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Purpose
A UMF graduate certificate program is a series of related courses designed to provide participants with a concentrated, cohesive area of study. Successful completion should help participants achieve specific learning objectives and competencies in a defined field of study.
Enrollment Requirements
In most cases, Individuals interested in a UMF graduate certificate program in education must meet the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
- Applicants must have at least two (2) years of teaching experience for the Certificate in Administration.
Enrollment in a Certificate Program requires:
- Completion of the Intent to Participate Form and
- Enrollment in an applicable Certificate Program course. Some Certificate Programs require the sequencing of courses; in such instances, participants will be required to take the courses in the specified sequence.
Completion of a Graduate Certificate Program does not guarantee admission into any of UMF master’s degree program.
Certificate Withdrawal for non-enrollment
A student is expected to make consistent progress towards the certificate and maintain regular communication with his/her academic advisor. If a student does not enroll in a course for two consecutive terms when an appropriate course is offered, a space in the program will not be maintained, and the student will be withdrawn from the certificate program. The student may request re-activation by completing the Intent to Participate form.
Course Credit Requirements
Most graduate teacher education certificate programs at UMF require a minimum of twelve and a maximum of fifteen credit hours for completion. All courses for a specific teacher education graduate certificate must be taken through UMF; no credits can be satisfied through transfer of credits or through testing, life experience or previous work experience. (Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Rehabilitation.)
Grading and Transcripts
No graduate course within the certificate program can be taken for Pass/Fail, and satisfactory completion of a specific certificate program requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for courses within the certificate program, with no more than one C (2.00). A grade of C- is not acceptable; if a C- or below is earned in a course, the participant will be required to retake the course to raise the grade or be dropped from that specific certificate program.
Even though certificate programs are not degree bearing, they will be designated on a student’s official transcript. Grades for each course taken as part of a certificate program will appear on a student’s transcript. When the total certificate coursework is completed, the certificate title and date of award will be indicated on the student’s transcript, as well.
Course Sequencing and Certificate Completion
The cluster of courses required for a graduate certificate program must be completed within a specified time period, based upon the number of courses within the certificate program, typically no more than three years. Students are encouraged to enroll in courses within a certificate program in consecutive semesters, since many certificate programs will require a sequencing of courses, and UMF reserves the right to cancel courses and certificate programs at any time due to low enrollments or other conditions affecting enrollment or instruction.
Upon enrollment in the first course of a certificate program, participants will be requested to complete a form indicating their intent to participate in the full certificate program. That commitment will be used to determine the date/semester that an individual enters the certificate program.
Relationship to UMF’s Master’s Degree Programs
A student who wishes to also seek admission to one of UMF’s M.S.Ed programs simultaneously or at a later date must file an application for admission to the degree program and pay applicable fees. Completion of a graduate certificate program does not guarantee admission into any UMF master’s degree program. Courses taken as part of a Certificate Program may be accepted for transfer to the degree, and would be reviewed by the admissions committee at the time of application.
Financial Aid and Student Financial Accounts
Students in certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid unless they are simultaneously accepted and enrolled in a degree program.
Certificate Programs Available During the 2021-2022 Academic Year
Please note that completion of a Certificate Program is not the same as Maine teacher certification, please consult the Maine Department of Education for questions relating to state licensure.
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