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Graduate Certificates are recognized as a means for professionals with advanced degrees to update their knowledge and skills and to provide additional depth and experience to graduate programs. Graduate Certificates may be pursued either standalone or in combination with a Master's or Doctoral degree and are open to qualified applicants with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 as well as applicants with graduate degrees seeking to pursue continuing professional development.

Credits may be shared ("double-dipped") between the certificates and Master's degrees offered by the School of Information. Unless otherwise noted, all certificate coursework must be completed within a 4 year window.

Consult the program description links below for details and coursework.

Certificates

Digital Information Management Certificate ("DigIn") (UA Online)

The rapid growth of digital collections and online services has led to a shortage of information professionals who possess the technical knowledge and learning skills needed to create and manage digital collections in a fast-changing environment. The DigIn graduate certificate program helps fill this gap by combining intensive, hands-on technology learning with a thorough grounding in the theoretical principles needed to manage large, complex digital collections. The program is offered on-line, making it available to those currently employed in the information professions as well as those seeking new career opportunities in the information professions.

Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies (UA Online)

The Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies provides a specialization in an area of growing interest within the Library and Information Science field as well as an opportunity to learn more about archival practices as they affect the composition and meaning of cultural artifacts and the historical records. In addition, this certificate program offers advanced continuing education opportunities to practitioners working in libraries and archives, especially on the challenges posed by the emergence of digital recordkeeping. The program is designed to give students foundational core knowledge of the archives profession. The curriculum is structured around the guidelines for graduate programs set by the Society of American Archivists, ensuring that students have a comprehensive understanding of professional archival standards that may not otherwise be acquired without an archives concentration in their graduate level education.

Graduate Certificate in Instruction and Teaching for Librarians and Information Professionals (UA Online) 

The Instruction and Teaching for Librarians and Information Professionals Certificate will help students build the knowledge and skills needed to create and deliver successful and innovative, culturally competent, information literacy instruction within the library and information environment.  Information literacy instruction continues to be a cornerstone of the library profession, and it is imperative that future library professionals keep pace with advances in instruction methodologies and new technologies.  This certificate provides the foundation for library professionals to become effective teachers and instructional designers.  Course topics include Information literacy pedagogy, instructional design principles, online learning, and assessment of learning outcomes.  It will also include a capstone or internship project, where students will receive hands-on practice in information literary instruction. Students will also examine teaching and learning from different culture perspectives and how culture and language play a role in how students learn in different environments. 

Law Librarianship Graduate Certificate (Main Campus)

The law librarianship certificate program will provide students with the necessary skills to hit the ground running in an academic, law firm or government law library.  It combines theory, practicums and intense collaboration with the law librarians of the College of Law. Law Librarians hold a variety of positions in both public and technical services. They answer legal reference questions, teach legal research, order and process materials, and may also manage electronic access to library materials. Traditional areas of work include: Legal reference, Collection development and management, Acquisitions, Cataloging, etc. There are two requirements for admission into the Law Librarianship Graduate Certificate program: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA accredited school, and Concurrent enrollment in the M.A. LIS degree program (An exception is granted for students that have already completed an ALA accredited Master's degree, then concurrent enrollment in the M.A. LIS program not required.)

Legal Information & Scholarly Communication Certificate (Main Campus)

The Legal Information and Scholarly Communication Certificate provides students with a background necessary to serve in a wide variety of libraries (public, academic, school, etc.), special libraries, archives, government agencies and businesses where legal information is important to the mission of the endeavor.  As law firms grow in size and become more specialized, there is a growing need for researchers able to investigate legal issues and the underlying factual issues of litigation and transactional law.  It is hard to imagine a discipline where legal issues don’t regularly arise.

Certificate in Medical and Community Health Information (UA Online)

The Certificate in Medical and Community Health Information is affiliated with the School of Information M.A. in Library and Information Science (LIS).  This certificate has a secondary affiliation with the programs in the College of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Online Program. The Certificate in Medical and Community Health Information provides students, librarians, information professionals, and health care professionals with the necessary skills in the acquisition and dissemination of useful, usable, and quality health information.  Students obtain knowledge and skills in the practice of health informatics and how it applies to the health care and public health settings.  Additionally, students learn about ethnic and cultural implications of health and receive training on providing culturally competent health information services.  This certificate provides students with knowledge and skills that will supplement and be useful in their work in various health information settings, including but not limited to libraries, community health organizations, healthcare organizations, and information organizations.

Admission

Deadlines

Domestic Admission Deadlines:

• Fall Semester: February 15

• Spring Semester: October 15

• Summer Semester: March 15

International Admission Deadlines:

• Fall Semester: February 15

• Spring Semester: September 1

• Summer Semester: March 1

STEPS FOR APPLICANTS

Step 1: Complete the UA Graduate College application requirements, including the College's online application form. A processing fee is charged for each application. For students already enrolled in a Master's program, the processing fee is waived during the application process.  For general information see: http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/application-procedures. Currently enrolled students seeking to add a certificate should refer to https://grad.arizona.edu/academics/policies/enrollment-policies/program-changes

Please Note: When prompted for Type of Application, choose Certificate. When prompted to choose the program of study, select the specific certificate.

Other Graduate College Requirements:

• Certificates offered through UAOnline are charged flat-fee per credit hour, and out-of-state tuition is not assessed.  Please see certificate programs here: http://uaonline.arizona.edu/programs/graduate-certificate.
   
• For certificates not offered through UAOnline:
  • If you are an Arizona resident, you must complete a Domicile Affidavit form. If you wish to have in-state (Arizona) status. All students are considered out-of-state residents until domicile affidavits are processed.
  • In-state students who also receive financial aid may fall under Proposition 300 guidelines. Refer to the FAQ at http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/residency/prop300/ to determine whether Proposition 300 applies to you and whether you will need to provide additional documentation of residency.
  • The University of Arizona requires verification of measles and rubella immunity for all students born after 12/31/56. For more information and instructions for filing the appropriate form, visit http://www.health.arizona.edu/webfiles/health_services_immunization_requirements.htm.
     
• International applicants must complete a financial guarantee form (http://grad.arizona.edu/documents/admforms/fingua.pdf) and certification of English language proficiency if their first language is not English. Information on these requirements is available from the UA Graduate College.

Step 2:

As part of the online application, you are required to submit the following materials.  Please do not email or mail these materials to the School of Information or Graduate College.  These materials are inputted into your online application:

• Upload unofficial transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended in ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Upload a current resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Write a 750-1000 word written statement of introduction and interest in the program in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Provide email addresses and contact information for two (2) recommenders in the ‘Letters of Recommendation’ section.

Please email official e-Transcripts to si-transcripts@email.arizona.edu directly from the institution or mail one (1) official transcript to the following address (do not send to the Graduate College).  Official transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended are required.

School of Information
The University of Arizona
Harvill 409
1103 E 2nd St
Tucson, AZ 85721

Applications by Current Graduate Students

A Graduate College admission application is needed if you are:

• adding a Certificate and you are a graduate, degree-seeking student.

Please complete the following:

• Complete and submit a GradApp application;
• Write a 750-1000 word written statement of introduction and interest in the program in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Unofficial transcripts, a current resume, and letters of recommendation are not required for current students.  Write ‘NA’ for these fields, and submit the application.

Both the application and written statement will be reviewed by the Certificate Coordinator for a decision.  Please contact Barb Vandervelde, Manager of Administration at 520-621-3567 or barbv@email.arizona.edu with questions.

Qualified Tuition Reduction

The Arizona Board of Regents provides a Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) program that enables eligible employees and affiliated participants, along with their spouses and legal dependent children, to enroll in courses of study at reduced tuition rates among the three state universities-- Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. 

Qualified Tuition Reduction eligibility is extended only to administrative, professional, faculty and classified staff employees who are employed at an FTE of .50 or greater and whose employment is expected to continue 6 months or more. QTR is available for Graduate and Undergraduate degrees, however, QTR for graduate level degree programs is considered taxable income and program fees still apply. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/ArizonaQTR or contact the UA Outreach College directly at (520) 621-7724.