Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs that address contemporary, topical and/or workplace issues are offered in several academic units.

The graduate certificate programs are designed to deliver focused instruction and formalized guidance in a flexible manner. Students must meet the admission requirements for the specific graduate certificate being sought and must declare their intent to earn the certificate.

General Requirements

1. Certificates must be completed within six years after the first graduate enrollment.
2. No more than 2 hours of a workshop may be used toward a certificate.
3. Before being eligible to be awarded a Certificate, students must be admitted to the Certificate program. This means you must apply online and submit letters of recommendation, a goal statement, and other materials along with your application. If you find that you are not being asked to submit additional application materials contact gradapps@kent.edu to verify that you have correctly applied to your desired certificate program.

Current Degree-Seeking Students

Students who are currently in a degree program (masters, Educational Specialist, or Ph.D.) may also apply to a certificate program.  Their degree-seeking coursework may be applied to the certificate coursework with advisor approval.  The courses must be completed within six years and satisfy certificate course requirements. 

Transfer Hours

Students who are admitted or were previously admitted as a guest or non-degree or who have a previous graduate degree (masters, Educational Specialist, or Ph.D.) and are not currently seeking another graduate degree may transfer a maximum 6 credit hours with advisor approval. Therefore, a total of six hours of transfer credits may be used toward the certificate requirements whether from another institution or taken at KSU prior to admission to the certificate program.

To transfer in coursework from an accredited institution (not KSU) the student completes the “Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit” form.  The transfer of credit paperwork should be done in the first semester and submitted to room 418 White Hall with an original transcript with grade posted. OGSS will secure all required signatures.  For coursework to qualify, the following conditions must be met: (1) student was admitted as a graduate student at the time the graduate level course was taken; (2) a grade of “B” or Satisfactory was earned; (3) credit will be less than six years old at the time the certificate is conferred at Kent.

View The Complete Certificate Guidelines

Start your certificate application here