GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

A Graduate Certificate is an integrated group of courses that is designed to have a very clear and focused academic topic or competency as its subject area. Often, a Graduate Certificate may meet a clearly defined educational need of a constituency group, such as continuing education or accreditation for a particular profession; respond to a specific state mandate; or provide a basic competency in an emerging, usually interdisciplinary, area. A Certificate is not a graduate degree program (it is typically between 9 and 15 credits), but it does provide the student formal recognition of the mastery of a clearly defined academic topic.

Graduate Certificates are becoming an increasingly important component of the total range of graduate educational opportunities offered by a modern, comprehensive research university. Often, Certificates are pursued by students who are also pursuing a graduate degree in a traditional discipline, or who may already have earned one or more graduate degrees. Programs or groups of faculty who wish to establish a new Graduate Certificate at the University of Kentucky should consult the Guidelines for Graduate Certificate Curricula via the Graduate School home page at www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/gradhome.html.

The University of Kentucky currently offers Graduate Certificates in the following areas:

Developmental Disabilities
Environmental Systems
German Studies
Gerontology
Health Communication
Informatics
Latin Studies
Music Theory Pedagogy
Orff Schulwerk
Sensing Technologies
Social Theory
Transportation Systems Management
Women's Studies

Although formal admission to a specific Graduate Certificate is handled by the Director of the Certificate, a student seeking to pursue a Graduate Certificate must also apply to and be enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Kentucky. For most Certificates, the student may be enrolled either as a degree-seeking student in an academic program or in post-baccalaureate (non-degree) status. More information on admission requirements and specific plans of study for a particular Graduate Certificate can be obtained via the contacts below. Note that admission to or completion of a Graduate Certificate does not guarantee subsequent admission to a graduate degree program; that is a separate process, and different criteria prevail.

Developmental Disabilities

The Graduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities prepares professionals from a broad range of disciplines to play a leadership role in providing services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families. An emphasis is placed on developing skills in the field of disability research. The coursework emphasizes a life span and interdisciplinary perspective with an emphasis on promoting self-determination, community integration and inclusion. In addition to a broad, interdisciplinary perspective, students acquire a basic foundation in a number of specific, topical areas such as specialized health care services and financing, inclusive education, behavioral supports, employment and community living options, advocacy, legislation, assistive technology, organizational development and theory, group facilitation, and research proposal development. All courses are taught by an interdisciplinary faculty. Students have the opportunity to participate in a practicum and work directly with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Students also complete a research project under faculty supervision. Three didactic courses (HDI 600, 602 and 604) and one practicum course (HDI 603) are required for the certificate. In addition to the required courses, two or three hours of elective coursework is also required; either HDI 601, HDI 605 or one elective from outside HDI courses and those courses required in the student’s degree program.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Barney Fleming
Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute
121 Mineral Industries Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0051
(859) 257-7225
bflemin@uky.edu
www.ihdi.uky.edu/ddcertificate

Environmental Systems

The Environmental Systems Certificate is administered by a committee of faculty consisting of representatives from the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Law, Medicine; the Gatton College of Business and Economics; the Graduate School; the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet; and the private sector. Each Environmental Systems course is coordinated by a faculty member, and course instructors are representatives of their respective disciplines.

The Environmental Systems Certificate consists of a core of three survey courses and a seminar course. Students are expected to take two Environmental Systems courses and the seminar twice. The content of the courses and seminars is the responsibility of the coordinator.

Individuals desiring a certificate must submit an application for admission to the Environmental Systems Committee along with an outline of their graduate degree program or their experience.

For more information, contact:
Dr. James A. Kipp
233 Mining & Minerals Resources Bldg
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0107
(859) 257-1832
kipp@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/WaterResources/UK-ESC.HTML

German Studies

The German Studies Graduate Certificate is designed to enable substantial exposure to the historical and contemporary study of German culture, society, and politics in an interdisciplinary setting. Students may earn the certificate while making normal progress towards attainment of an MA or a Ph.D. degree or while enrolled in post-baccalaureate status.

For more information, contact:
Wolfgang Natter
1055 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
(859) 257-6035
wnatter@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/AS/German/Grad/gergrafr.html

Gerontology

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is an interdisciplinary curriculum offered by the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. The Certificate is a part of Sanders-Brown's complete range of research and educational activities that prepare both graduate students and practicing professionals from many disciplines to assume key roles in improving the quality of life for older adults and furthering our understanding of the aging process. Its interdisciplinary focus makes it possible for students to tailor their course work to support their own fields of interest.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Diana S. Lockridge, Educational Services Coordinator
Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
Ligon House, 658 S. Limestone
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0442
(859) 257-8301
Fax: (859) 323-4940
dlock3@uky.edu
www.rgs.uky.edu/aging/geriatriceducation/

Health Communication

The Graduate Program in Communication offers a Certificate in Health Communication that is available to (a) students in the Ph.D. and M.A. Programs in Communication, (b) students in other doctoral programs at the university and (c) post baccalaureate students. The Certificate Program is aimed primarily at individuals interested in developing specialized knowledge and research expertise in health communication that could be applied within both academic and nonacademic settings. Students are expected to have a background in social or behavioral science prior to entering the program. To earn the certificate, students must complete CJT 671 and 771 and either CJT 780 (section focusing on a health communication topic) or a graduate course in medical informatics, for a total of 12 credit hours.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Roy L. Moore
College of Communication and Information Studies
133 Grehan Journalism Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0042
(859) 257-7805
moore@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/GRAD/Health%20Certificate

Informatics

The objective of the Graduate Certificate in Informatics is to educate a cadre of researchers and professionals with multidisciplinary backgrounds and with substantial understanding of the principles and applications of computational technology.

This curriculum will train graduate and professional-degree students in the uses of computational and information processing technology in their own fields. The students will be able to use this enrichment to become more productive professionals, to further research in their own areas, and to engage in multidisciplinary research relying on computer and information-processing techniques.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Raphael Finkel
Department of Computer Science
305 Mining Laboratory
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0046
(859) 257-3416
raphael@cs.engr.uky.edu
grendl.rch.uky.edu/informatics/

Latin Studies

The Latin Studies certificate curriculum, consisting of a sequence of four courses in Latin language and literature, aims at two groups of students in particular.

First, it is aimed at graduate students who need strong Latin skills for any academic discipline in which Latin is important, including not only classics, but also history, philosophy, theology, etc., and who are already engaged in, or hope to undertake advanced study in one or more of these fields. The certificate curriculum will offer to such students an interdisciplinary opportunity to gain a superior command of Latin in a highly concentrated format, but in a relatively brief period of time.

Second, it is aimed at the training of new Latin teachers for the high school level and even pre-high school instruction. The Latin Studies certificate curriculum will be highly useful for those interested in teaching Latin, because it will provide a much deeper immersion in Latin language and literature than what has so far been usual for students seeking careers as Latin teachers, and will ensure that all who complete it acquire not merely reading skills, but also considerable active command of the language.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Terence Tunberg
Classics Department
1015 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
clatot@uky.edu
(859) 257-3386

Music Theory Pedagogy

The Graduate Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy is intended primarily for DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts degree) students who wish to gain experience and expertise in theory pedagogy in order to strengthen their background for increased marketability in higher education.

Students desiring admission into this certificate curriculum will be interviewed by a committee consisting of members of the theory faculty and a music faculty member outside of theory. The interview will include an appraisal of the student's keyboard proficiency, sight-singing and aural skills, and understanding of theoretical concepts. The student's scores on graduate entrance exams in music theory will also be assessed. It is assumed that any student granted admission into the certificate curriculum would have been accepted as a student in the Graduate School.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Kate Covington
School of Music
105 Fine Arts Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40506-0022
(859) 257-8197
Fax: (859) 257-9576
kcov@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/FineArts/Music

Orff Schulwerk

For more information, contact:
Dr. Cecilia Wang
School of Music
203 Wessels House
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0022
(859) 257-8203
cecilia@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/~cecilia/Orff/OrffGradCert.html

Sensing Technologies

The Sensing Technologies Certificate is a cross-disciplinary curriculum in Sensors and Sensing Architectures. As the field of sensing development is an inherently multidisciplinary endeavor, the Certificate will yield scientists and engineers with the ability to transcend traditional boundaries in their professional careers.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Leonidas Bachas
Department of Chemistry
207 Chemistry-Physics Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40602-0055
(859) 257-6350
Fax: (859) 323-1069
bachas@uky.edu
www.chem.uky.edu/igert/Sensing%20Techn%20certificate

Social Theory

Graduate Students participating in Committee activities have the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Social Theory. This Certificate offers students systematic multidisciplinary training in social theory. It augments, and is pursued concurrently with, the regular M.A and Ph.D. degree programs of participating departments. In total, the Certificate requires ten hours of course work, and is open to all graduate students at the University of Kentucky.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Wolfgang Natter
Committee on Social Theory
1455 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
(859) 257-6035
wnatter@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/SocTheo/grad_cert.htm

Transportation Systems Management

This unique Transportation Systems Management Certificate is designed for educating advanced transportation professionals to cope with the dynamic challenges of the future. This special postbaccalaureate certificate:

complements traditional degree programs
provides experiential education In systems management
provides opportunity for Interdisciplinary Interaction
ensures extracurricular professional involvement
offers development of communication/leadership skills

The overall success of the certificate rests heavily upon the active partnership established with industry and government.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Ted Grossardt, Coordinator
KY Transportation Center
176 Oliver Raymond Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40506-0281
(859) 243-0971 ext. 25
Fax: (859) 243-0991
hgros00@uky.edu
www.engr.uky.edu/KTC/

Women's Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies is intended to complement students' disciplinary programs. Its aim is to provide students with a coherent, interdisciplinary grounding in current women's studies scholarship and to create an intellectual community among faculty and graduate students who share a scholarly interest in women's studies.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Joan Callahan
112 Breckinridge Hall
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0056
(859) 257-1388
womenst@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/WomenStudies/Certificate.htm