Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

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Department of Educational Leadership
480D Pawley Hall (map)
(248) 370-3070 • Fax (248) 370-4605
www.oakland.edu/edleadership

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Coordinators:
Sandra P. Packard
475E Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3059
packard@oakland.edu

Jana Nidiffer
480C Pawley Hall
(248) 370-4204
nidiffer@oakland.edu

Program description

The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is designed for individuals who would like to begin or advance in a career in higher education. The certificate is designed for practicing university or college administrators who may already possess a doctoral degree, or who do not wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the present time, but wish to update and advance their professional knowledge and skills. It also serves mid-career professionals in other related work who wish to explore a career change. Through relevant coursework and administrative projects, students will gain a broad understanding of higher education practices, systems, policies and issues. They will also advance their skills and dispositions for successful leadership and management in higher education settings. Students accepted into the Ph.D. in educational leadership degree program may use certificate coursework toward the required cognate.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below.

November 15, 2011 for the Winter 2012 semester
March 15, 2012 for the Summer 2012 semester
July 15, 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester
November 15, 2012 for the Winter 2013 semester
March 15, 2013 for the Summer 2013 semester
July 15, 2013 for the Fall 2013 semester

International applicants: International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission.

Special Graduate classification: Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements

Application for Admission to Graduate Study
Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
Proof of English language proficiency
International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a master’s degree at an accredited college or university and meet Oakland University requirements for post-graduate enrollment.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Certificate requirements

The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 16 credits in an approved program of study. Twelve of the credits are required courses and 4 of the credits are related graduate electives.

Course requirements

a. Core requirements (12 credits)

b. Electives (4 credits)

Any related master’s or doctoral course as approved by the program coordinator.

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The required types of monitoring include Time Limit, Completion Rate, Excessive Withdrawals and GPA Requirements. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the applicable program and maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.