Certificate
programs serve as an
interdisciplinary vehicle
to develop a thematic
approach to an area
of studies not commonly
found in the existing
disciplines and degree
majors. Certificate
programs are modeled
after academic minors,
but rather than using
course work within a
single department they
use courses across departments
and disciplines. A certificate
program is designed
to create an interdisciplinary
concentration in an
area of study for which
there is sufficient
faculty interest and
expertise across several
departments as well
as student interest.
A certificate program
must have a minimum
of 15 credits and cannot
exceed a maximum of
24 credits; commonly
programs are 18-24 credits
in length. Proposals
should include the information
requested on the attached
"Establishment
or Substantial Modification
of a Submajor or Certification
Program" form.
The following criteria
will be utilized in
program approval:
- What is the main area
of study that will be
the focus of this program?
Is the proposed area
of study consistent
with the campus academic
mission?
- Is the theme identified
in 1 above supported
by a sufficient number
of faculty interested
in teaching, advising
students, and willing
to serve in an advisory
capacity for the proposed
program? Certificate
programs generally involve
five or more faculty.
- Is enough course
work presently offered
to support the certificate
program and is the course
work scheduled in a
timely manner for completion
of the program?
- Commonly there are
no additional costs
for such programs as
they utilize existing
course work and faculty.
If special costs are
anticipated, please
state reasons and give
estimates. Please note
that monies for program
brochures and the like
should be handled with
existing resources.
- Identify a faculty
oversight or coordinating
committee structure
that will have the responsibility
for curricular and programmatic
oversight of the program.
Please describe how
this group will be appointed
and to what academic
dean it will report.
- Create a mechanism
that selects courses
for the program, reviews
the continued appropriateness
of these courses and
allows for new courses
to be added to the curriculum.
Remember that departments
whose courses are selected
for the program should
be contacted to insure
that enrollment pressures
will not create access
problems for majors
in the department.
Program
approval follows the
process established
in the UWM Academic
Approval
Matrix (1/96). Questions
about program approval
should be addressed
to the appropriate Dean
or the Division of Academic
Affairs, office of the
Associate Vice Chancellor
prior to actual submission
of a program for approval.
F. ESTABLISHMENT OR SUBSTANTIAL
MODIFICATION OF A SUBMAJOR
OR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
I.
EXACT DESCRIPTION OF
REQUEST: If certification,
specify DPI or WTCS
involvement.
II. TITLE OF PROGRAM:
III. RELATIONSHIP TO
MISSION OF INSTITUTION:
Brief description of
how this program relates
to the institutional
mission.
IV. LIST OF COURSES:
Identify required and
elective courses. Indicate
new courses by an asterisk.
V. COST IMPLICATIONS:
Describe in appropriate
detail the cost of faculty
and staff, capital equipment,
and supplies and expenses
associated with the
program. Identify sources
for planned allocations
and/or reallocations.
VI. RATIONALE: Reasons
for establishing a new
submajor or certification
program or for modifying
an existing one.
