Interdisciplinary certificate proposals originate with the Yale faculty, focusing on the creation of new cross-sections at the university. Certificates can provide opportunities to bring disparate elements into focus with a carefully curated and organized collection of courses. No certificate is a smaller version of a major.
All proposals must be submitted by the Certificate Director and Certificate Advisory Committee to the Committee on Majors for review and then recommended to the Yale College Faculty for approval.
Certificate proposals must be submitted to the committee secretary by the end of the fall term to be considered for implementation in the following academic year.
Successful proposals typically include:
- A Certificate Advisory Committee of at least 6 faculty members who would be among those interacting with and advising students, and who would review two new eligible courses yearly.
- A designated Certificate Director (who may, as appropriate, be an existing DUS).
- A mission statement or abstract, and a name. Certificates may not bear the name ofan existing major.
- A list of at least 12 eligible courses and when they are likely to be offered, as well as a list of recurring events or other one-time opportunities that could be recommended to students pursuing a Certificate.
- Any unique, program-specific curricular opportunities such as attendance at a curated series of talks, workshops, seminars, performances, or other events, or experiential learning such as research, field work, or internships, affiliated with or authorized by the Certificate Advisory Committee, which may count toward one certificate course credit, and are encouraged.
The Certificate Director and the Certificate Advisory Committee will be ultimately responsible for administering the Certificate.
Curricular structure
Proposals for certificates will be subject to the following:
- At least 5 and no more than 6 courses credits.
- A maximum 2-course credit overlap with the student’s major.
- A maximum of 4 course credits originating in one department for interdisciplinary certificates.
- All courses must be Yale University courses. Exceptions will be granted to transfer students at the discretion of the Certificate Advisory Committee.
- The declaration form for a certificate must be submitted via the Yale Hub by September 15th or January 15th of the student’s final term of enrollment.
- Transcripts will have notation indicating successful completion of a certificate.