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Senior Certificate Program

“For decades, the senior certificate program has been one of UF CISE’s most impactful programs in opening up windows of opportunities, as routinely reported by participating students.”

– Juan Gilbert, Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor

Synopsis and Highlights

  • One semester certificate program for undergraduates in their senior (final) year at other universities including international universities
  • Certificate Program only occurs during the Spring semester
  • Requires presence at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.
  • Certificate students attend courses and are assessed alongside UF students
  • With approval of student’s home university, certificate credits may be counted toward undergraduate degree completion requirements at the home university
  • International experience at a major US university
  • Improved chances of admission into UF master’s programs
  • Certificate credits may transfer into our master’s program
  • Certificate credits cost less than half as much as master’s credits

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

  • Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Computer Science/Engineering
  • Current GPA of B or better
  • Demonstrated English communication skills (TOEFL or TSE required of students from non-exempt countries)
  • International certificate students must meet lawful visa and entry requirements similar to other international students at UF

Home University Policy

  • It is the student’s responsibility to negotiate with their home university officials how UF senior certificate credits may count toward their degree requirements.

Program Details

  • 12 credits of approved CISE courses
  • Select from available undergraduate or graduate level CISE courses
  • Typically, a certificate student takes 3 undergraduate and 9 graduate credits
  • Must receive C or better on each course

Entrance to Master’s Program

Master’s admission guaranteed if:

  • B or better cumulative GPA in junior and senior years in home university and
  • B or better GPA in certificate program; no grade below C and
  • Minimum acceptable score on TOEFL: 80

To avoid admission delay, take TOEFL before starting the certificate.

Transferring Credits

  • Certificate students who are admitted to the master’s program in CISE can transfer the graduate courses taken in the certificate program in which they received a grade of B or better.

Certificate Program Statistics

  • Operational since 2009
  • Routine cohorts from 10 recognized international universities

Resources

Contact

Kristina Sapp (klsapp@ufl.edu) for more information.