Program Overview

Graduate Certificate: College Access and Success

The graduate certificate in College Access and Success aims to provide a post-baccalaureate credential that aligns with the primary goals of the MEd program in Higher Education. This certificate serves as a critical bridge to helping service providers develop marketable skills and competencies.

About the Certificate

Courses offered through this graduate certificate program challenge norms by placing significant emphasis on urban issues and themes of equity, access, and affordability in higher and postsecondary education.

• Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 2 years
• Campus Location: Online
• Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate can be completed on a part-time basis.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

• Application Deadline: Applications are accepted for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is expected.
• Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.
• Statement of Goals: In 500-1,000 words, write a statement of purpose outlining your interest in seeking a graduate certificate with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.
• Standardized Test Scores: Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5
  • PTE Academic: 53
• Resume: Current resume required.

Certificate Requirements

• Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12
• Required Courses:
  • Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours
  • ---|---|---
  • HIED 5103 | Access and Equity in Higher Education | 3
  • HIED 5201 | Diversity Issues in Higher Education | 3
  • HIED 5202 | The Costs of College | 3
  • HIED 5203 | Getting into College: Strategic Enrollment Management | 3
  • Total Credit Hours | 12
• GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum

Department Information

• Department of Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies
• College of Education and Human Development
• 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
• Philadelphia, PA

Program Coordinator

• Dr. Katie N. Smith