Professional Certificates
Professional certificate programs must be consonant with Carroll’s mission as a Catholic, liberal arts college, dedicated to the dual goal of vocation and enlightenment.
Professional certificate programs are designed for individuals who wish to gain a specific set of skills and knowledge in a specialized area to enhance employment opportunities, including:
- individuals who have already completed an undergraduate degree
- individuals who wish to further their education but do not wish to commit to a four-year degree
- regular degree-program students who choose to earn a special credential as they complete their major or minor requirements for at Carroll.
Coursework completed for the certificate may be applied to degree requirements if the student enrolls in a degree program at a later date. Credits or CEUs completed at another college or university will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
To earn the certificate, students will pass all required courses with a grade of "C-" or above.
While flexible course formats (e.g. weekend, evening, or summer sessions) may be offered, credit hours are calculated on a basis equivalent to other courses at Carroll (15 hours of class are equal to one academic credit). Some professional certificates may offer continuing education units (CEUs) as an alternative to credit hours. Using U.S. Department of Education standards, one CEU is equivalent to 10 contact hours. For students who wish to use CEUs to acquire college credit, 15 CEUs are equivalent to one college credit.
Tuition for non-degree students only is offered at a rate set for a specific certificate program; this tuition price applies only to courses required for the certificate program. Other financing options for non-degree students (post-baccalaureate tuition and employer match options) apply only for those paying regular tuition.
Certificate programs are located within an appropriate department with oversight from the Vice President for Academic Affairs who will delegate directorship as appropriate. Faculty advisors will be available for students in certificate programs.
Certificate programs and courses are approved by the college’s Curriculum Committee and Faculty Assembly.
Personnel, information resources, and facilities needed to support learning in certificate programs are provided and maintained by the college.