Certificate Programs

A certificate is an approved academic award given in conjunction with the satisfactory completion of a program of instruction, signifying a standard of knowledge in a specific subject. Certificates are posted to the official transcript and documented on a separate diploma.

Undergraduate Certificates are available as three types, each differing in terms of the minimum required admission status and in the timing of when the certificate is awarded, as described below. Individual certificates may have unique pre-requisites or program admission requirements defined by the academic departments.

In addition to meeting the specific course requirements of the undergraduate certificate, students must meet the Residency Requirement: a minimum of 16 credits or 3/4 of the credits required for the certificate, whichever is higher, must be earned at Portland State University.

Postbaccalaureate and Graduate Certificates are designed for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree. While postbaccalaureate certificates are comprised of undergraduate level courses, graduate certificates are approved graduate-level courses.

The Center for Executive and Professional Education and other departments also offer non-credit certificates that are designed to provide specific skills and knowledge relevant to a particular industry or field. These programs and certificates are recorded on a continuing education transcript, not an academic transcript.

Undergraduate Certificate - Admission Not Required
Undergraduate Certificate at Completion
Undergraduate Certificate with Baccalaureate
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Graduate Certificate
Professional Non-Credit Certificate

Undergraduate Certificate - Admission Not Required

How is the certification noted on the transcript?	Degree: Certificate Major: <<subject>>
When is the certification awarded?	Certification is attained upon completion of certificate requirements.
Is admission required?	No
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Non-Degree, Undergraduate, Postbaccalaureate, Graduate
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	No (Aid may be eligible while admitted into an Undergraduate, Postbaccalaureate, or Graduate admit status with a declared degree/major).
Which certificates are available at this level?	Black Studies Certificate Consumer Retail Certificate Human Lactation Certificate Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge
Where is more information available?	Academic Programs A-Z List

Undergraduate Certificate at Completion

How is the certification noted on the transcript?	Degree: Certificate Major: <<subject>>
When is the certification awarded?	Certification is attained upon completion of certificate requirements.
Is admission required?	Yes, undergraduate admission and matriculation are required.
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Undergraduate, Postbaccalaureate, Graduate
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	Yes (student must have a declared primary major, including UNDC - Undeclared/Exploratory).
Which certificates are available at this level?	Art History Certificate Climate Adaptation and Management Certificate Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies Cultural Resource Management Intercultural Competence for the Workplace Certificate Lake and Reservoir Management Certificate Undergraduate Certificate in World Language Pedagogy
Where is more information available?	Academic Programs A-Z List

Undergraduate Certificate with Baccalaureate

How is the certification noted on the transcript?	Degree: Certificate Major: <<subject>>
When is the certification awarded?	Certification is attained only at time the of granting baccalaureate degree.
Is admission required?	Yes, undergraduate admission and matriculation is required.
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Undergraduate, Postbaccalaureate, Graduate
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	Yes
Which certificates are available at this level?	Advanced Proficiency in Russian Certificate African Studies Certificate Athletic and Outdoor Industry Certificate Chicanx/Latinx Studies Certificate Comics Studies Certificate Communication Sciences and Disorders Certificate Criminal Behavior and Justice Undergraduate Certificate Criminal Law and Justice Criminal Law and Justice (CCJ Majors) Entrepreneurship Certificate Food, Beverage & Goods Leadership Certificate Global Scholar Pathway Certificate International Business Studies Certificate International Studies: Middle Eastern Studies Certificate Real Estate Property Management Certificate Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language Certificate Transformative Messaging Certificate Women's Leadership Certificate
Where is more information available?	Academic Programs A-Z List

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

How is the certification noted on the transcript?	Degree: Certificate Major: <<subject>>
When is the certification awarded?	Certification is attained upon completion of certificate requirements.
Is admission required?	Yes, Postbaccalaureate admission and matriculation are required.
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Postbaccalaureate, Graduate
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	Yes
Which certificates are available at this level?	Postbaccalaureate Accounting Certificate Women's Studies Certificate
Where is more information available?	Academic Programs A-Z List

Graduate Certificate

How is the certification noted on the transcript?	Degree: Certificate Major: <<subject>>
When is the certification awarded?	Certification is attained upon completion of certificate requirements.
Is admission required?	Yes, Graduate admission and matriculation are required
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Graduate
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	Yes
Which certificates are available at this level?	Affordable Housing Development Analog and Microwave Circuit Design Applied Behavior Analysis Applied Statistics and Data Science Athletic & Outdoor Industry Graduate Certificate Blindness and Low Vision Business Intelligence and Analytics Children's and Young Adult Literature Collaborative Governance Communication Systems Computational Intelligence Computer Architecture and Design Computer Modeling and Simulation Cybersecurity Design Automation Digital Design Digital Signal Processing Early Intervention Special Education Certificate Earth and Space Science for K-12 Educators Econometrics and Data Analysis Engineering Geology Enterprise Analytics Environmental Geology Food Marketing and Logistics Futures Thinking and Foresight Practice Gender, Race, and Nations Geographic Information Systems Gerontology Global Supply Chain Management Healthy and Efficient Buildings Hydro-Geology Hydrology Image Processing Infant/Toddler Mental Health Grad Certificate Integrated Circuit Testing, Verification, and Validation Lasers and Optoelectronics Local Government Administration Music Performance New Product Management Nonprofit and Public Management Certificate Nonprofit Leadership Orientation and Mobility for Children, Youth and Adults Principal License Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis Project Management Certificate Public Interest Design Real Estate Development Real Estate Investment and Finance School Counseling Certificate Semiconductor Materials & Manufacturing Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Software Engineering Special Education Added Endorsement Certificate Strategic Management of Technology Student Affairs in Higher Education Sustainable Food Systems Systems Engineering Fundamentals Teaching Adult Learners Technological Entrepreneurship Technology Management Training and Development Transportation Urban Design
Where is more information available?	Academic Programs A-Z List

Professional Non-Credit Certificate

How is the certificate noted on the transcript?	Appears on a PSU continuing education unit transcript, not on an academic transcript. Certificates are provided by the Center for Executive and Professional Education.
When is the certification awarded?	Certificate is attained upon completion of certificate requirements.
Is admission required?	No
Which student levels are eligible to enroll in these certificate programs?	Anyone interested in developing professional skills. There are no prerequisites to enroll.
Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?	No, although some students may qualify for funding through their employer or WorkSource.
Which certificates are available at this level?	Center for Executive and Professional Education (Project Management, HR Management, Data Analytics, etc.) Center for Public Service (public sector focused programs) Environmental Professional Program (River Restoration, Wetland Delineation, etc.)