The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides several options for certificate programs to provide educational opportunities for those seeking a credential that represents one or more courses in a focused area of knowledge and skill, but that can be completed in less time than a full degree.
Digital Credentials
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign uses the Accredible digital credentialling service for all of its non-credit and non-degree certificate programs. Programs should contact the OPE Platform Team for instructions on conferring digital credentials for completion of an appropriate certificate program.
Certificate Programs
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers certificate programs at a variety of levels. Some certificates result from open education programs of non-credit courses available to general public learners, and can also yield continuing education units or professional development hours. Other certificates require formal admission into a certificate program, and enrolled students pay tuition for credit-bearing coursework that appears on their transcript and in some cases can contribute toward a subsequent degree program.
| Non-Credit Certificate | Non-Degree Credit-Bearing Certificate | IBHE-Recognized Certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | “Small-c” certificate conferred by college upon completion of non-credit courses | “Small-c” certificate conferred by college upon completion of credit-bearing courses | “Big-C” certificate conferred by the campus upon completion of a program of credit-bearing courses that meets the requirements of the IBHE. IBHE-recognized certificates are implemented at Illinois using the same procedures as degree programs. |
| Examples | Accredible certificates resulting from Canvas Catalog or other non-credit programs. Coursera specialization certificates. | An Accredible certificate resulting from a program of credit-bearing courses on Canvas @ Illinois taken by a non-degree student. | The Campus Graduate Certificate is an IBHE recognized Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. The Certificate of Advanced Study as an IBHE approved Post-Master’s Certificate. |
| Mode of Instruction | Online, off-campus face-to-face or on-campus face-to-face | Online, off-campus face-to-face or on-campus face-to-face | Online, off-campus face-to-face or on-campus face-to-face |
| Approval | College only | College only | College, GC, Provost, Senate, BoT, IBHE (reported) |
| Level | Can consist of coursework at any level. | Undergraduate or graduate. | Graduate only. |
| Enrollment | Available to the general public | Must be admitted to Illinois as a non-degree student, or enrolled in a degree program. | Must be admitted specifically into the Certificate program |
| Application Fee | None | Not required | Not required |
| English Proficiency | Not required | Not required | Required |
| Academic Requirements | None | Self-reported Bachelor’s degree required for graduate-level certificate | Transcripted Bachelor’s degree required, (photocopy for admission, official copy due by the end of first term) |
| Admission Procedure | Automated | CITL (auto-admits, can register students) or GC (admits w/optional program review, students register themselves) | Graduate College admits upon program review |
| Federal Financial Aid | Not eligible | Not eligible | Eligible, with US Dept. of Ed. approval |
| Assistantships, Fellowships | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible for the Campus Graduate Certificate. |
| Transcripted | No | All courses appear on transcript but certificate does not | All courses and the Certificate appear on transcript |