Certificate programs resemble minors but generally require more credit hours. Some certificate programs are stand-alone programs, which means that a student does not have to be working towards a two- or four-year degree to complete a certificate program. Specific requirements can be found in the section for the school offering the certificate.
Some schools award an associate degree after the completion of two years of full-time college course work. IUPUI offers a wide variety of associate degree programs, some in technical fields. Usually the course work completed for the associate degree will count for the bachelor’s degree in the same discipline.
The typical undergraduate degree program is either a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree. The degree takes four years for students going full time, and substantially longer for part-time students. IUPUI’s bachelor’s degrees are awarded in the professional schools and within the arts and sciences.
IUPUI has two types of postbaccalaureate degree programs: graduate and professional. Many of the professional schools have separate bulletins as well as brief sections in this bulletin.
Outstanding students wishing to continue their education may begin graduate work after the completion of their bachelor’s degrees. Most master’s degree programs require applicants to take standardized national examinations such as the Graduate Record Examination and apply for the program the spring prior to admission. The graduate program in business requires students to take the GMAT as part of the admission process. Most students continue to study in their undergraduate major field. Students wishing to switch fields may be required to take undergraduate course work as preparation for admission to a master’s program, which presumes prior preparation in the area of study. Generally master’s work is more narrowly focused, and degrees require one to two years of full-time study. Some graduate programs may be taken on a part-time basis.
The doctorate is the highest degree awarded and requires course work, comprehensive examinations, original research, and a dissertation. A minimum of three years of study beyond the master’s is minimal, and most students require more time to complete the course work and research.
IUPUI offers professional degrees in dentistry, law, and medicine. All these degrees require prior study at the bachelor’s level as a condition for admission to the program.
The Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) requires four years of professional study beyond at least 90 semester credit hours of undergraduate study, which includes pre-dental courses, or the equivalent of 90 semester credit hours.
The Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) requires three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study following a bachelor’s degree. Those wishing to practice law must also successfully sit for the Indiana Bar Examination.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test) results are required as part of the application process.
The Doctor of Medicine requires four years of professional study following a bachelor’s degree, which includes the pre-medicine courses. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) results are required prior to admission into the program.
Graduate-level certificate programs, often in professional areas of specialization, resemble minors but generally require more credit hours. Some certificate programs are stand-alone programs, which means that a student does not have to be working towards a graduate degree to complete a certificate program. Only courses in which students receive a C (2.0) or better can be applied to the certificate program. Specific requirements can be found in the section for the school offering the certificate.
The Community Learning Network (CLN) offers hundreds of continuing education (noncredit) classes and serves over 16,000 learners annually. With more than 25 noncredit certificate programs in areas as diverse as photography and stress management, CLN’s noncredit program helps learners to take the first step in career development. These courses provide educational opportunities for a lifetime of learning. Visit the Community Learning Network Web site to find out more about noncredit offerings.
