Skip to content

Earn a Certificate While Earning Your Degree

Graduate Certificates for ALM Candidates

As an ALM degree candidate, it may be possible to earn a graduate certificate and/or microcertificate along with your master’s degree. These provide an opportunity to concentrate in a specific area while earning an additional graduate-level credential. Possible certificate options are listed on the degree course search.

You are responsible for ensuring that the courses you select meet both degree and certificate requirements. To do this, use both the degree and graduate certificate or microcertificate course search. The degree search lets you know that a certificate course counts toward the degree, while the graduate certificate or microcertificate search identifies the specific certificate requirement the course fulfills.

To both track your certificate progress and request your graduate certificate or microcertificate use the Certificate Course Tracker and Request Form available in MyDCE.  Please note that you must take your courses at the graduate level, earn grades of B or higher in all applicable courses (grades of B- and below do not count) and complete your certificate coursework within the required timeframe (3 years for graduate certificates and 1 year for microcertificates).

If you are receiving financial aid, only certificate courses that also count towards your degree meet financial aid requirements. If you need to take an additional courses to earn the certificate, financial aid is not available.

We recommend working closely with your academic advisor on degree/certificate course selection.

Undergraduate Certificates for ALB Candidates

As an ALB degree candidate, it may be possible to earn an undergraduate certificate along with your bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate certificates provide an opportunity to concentrate in a specific area while earning an additional credential. Possible options are listed on the degree course search.

You are responsible for ensuring that the courses you select meet both degree and undergraduate certificate requirements. To do this, use the degree course search and with the “Applies to Certificate” option. This allows you to search courses that fulfill both degree and undergraduate certificates requirements.

To track your certificate progress and request the undergraduate certificate use the Certificate Course Tracker and Request Form available in online services. Please note that you must complete your undergraduate certificate coursework within three years and earn grades of B or higher in all certificate courses (grades of B- and below do not count).

If you are receiving financial aid, only certificate courses that also count towards your degree meet financial aid requirements. If you need to take an additional courses to earn the certificate, financial aid is not available.

We recommend working closely with your academic advisor on degree/certificate course selection.

Starting and Completing a Microcertificate 

To begin, you simply register for your first course for the microcertificate — no application required. 

To earn the microcertificate, you will complete 2 microcertificates courses at the graduate level and with a grade of B or higher, within 1 year. This short timeline will support momentum and reinforce the learning between the 2 related courses. 

To request your microcertificate, log in to MyDCE and complete the Certificate Course Tracker and Request Form. You must request your certificate within 30 days of the release of your final grade in your last microcertificate course (see calendar for dates). If you request your microcertificate after this deadline, it won’t be awarded until the next awarding cycle, which is at the end of the subsequent semester.