Graduate certificate programs provide a means for UT to respond to emerging needs. Graduate certificate programs provide focused areas of study for students 1) pursuing other academic programs at the master’s or doctoral levels, 2) who have already earned a graduate degree, or 3) who are post-baccalaureate and enrolled solely in a graduate certificate program.
Graduate certificate programs are for-credit programs, based entirely on credit courses, and appear on the academic transcript. Graduate certificate programs are required to have student learning outcomes and an assessment plan reported annually through the university’s adopted process.
About Graduate Certificates
Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 credit hours. Graduate certificate programs require the same curricular approval process as majors and minors. Only those that appear in the Graduate Catalog will be posted to the student’s official transcript. Graduate certificate programs are comprised of approved graduate courses. For any graduate certificate programs, the student must earn all semester credit hours from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
At least three (3) credit hours for the certificate must be earned outside of the requirements of the degree(s) and other certificates.
Since graduate certificates are university credentials, a student must apply through Graduate Admissions to the graduate certificate program. Student must be admitted to the certificate program prior to completing six credit hours toward the certificate. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average once in the program and complete the requirements of the certificate program as stated in the Graduate Catalog to be awarded the graduate certificate.
For those students who are concurrently enrolled in a master or doctorate program, the graduate certificate will be awarded the same semester as the degree. Certificates will be awarded at the normal times when degrees are awarded.
For independent, stand-alone graduate certificates (those when a student is not concurrently enrolled in a Master or doctorate program), the certificate is awarded upon completion of required courses and submission of application for graduation.
The Office of the University Registrar will issue all graduate certificates.
Admission to a Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate School information on how to apply for a graduate certificate program.
Graduate Certificate Course Verification
Graduate School information on how to verify that you have completed the coursework necessary to receive a graduate certificate.
EPC Graduate Certificate Offerings
The graduate certificate in Adult Learning in Professional Settings is intended for new and currently admitted graduate students wishing to acquire knowledge and develop skills to plan, design, implement, and evaluate principles of adult learning in various postsecondary and professional settings such as healthcare, corporate, military, continuing education, continuing medical education, higher education, human resources, and governmental settings. As adults continuously engage in learning that lasts for one’s lifetime and occurs in various social contexts, understanding how, why, what, and where adults learn is important for professionals. This graduate certificate will prepare learners to be able to apply and advance their knowledge in the education and training of adults in professional settings.
Requirements
12 Graduate Credit Hours:
- EDPY 521 – Program Planning in Adult Education (3 credit hours)
- EDPY 523 – Adult Learning in Social Context (3 credit hours)
- EDPY 524 – Learning in the Workplace (3 credit hours)
- EDPY 525 – Adult Learning (3 credit hours)
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for a description of the courses.
Certificate Coordinator:
Mitsunori Misawa | mmisawa@utk.edu
The 18-credit hour graduate certificate in Evaluation, Statistics, and Methodology is intended for currently admitted University of Tennessee doctoral students (or individuals who have already earned a doctoral degree) wishing to develop knowledge and skills in evaluation, statistics, and measurement.
Required Courses
- ESM 533 – Program Evaluation I
- ESM 534 – Program Evaluation II
- ESM 577 – Statistics in Applied Fields I
- ESM 677 – Statistics in Applied Fields II
- ESM 581 – Classroom Measurement
- Choose One: ESM 678 – Statistics in Applied Fields III or ESM 680 – Advanced Educational Measurement and Psychometrics
- Individuals must submit an appropriate work sample (e.g., completed evaluation report, completed research paper) that showcases their skills in evaluation, statistics, and/or measurement. This work sample will be reviewed by the ESM faculty.
- All courses must be completed within the five years of applying for a certificate.
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Certificate Coordinator:
Louis Rocconi | lrocconi@utk.edu
The graduate certificate in Grief, Loss, and Trauma is intended for currently admitted graduate students wishing to acquire knowledge and develop clinical skills to work with individuals who have experienced or are experiencing grief, loss, or trauma.
Certificate candidates must currently be admitted to a graduate program at the university or hold a terminal degree and be admitted to the graduate school. Course work for the certificate must be completed at the University of Tennessee within a five-year period. A minimum 3.5 GPA must be earned in all certificate courses. An important part of the program is COUN 560 for graduate students who participate as grief facilitators in the Grief Outreach Initiative. A capstone paper is required.
Requirements
12 Graduate Credit Hours:
- COUN 560
- COUN 580 or COUN 555 or COUN 655
- At least two of the following: COUN 551, COUN 554, COUN 562, COUN 662, CFS 511, CFS 562, COUN 566 (students may request substitution for one of the required courses listed in this bullet; requires approval from the certificate coordinator).
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for a description of the courses. For more detailed information regarding the certificate, please visit Grief, Loss, and Trauma Graduate Certificate
Request More Info About the Graduate Certificate in Grief, Loss, & Trauma
Certificate Coordinator:
Laura S. Wheat | lwheat@utk.edu
The 15-credit hour graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning is intended for currently admitted graduate students seeking to develop skills necessary for designing, developing, and teaching online courses in various contexts such as higher education, corporate, K-12 education, and military settings. All courses in this graduate certificate program are delivered online through Distance Education.
Students currently enrolled in many of the graduate programs on our campus are seeking to gain experience designing, developing, and teaching online courses. A certificate in online teaching and learning will offer students a way to group the courses they are already taking so that they can present their skills to future employers in a way that is easily recognized. This certificate will also further prepare students to be able to apply their skills and practical experiences they gain from our courses in future development of online courses. Certificate candidates must currently be admitted to a graduate program at the university or hold a terminal degree and be admitted to the graduate school. All 15 credit hours of coursework must be completed at the University of Tennessee within five years of applying for a certificate. A 3.5 GPA must be earned across all certificate courses. All required courses are listed below.
Requirements
- IT 570
- IT 532
- IT 566
- *IT 573 or another course approved by the Certificate Coordinator.
- IT 577
*Students who can demonstrate advanced skills that meet or exceed the learning objectives of IT 573 may replace the course with another as advised.
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Certificate Coordinator(s):
Enilda Romero-Hall | eromeroh@utk.edu
Rachel Wong | rwong2@utk.edu
The 15 credit hour graduate certificate in Qualitative Research Methods in Education is an interdepartmental program of study that is administered by faculty within the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling. The certificate is intended for currently admitted University of Tennessee doctoral students (or individuals who have already earned a doctoral degree) wishing to develop their skills in conducting qualitative research studies. Certificate candidates must currently be admitted to a doctoral program at the university or hold a terminal research degree.
Required Courses
- ESM 559 and ESM 659
- And at least one of the following: ESM 668 or ESM 669
- At least one upper-level qualitative courses such as: ANTH 531, CCI 643, CFS 650, CSE 526, CSE 660, EDPY 631, ELPS 618, ESM 668, ESM 669, GEOG 516, NURS 607, SOCI 640.
- Attainment of a minimum 3.50 graduate grade point average in the certificate coursework.
- Other courses may, where appropriate, be substituted for the courses listed above with the written permission of the certificate coordinator.
- Individuals must submit an appropriate work sample (e.g., completed qualitative research report, completed qualitative research paper) that showcases their skills in qualitative research methods in education. This work sample will be reviewed by the ESM faculty.
- Individuals must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Tennessee or have earned a doctoral degree from UT or another university.
- Individuals must complete all 12 credit hours of the graduate courses listed above.
- All courses must be completed within five years of applying for a certificate.
- Refer to the Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Certificate Coordinator:
Leia Cain | leiacain@utk.edu
Updated 11/21/2022