Staff Policy D-106.01
Institutional Effectiveness Criterion: Scholarship

Certificate Programs - Requirements

Certificate programs typically include specialty courses and may include some core education requirements.  In most cases, they are designed for concentrated proficiency in specialized areas.  In some cases, certificates are designed for students who are seeking to complete their core general education requirements for their A.S.A degrees.  Certificates may range from 16 to 59 credit hours as established by individual program areas and/or the Curriculum Committee.  Many certificate courses may apply toward an associate degree.

Certificate program requirements include:

1. A specified group of credit hours in an area of specialization, as determined by the appropriate NMC academic area.  These three levels are possible:
   Level 1: a minimum of 16 credits in a specialty area;
   Level 2: a minimum of 30 credits in a specialty area;
   Level 3: a minimum of 45 credits in a specialty area.
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
3. A grade of 1.0 or higher is required for successful course completion.  However, students should be aware that simply completing a course is not always sufficient to meet certificate requirements or to satisfy prerequisite requirements for other courses or transfer.
4. Level 1 and 2 certificate programs require that a minimum of 8 credit hours be completed at NMC (this may be waived in extenuating circumstances; contact the registrar).
   Level 3 certificate programs require that a minimum of 12 credit hours be completed at NMC (this may be waived in extenuating circumstances; contact the registrar).
5. Competency testing may be required by the responsible academic area if the course work was not completed at Northwestern Michigan College.

The Vice President for Educational Services, in conjunction with the appropriate faculty and staff, is responsible for the development and publication of any procedures or guidelines that may be necessary to administer this policy effectively.

If any provision(s) of this policy or set of bylaws conflicts with laws applicable to Northwestern Michigan College, including the Community College Act of 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Open Meetings Act, as each may be amended from time to time, such laws shall control and supersede such provision(s).