CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
GENERAL INFORMATION
A student wishing to earn an undergraduate or graduate certificate at San Francisco
State University is expected to follow the basic university requirements and procedures
outlined herein. In addition, the prescribed program requirements of the desired
certificate must be completed. More detailed information regarding a specific
certificate may be obtained by contacting the academic unit offering the program.
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate
- Department/Program Office
- Athletic Coaching
- Kinesiology
- Biotechnology
- Biology
- Construction Practices
- Extended Learning
- Cooperative Education
- Undergraduate Studies
- Holistic Health
- Kinesiology and Extended Learning
- Legal/Court Interpretation (Spanish/English)
- Extended Learning
- Music/Recording Industry
- Extended Learning
- Paralegal Studies
- Extended Learning
- Preschool–Daycare Early Childhood Education
- Extended Learning
- Professional Practice of Internal Auditing
- Accounting and Extended Learning
- Psychological Field Services
- Psychology
- Technical and Professional Writing
- Center for Humanistic Studies
Graduate Certificates
- Certificate
- Department/Program Office
- Dietetics: Focus on Older Adults
- Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Special Education
- Educational Therapy
- Special Education
- Genetic Engineering
- Biology
- Integrated Services Specialist
- Special Education
- Medical Technology
- Center for Advanced Medical Technology
- Middle/Junior High School
- Elementary and Secondary Education
- Rehabilitation Engineering Technology
- Counseling and Engineering
- Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind
- Special Education
- Serious Emotional Disturbance
- Special Education
- Teaching Critical Thinking
- Philosophy
- Teaching of Composition
- English
- Teaching Post-Secondary Reading
- English
- Training Systems Development
- Instructional Technology
- Vocational Special Education
- Special Education
Purpose of Certificate Programs
A certificate program is a coherent set of academic courses that does not lead to a
degree, but is focused on a substantial area of study that may be practically oriented
toward skills and/or occupations. Such a program is designed to meet special needs,
especially those with a limited time to learn specific subjects, concepts, skills, and
competencies. The award of a certificate means the holder has completed the required
courses and related work at an acceptable level of academic accomplishment. The
certificate indicates to a prospective employer that the university validates the particular
program of study. It neither credentials nor licenses the student, nor does it guarantee
the ability of the student to put into practice what has been studied.
Acceptance to Certificate Programs
Guidelines for Acceptance to Undergraduate Certificate Programs
In order to be accepted to an undergraduate certificate program, a student must have
completed 56 semester units of undergraduate course work with a 2.0 (C) grade point
average. Exceptions may be permitted upon presentation of special justification to the
dean of Undergraduate Studies or appropriate program administrator for Extended
Learning programs.
Students interested in pursuing an undergraduate certificate program should contact
the offering department regarding specific program requirements and procedures. For
certificate programs offered through Extended Learning, students should contact the
program area as shown in the program description.
Guidelines for Acceptance to Graduate Certificate Programs
Acceptance to a graduate certificate program is a two-step process.
First Step—Admission to Post-Baccalaureate Status
The first step involves being eligible to enroll in the university as a matriculated,
post-baccalaureate level student. This may be accomplished by:
- Being already enrolled in the university as a post-baccalaureate student (i.e., admitted
to a master's degree or credential program, or as an unclassified graduate student);
- Being admitted to the university in post-baccalaureate status to pursue a master's
degree or credential program, or be admitted in a non-objective unclassified graduate
status. Note: It is recommended that the student seek admission, if appropriate, to a
degree program within the sponsoring department so that graduate units taken may be
considered, where permitted, for later application towards a degree. Not more than
twelve (12) units taken as an unclassified graduate student may be applied toward the
requirements of a graduate degree.
Second Step—Acceptance to Certificate Program
A student enrolled, or eligible to enroll, in the university as a post-baccalaureate level
student must contact the program offering the desired certificate to complete any
prescribed requirements for acceptance to that program. Such requirements and
procedures may include a supplementary application, a defined set of prerequisite
courses, a designated GPA, written recommendations, etc., as may be appropriate for
the program in question.
BASIC UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The university requirements listed below are considered to be minimal and the academic
department offering the program may impose additional or higher requirements for its
specific certificate program(s). See the specific presentation under "Academic Programs" in
the university Bulletin or contact the department offering the certificate for further
information.
Basic University Undergraduate Certificate Program Requirements
- Every student in an undergraduate certificate program must complete a minimum
common core of course work (i.e., required of all students) consisting of at least twelve
(12) semester units. See specific program requirements.
- At least two-thirds of the units comprising an undergraduate certificate program must be
at the upper division level. Graduate level courses may be used in special circumstances
to satisfy program requirements at the discretion of the academic area offering the
certificate.
- At least one-half of the required minimum number of units must be taken in residence.
Credit by examination is permitted in accordance with established university regulations.
- At least two-thirds of the units applied toward meeting the requirements of an
undergraduate certificate program must be graded on an A-F basis.
- The course work used to satisfy the requirements of an undergraduate certificate must be
completed with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C), and only courses
with a grade of CR, C-, or better, may be included to meet undergraduate certificate
program requirements.
- Before completing an undergraduate certificate program, all students must demonstrate
an appropriate level of writing competency as prescribed by the program area offering
the certificate (see program requirements).
- Courses may be used to meet both a baccalaureate degree and an undergraduate
certificate objective providing they are appropriate and acceptable toward the
specific requirements of each program.
- All requirements for an undergraduate certificate program must be completed within a
seven-year time period defined as beginning with the date of registration for the first
course used to meet the requirements for the certificate, and ending with the date the
last requirement is completed. It is expected that the student will have filed an
application for the award of the certificate within this same time period.
Basic University Graduate Certificate Program Requirements
- Every student in a graduate certificate program must complete a minimum common
core of course work (i.e., required of all students) consisting of at least nine (9) semester
units. See specific program requirements.
- At least one-half, but not less than six, of the units comprising a graduate certificate
program must be in graduate level courses. Any undergraduate level course utilized in
the program must be at the upper division level.
- At least two-thirds of the course units for the certificate must be taken in residence. Units
earned through extension, including Open University enrollment, are not considered as
work in residence.
- Curriculum requirements must be met explicitly without the use of waivers and
substitutions.
- At least two-thirds of the required units for a certificate program must be graded on an
A-F basis.
- At least two thirds of the course units used to meet the requirements for the certificate
must have been taken while in post-baccalaureate status. Course work taken prior to
acceptance in the certificate program may not be used to meet program requirements,
except in unusual circumstances. Approval must be granted in advance.
- The course work used to satisfy the requirements for a graduate certificate must be
completed with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B), and only courses
completed with a grade of C or better may be used to meet program requirements (i.e.,
C- grades and below are unacceptable).
- Before completing a graduate certificate program, all students must demonstrate an
appropriate level of writing competency as prescribed by the program area offering the
certificate (see program requirements).
- Courses may be used to meet both a master's degree and a graduate certificate
objective providing they are appropriate and acceptable toward the specific
requirements of each program.
- All requirements for a graduate certificate program must be completed within a seven-
year time period defined as beginning with the date of registration for the first course
used to meet the requirements for the certificate, and ending with the date the last
requirement is completed. It is expected that the student will have filed an application
for the award of the certificate within this same time period.
Observance of Certificate Requirements
A student planning to earn an undergraduate or graduate certificate must meet the
requirements, as reflected in the university Bulletin, that are in effect (1) as of the date the
student is officially accepted to a certificate program by the offering department (or in
special circumstances the date of the first course used to meet the requirements for the
certificate, providing continuous enrollment in the university has been maintained) or (2)
as of the date the application for the award of the certificate is filed in the Graduate
Division (for both undergraduate and graduate certificates).
Advising and Registration
Advising assistance will be provided by the program faculty responsible for offering the
program.
Registration for required courses will be accomplished by means of the normal
registration process of the university or through Extended Learning registration
procedures for Extended Learning certificate programs.
Applying for Award of the Certificate
When all the requirements for either an undergraduate or graduate certificate program
have been completed, the following steps must be taken to apply for the certificate, to
have the completion of the requirements checked, and to have the certificate awarded
to the student. Note that the Graduate Division is responsible for the final processing
requirements for both undergraduate and graduate certificates. Graduation for
Extended Education certificates is processed through the Extended Education Office.
The student prepares a Certificate Approved Program (CAP) form (available in the
department, Undergraduate Studies, or Graduate Division) and forwards it, along with
transcript(s) showing the completion of all course requirements, to the department chair
of the area offering the certificate program.
The chair is responsible for determining that all the requirements for the certificate have
been satisfactorily completed. This is accomplished by signing the CAP form.
After paying the application fee ($7.00) for the award of the certificate at the Cashier's
Office and having the CAP form stamped "Paid," the student is responsible for filing (a)
the signed CAP form, (b) the supporting transcript(s), and (c) the evidence of the fee
paid, in the Graduate Division, ADM 254 (for both undergraduate and graduate
certificates).
The Graduate Division is responsible for reviewing the materials received and authorizing
the issuance of the undergraduate or graduate certificate on behalf of the
department/program area and in the name of the university. This is accomplished by the
dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Graduate Division, as appropriate, signing the
certificate and returning it along with two signed copies of the CAP form to the
department/program area. Upon receipt, the department/ program chair signs the
official certificate and arranges to issue it, along with a copy of the CAP form, to the
student. A second copy of the signed CAP form is to be retained by the
department/program area for its records.
The Graduate Division is also responsible for forwarding a signed copy of the CAP form to
the Registrar's Office. This copy of the CAP form will serve as the official notification that
all the certificate requirements have been completed satisfactorily. The registrar is then
responsible for posting the award of the certificate on the student's permanent
academic record (i.e., transcript).