Undergraduate Certificates and Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

The requirements and policies for undergraduate certificates and post-baccalaureate undergraduate certificates are established by the Undergraduate Policy Committee (UPC) with approval by the University Faculty Senate. In addition to the policies and requirements below, students in undergraduate certificate and post-baccalaureate certificates are governed by UML undergraduate policies.

Policies Governing Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

  1. Students may enroll either full or part-time in post-baccalaureate undergraduate certificate programs. Tuition for students enrolled full-time in post-baccalaureate certificate programs is based on an enrollment in 12 credits per semester (courses taken through GPS would incur additional charges).
  2. A conferred bachelor’s degree is required for admission to a post-baccalaureate certificate program. No credits earned as part of an undergraduate degree may be applied to the post-baccalaureate certificate.
  3. Applications to the post-baccalaureate certificate program are made through the appropriate University Admissions Office.
  4. Financial aid is not available for post-baccalaureate certificates.
  5. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs consist of no fewer than 18 and no more than 32 credits; all courses in the certificate must be at the undergraduate level.
  6. Courses to complete a post-baccalaureate certificate must be completed within a five-year period.
  7. All certificate classes must be taken at UML. No transfer credits will be accepted.
  8. UMass Lowell minimum GPA requirements apply to students enrolled in post-baccalaureate certificate programs. Higher GPA requirements may be set by individual post-baccalaureate certificate programs.
  9. Courses taken toward a post-baccalaureate certificate may not be applied to a graduate certificate or graduate degree.
  10. Completion of the post-baccalaureate certificate in no way guarantees admission to any undergraduate or graduate degree program.

Policies Governing Undergraduate Certificates

Undergraduate certificates may be offered only through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies (GPS). Students admitted to a degree program through the UMass Lowell Office of Undergraduate Admissions are not eligible to enroll in an undergraduate certificate program.

  1. Undergraduate certificates are governed by Academic and Federal Financial Aid policies. Some certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Proposers must work with GPS to seek eligibility for the financial aid through the Program Participation Agreement (PPA) process.
  2. Undergraduate certificates will consist of no less than 12 credits and no more than 18 credits in a combination of required and elective courses. Only existing certificates, established before this policy, may exceed this credit limit. If faculty believe that additional credits (beyond 18) are required for the viability of the certificate, they may present this case at the UPC meeting and ask for an exception.
  3. The total number of credits needed to complete two or more certificates must equal the sum of the credits required for each. Therefore, if a course completed for one certificate is required in another certificate, then its credits must be replaced with another course at an equal or higher level approved by the program advisor.
  4. With the program coordinator’s approval, one course may be transferred from another accredited institution to satisfy undergraduate certificate program requirements.
  5. If a certificate student is able to demonstrate proficiency comparable to one of the required courses through an established departmental examination, then faculty have the discretion to waive the required course and replace the credits with a course at an equal or higher level.
  6. All certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 2.000 grade point average.
  7. Certificate policies specific to students not admitted to an undergraduate degree program:
    • Completion of the certificate in no way guarantees admission to any undergraduate degree program.
    • Students may complete multiple certificates, but should be aware that if admitted to a degree program, courses from only one certificate may be applied to the degree’s major requirements.
    • Students who have completed multiple certificates and are later admitted to an undergraduate degree, must still fulfill all degree requirements, including the residency requirement.
  8. Certificate policies specific to students who have been admitted to an undergraduate degree through GPS admissions:
    • Students who have been admitted to an GPS degree program should only enroll in a certificate program after working with an advisor to ascertain whether courses may be applied to his/her degree pathway.
    • Courses from only one certificate may be applied toward the degree’s major requirements with approval of an advisor. Courses taken as part of additional certificates may be used as free electives.
    • GPS undergraduate degree students may not delay their time to degree completion through enrollment in any certificate program.

Note on Graduate Certificates

Students admitted to a degree program through the UMass Lowell Office of Undergraduate Admissions are not eligible to enroll in a graduate certificate program. Please refer to UMass Lowell’s graduate catalog for additional policies governing graduate certificates.