Regulations and Requirements Governing Graduate Certificate Programs
The University offers various graduate certificate programs. All of the programs are registered with the New York State Education Department as “Advanced Certificate” programs. The programs are offered and delivered by the University at Albany as the Certificate of Graduate Study, Advanced Graduate Certificate, or Certificate of Advanced Study. As required by NYS regulation, all graduate course work applicable to any of these graduate certificate programs must be applicable to one or more graduate degree programs offered by the University.
Credit requirements for graduate certificate programs vary greatly and are established in program design at the time of establishment and registration. Generally, the Certificate of Graduate Study requires in the range of 9 – 24 graduate credits; the Advance Graduate Certificate requires in the range of 15 – 35 graduate credits; and the Certificate of Advanced Study, involving study beyond the master’s level, requires 48 – 60 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate.
Residence study referenced in this section is defined as course work offered by the University at Albany and its faculty, not necessarily on one of its physical campuses.
Of the minimum number of credits of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate established for award of a graduate certificate, the following residence study requirements must be met:
• For graduate certificate programs requiring 48 or more graduate credits, at least 50% of the total
credits must be completed through University at Albany study.
• For graduate certificate programs requiring 27 – 47 graduate credits, at least 24 of the credits must
be completed through University at Albany study.
• For graduate certificate programs requiring 26 or fewer graduate credits, all but a maximum of 3
credits must be completed through University at Albany study.
Individual graduate certificate programs may require greater levels of in-residence study than the minimums defined above.
Individual graduate certificate programs may include various additional requirements beyond those stated here. The official curriculum as detailed in the University’s Graduate Bulletin should always be examined to determine if additional requirements exist within the graduate certificate program.
Statute of Limitations and Advanced Standing
All requirements for the certificate must be completed within six calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program. Prior course work completed and presented by the student for advanced standing in the program at the point of admission shall be subject to review and approval for inclusion by action of the program faculty.
