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Policies, Procedures, Guidelines for Post-Baccalaureate Programs

STATEMENT OF POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES FOR POST-BACCALAUREATE CREDIT CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Background

The educational needs of society are changing. The traditional higher education paradigm in which an individual progresses through a baccalaureate, masters degree, and a doctorate is no longer sufficient to meet lifelong educational needs. The development of post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs apart from the traditional degree programs is in keeping with the University's educational mission and outreach effort.

Post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs will enable Penn State to be more responsive to varied and emerging educational needs, to extend/enhance access to Penn State throughout the Commonwealth, the Nation, and internationally, and to respond to instructional opportunities with greater speed and flexibility than is currently possible.

Post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs are innovations that reflect emerging academic areas, and may be supplements or enhancements to existing degree programs. Post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs are designed to foster development of an area of specialty or competency within a discipline. Flexibility is essential to accommodate the parameters of the discipline as well as the educational needs of the students. Wide variation and innovation among post-baccalaureate credit programs is expected and encouraged. Academic level/quality is expected to be commensurate with that in the traditional Penn State degree programs. To be considered graduate-level, at least half of the credits required in a post-baccalaureate certificate should be at the 500 or 800-level. Credits earned in post-baccalaureate certificate programs (up to a maximum of 15 credits) may be applied to graduate degree programs, but any decision to do so resides with the faculty in the respective programs. All program advertising must convey the nature of the credit transferability to the degree program. Further, completion of a certificate program neither guarantees nor implies subsequent admission to a degree program.

Definition

A post-baccalaureate credit certificate program is a sequence, pattern or group of courses or contact hours that focuses upon an area of specialized knowledge or information and which is developed, supervised, and evaluated by the faculty members of the academic unit (e.g., department, program, etc.) offering the program.

Guidelines for Development of Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs

  1. Post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs are designed to meet the requirements of stakeholders or needs as identified by faculty.

  2. All post-baccalaureate credit certificates should be referred to as a Penn State College/School of "X" Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate in (Program Area).

  3. Students in a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program must have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the courses in the program.

  4. Courses in post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs will adhere to existing University policies and procedures for course approval as outlined by the academic unit and the appropriate Senate and/or Graduate Committees.

  5. The individuals involved in development of the academic content of the post-baccalaureate certificate will include faculty designated by the responsible academic unit.

  6. Academic units will determine the minimum and maximum number of courses or credits to meet the requirements of certificates. Graduate courses carry numbers from 500-599 and 800-899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements. Courses below 400 level may not. To be considered graduate-level, at least half of the credits required in a post-baccalaureate certificate should be at the 500 and/or 800-level. Exceptions to this requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis by appeal to the Graduate Council Committee on Programs and Courses.

  7. Because the maximum number of credits taken in nondegree status that can be transferred to a graduate program is 15, it is strongly recommended that post-baccalaureate certificate programs not exceed this limit. It is recommended that there be a minimum of nine credits, with a typical certificate in the twelve- to fifteen-credit range.

  8. Whether the course in a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program will be accepted as graduate level applicable toward a Penn State degree will depend on the criteria for the graduate program as defined by the graduate degree program and the Graduate School. The academic unit proposing the post-baccalaureate certificate program must clearly specify the relationship between the coursework in the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program and any relevant graduate degree program, including in all marketing materials. The latter must be explicit in conveying that up to 15 credits of coursework taken in nondegree status can count towards a graduate degree, however, admission into a graduate program, and credit towards a graduate degree for specific courses taken in nondegree status, is up to the graduate program.

  9. All instructors teaching courses in the certificate program will be approved by the academic unit. Instructors for 500 and 800-level courses must be members of the Graduate Faculty or, if not, must be approved by the Graduate School.

    • The quality of a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program resides with the college or school, which appoints the instructors, select the courses, and supervise the program.

    • Colleges/Schools can offer post-baccalaureate programs through any appropriate Penn State delivery system.

    • Monitoring and assessing the financial viability of the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program will be a joint responsibility of the delivery system and the academic unit.

    • Each College/School in the University will have a systematic proposal development review and approval process for post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs. This process should include consultation regarding the proposed certificate offering with other relevant units 1.

    • Post-baccalaureate certificate programs should include a 5-year sunset clause, with removal of the certificate offering taking effect automatically upon the preplanned termination date, unless a request for a renewal is submitted through the college/school's regular approval process. Requests for renewals must include a copy of the original proposal, and a justification for the renewal, which can be for up to 5 years. There is no limit to the number of successive renewals that can be requested per certificate program.

    • Records of all PBCCPs will be maintained by the University Faculty Senate, and a master listing of all approved, active programs posted online in the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin, in a special section. Submission cover forms will be posted in the University Faculty Senate Guide to Curricular Procedures. Submitted post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs will be listed in the Curriculum Report (Blue Sheets). Conflicts regarding possible duplication of or other issues related to a certificate offering will be referred to the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses for review and resolution.

    • Post-baccalaureate credit certificate program descriptions must adhere to the following standard format for inclusion in the Bulletin, and be submitted as MS Word files (diskette or e-mail attachment):

      Name of the PBCCP and number of credits.
      Unit and college/school offering the certificate.
      Person in charge of the PBCCP and contact information (mailing address, telephone and fax #s, e-mail address).
      Brief description of the certificate program including purpose and objectives (maximum of 1000 characters, including spaces).
      List of courses included in the certificate program, including course designation (abbreviation and number), title, and number of credits. Courses will be linked to the online master course listing for a complete description of each course in the online Bulletin.
      Effective date, and expiration date (sunset clause) of the PBCCP.
      Specific requirements (must include completion of an appropriate baccalaureate degree) for admission into the PBCCP, as applicable.

  10. The University Faculty Senate delegates authority to the Graduate Council on all graduate curricular matters, such as approval of new and revised programs and courses. Post-baccalaureate credit certificates fall within that delegated authority.

Guidelines for Seeking Academic and Administrative Approval for Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs

pdf_icon PBCCP Submission Form in PDF

  1. Each academic unit seeking approval for a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program should develop and implement its own internal procedures for reviewing such proposals.

  2. The following items must be addressed in the proposal:

    1. The requirements of the certificate program, including admission requirements, must be listed. Specific comments must be made regarding aspects of the program that may require special considerations.

    2. The responsible academic unit will certify that a marketing report and/or feasibility study has been done to establish a need for the program.

    3. For appropriate program delivery, the means for providing the facilities such as laboratories, library, and computing facilities, as well as supervision for the program must be indicated.

    4. If there is a research component, there must be appropriate research facilities (i.e., clinical or field settings, laboratories, etc.)

    5. To ensure the quality of the program, the following items must be documented:

      1. Identify the academic unit responsible for the program.

      2. Ensure that all 500 and 800-level courses will be delivered by faculty/instructors who are approved by the responsible academic unit and the Graduate School.

      3. Assurances also must be made that all 400-level courses are taught by appropriately qualified faculty/instructors who are approved by the academic unit.

      4. Specify the program content, location(s), and delivery mechanisms. This should include program objectives, syllabi and the mode of instruction (i.e., lecture, in-person classes plus TV, telecommunication linked courses, etc.).

      5. Specify how student support services (e.g., academic advising and counseling, learning support services, etc.) will be made available.

      6. The academic unit must clearly specify the relationship between the coursework in the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program and the coursework in the graduate degree program
        • A statement identifying the organizational unit(s) which will assume the fiscal responsibility for the program must be included.
        • A 5-year sunset clause should be included in the proposal, with removal of the certificate offering taking effect automatically upon the preplanned termination date, unless a request for a renewal is submitted through the regular approval process.
        • The unit proposing a new post-baccalaureate certificate program should consult with all relevant units that may have a related certificate, courses or a current or future interest in the certificate program.
        • A draft of the actual certificate that is proposed to be awarded to students must be included. Post-baccalaureate credit certificate program certificates must be designed so that they don't imply that they are graduate degree certificates.
  3. Upon approval of a proposed post-baccalaureate credit certificate program by the College/School Dean (or his/her designee), two copies of the following materials must all be forwarded to the University Faculty Senate Office: a) submission cover sheets with approval signature by the College/School Dean (or his/her designee); b) proposal; c) copy of the actual certificate; d) letters of cognate review as appropriate; and e) PBCCP description in Bulletin format (MS Word file). One copy of these materials will be forwarded to the Graduate School for review and approval of the Bulletin description and, if necessary, referral of conflicts to the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses.

1. Consultation with Appropriate Units/Programs (Cognate Review) - The unit/program originating the proposal should consult with all units/programs with a known interest in the subject field, not simply those in the same college. The purpose of cognate review goes beyond assuring that other units or programs that may be impacted by a proposal are notified and given the opportunity to evaluate the proposal, delineate potential problems and/or inform of possible duplication of effort. There are many potential benefits to alerting units where appropriate faculty expertise may provide useful, constructive feedback on content, identify areas for collaboration, and even broaden the scope of prospective students who would enroll in the program. In addition to letters of consultation/ cognate review that proposers provide at the time of submission of a proposal, the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, as well as members of Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses may request additional letters at their discretion and judgment.

2. Consultation with Appropriate Units/Programs (Cognate Review) - The unit/program originating the proposal should consult with all units/programs with a known interest in the subject field, not simply those in the same college. The purpose of cognate review goes beyond assuring that other units or programs that may be impacted by a proposal are notified and given the opportunity to evaluate the proposal, delineate potential problems and/or inform of possible duplication of effort. There are many potential benefits to alerting units where appropriate faculty expertise may provide useful, constructive feedback on content, identify areas for collaboration, and even broaden the scope of prospective students who would enroll in the program. In addition to letters of consultation/ cognate review that proposers provide at the time of submission of a proposal, the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, as well as members of the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and R.