New Graduate Certificates

Definitions & Requirements

To explore offering a new graduate certificate, contact the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) and the Graduate School to discuss university proposal development and review requirements. The SCHEV compliance team works with OUR to advise and coordinate the SCHEV review process.

SCHEV defines graduate certificates as “a program of study requiring graduate level coursework in a particular subject or area of specialization.” Graduate certificates require:

A minimum of 12 credit hours and a maximum of 24 credit hours
A baccalaureate degree as an admission prerequisite

New graduate certificates may also require review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). For guidance on SACSCOC requirements, contact Virginia Tech’s SACSCOC accreditation team.

Review Process & Timeline

It is realistic to expect approximately one year from the start of a new graduate certificate proposal’s development to its final SCHEV decision. For estimates on SACSCOC review timelines, contact Virginia Tech’s SACSCOC accreditation team. Approval must be received prior to advertising or marketing a new certificate.

Step	Notes
Proposal development	The SCHEV proposal document for a new graduate certificate should be completed prior to submission to the 15-day review process; proposal development typically lasts 1-3 months, depending on proposal complexity
Academic governance review	Contact OUR for more information
Review by SCHEV	SCHEV accepts new graduate certificate proposals for review in July, October, and March: July submissions may include proposed program initiation dates of spring, summer, or fall of the following year October submissions may include proposed program initiation dates of summer or fall of the following year March submissions may include proposed program initiation dates of fall of the current year, spring of the following year, or summer of the following year
Review by SACSCOC	Process dependent on the nature of the proposal; contact Virginia Tech’s SACSCOC accreditation team for more information