A graduate certificate is a credential that you can earn from a college or university after completing a bachelor’s degree. It’s a credit-based academic credential that indicates that you have acquired foundational knowledge and skills in a specific area.
Graduate certificates are often more affordable and take less time to complete than graduate degree programs. They are also more narrowly focused on a specialized field than a master’s degree.
Graduate certificate programs are highly specialized and focused on specific subjects pertaining to a person’s career. They do not include a set of basic core classes.
Graduate certificate programs typically only take a short period of time, often between 12-15 credit hours (or one to two semesters, if attending full time). They typically cost less than a master’s degree.
Many graduate certificate programs have less stringent admissions requirements and are less selective compared to master’s and doctoral degree programs.
