Certificates can be earned as a stand-alone program or they can be earned in conjunction with most graduate degree programs (with approval by the respective Graduate Program Director). While students cannot earn a certificate in addition to a graduate degree if the entirety of the certificate requirements are required courses in their degree program, the additional certificate is an option if there was additional coursework required by the certificate outside of the degree program or the required certificate coursework was used to fulfill an elective requirement in the degree program.