SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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S.03-11i
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TO: Senate
Senate Committee on University Priorities
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Memorandum
John Waterhouse/:1
Chair, SCUP
Vice Presidenj, Academic
FROM:
RE:
Proposal for the Development of
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DATE:
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November 6, 2003
Graduate Certificate Programs
At its November 5, 2003 meeting SCUP reviewed the proposal from the Dean of
Graduate Studies for the development of Graduate Certificate Programs and
recommended the following motion:
Motion
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the proposal for the
development of Graduate Certificate Programs as outlined in
S. 03-111
SCUP unanimously approved the proposal for the Development of Graduate Certificate
Programs.
S
end.
c: J. Driver
J. Pierce
B. Lewis
E. Love
P. Shaker
M. Plischke
R. Heath
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Proposal for the development of graduate certificate programs
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Jon Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies, September 2003
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With revisions suggested at
5th
November 2003 SCUP meeting
Introduction
Currently graduate students are registered in a single program leading to a degree or
diploma. SFU does not offer minor programs at the graduate level, and there is no formal
way of recognizing increased breadth or interdisciplinarity. This document proposes the
creation of graduate level certificate programs, analogous to undergraduate certificates,
that will be awarded for taking certain combinations of graduate courses. As with
undergraduate certificates, courses may be counted both towards a degree and a
certificate, and only students already in degree programs will be eligible for certificates.
Certificates will be presented when the degree is awarded.
Structure of certificate programs
Certificate programs must include the following:
1.
a minimum of four graduate level courses from a designated set of courses
2.
a minimum of 12 credits
3.
courses must be from at least two different departments or schools (or non-
departmentalized faculties)
4.
courses must be taken for credit, and not graded S/U
5.
courses may not be selecte&from a diploma program
Administration ? -
Following approval by Senate (see below) a certificate program is administered by a
steering committee (minimum two people), reporting to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
The steering committee will:
1.
Review on a regular basis the structure of the program, and recommend to SGSC
adding and dropping courses approved for inclusion in the program.
2.
Decide whether particular special topics courses are suitable for inclusion in the
program.
Development of certificate programs
Proposals for certificate programs should be submitted to SGSC, and should include the
following information.
1. Certificate name
2. Justification for the certificate
3. Agreement from departments to admit students from other programs to courses
designated as certificate courses
4.
Approval by relevant faculty graduate program committee(s)
5.
Calendar entry
6.
Steering committee composition for first two years
Following approval by SGSC the proposal will be forwarded to SCUP and Senate for
approval.
grad
ccii
program proposal 2 v.2 ?
f'
Proposed calendar entry for Graduate General Regulations
1.3.13 Certificate programs
A certificate program consists of approved combinations of graduate courses taken from
at least two different departments. Graduate certificate programs are intended to be both
thematic and interdisciplinary.
Courses taken for credit in a graduate degree program may be applied to certificate
programs. A certificate program must include a minimum of four courses and a minimum
of 12 credits.
Certificate programs may be taken only by students already registered in a masters or
doctoral program at SFU.
Certificates are awarded at the time of convocation.
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grad cert program proposal 2 v.2
