible for financial aid.