Certificate Programs of Study

Certificate Programs

Florida Poly offers undergraduate students the opportunity to add a certificate to their degree. For degree-seeking students, certificates are “add-ons” and not substitutions for existing concentrations and, therefore, are subject to the following rules.

Types of Certificates

Upper-level Certificates: these certificates are typically 12-credits and consist of upper-division coursework for which there are pre-requisites typically in both advanced math and science and in the program core. Courses are usually at the 3000-level and above.

General Rules

Certificates are NOT substitutions for degree program concentrations.
Certificates, with exception to entry-level certificates, are conferred at the time a Florida Poly degree is conferred. They cannot be earned if a student transfers or leaves prior to completing the baccalaureate.
Students must declare they are pursuing a certificate by completing the Registrar’s office form. Students may declare as late as the semester prior to their last semester at Florida Poly. By declaring a certificate, the student agrees to the rules/terms set forth here.
Students who complete the requirements for the baccalaureate degree but who have not completed the requirements for a declared certificate must be graduated first. Certificates need to be completed in time to earn the degree in four-years. This includes summer session.
Students taking longer than 4-years to complete their degree are not permitted to earn a certificate.
Students must earn a C or better in all certificate courses to earn the certificate. Only a course that applies to both the degree and the certificate may be retaken for grade forgiveness.
Non-completion of a certificate may result in excess credit hour fee for courses taken that do not apply to the degree.
Courses taken toward a completed certificate do not incur an excess credit hour fee.

Eligibility

Students must be admitted to Florida Poly as either degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students.
Eligibility requirements vary depending on whether it is an entry-level or upper-level certificate program.
Upper-level certificates are only available to degree-seeking students who meet the following requirements.

Requirements for Upper-level Certificates

Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA (for all courses, not just certificate courses)
Students must be on the appropriate plan of study and making successful progress enough to complete their degree in 4 years.
Students must successfully complete 30 credits before taking courses toward the certificate (with exception to transfer courses or a course that counts for the student’s declared degree program)
- Students completing their freshman year with 27 credits, who meet all of the above criteria, may enroll in 3 credits toward their degree and 3 credits toward a certificate in the summer following their freshman year.

Special Notes: rules/guidelines

Applied Mathematics
- To receive the Certificate in Applied Mathematics, a student must successfully complete (C or better) four upper-division mathematics courses (12 credit hours) beyond a designated list of standard courses.
- Students must have the necessary pre-requisites to take the required courses in the certificate program.
Applied Liberal Studies
- Students opting for this certificate who bring in more than 12 hours in humanities and social sciences: credits will first be applied to fulfill general education. Additional credits may be applied to the certificate only if the student declares the certificate (see rules, above).
- Students may apply up to 3 transfer credits to the certificate provided the credits applied include two 2000-level courses and one 3000-level course. The ALS “capstone” course must be taken at Florida Poly and completed prior to graduation for the baccalaureate.
All other Certificates
- Students may use 3-credits to count towards both the degree program and the certificate program.
- The remaining 9-credits must apply to the certificate only.