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Glossary for Academic Credentials and Parts of Credentials
Certificate
Certificates at SAU represent a successful achievement of coursework in a well-defined, cohesive and singularly targeted body of knowledge in an academic discipline or in a specialized skill-set for a professional field. Certificate programs at SAU are comprised of 9 to 29 credit hours of 1) certificate-specific courses, 2) a subset of courses drawn from existing SAU degree programs, or 3) a combination of both. Certificates are earned independently from degree programs and are intended for knowledge or skill enhancement, professional development, discipline exploration, or preparation for exams of external credentialing bodies.
Certification
A credential issued by an external agency after fulfillment of specified curricular and possibly other requirements. Certification is not a credential earned at SAU.
Concentration
Concentrations are groups of courses within a major or program that focus on a particular specialization in the field of study. They are considered part of the major or program. At minimum, a major with concentrations should have at least two concentration choices. Concentrations are comprised of 9-29 credit hours and do not include foundation courses.
Endorsement
An endorsement is a special program designed to meet criteria or standards specified by an external agency. Endorsements are affiliated with licensure and certification and are typically post-degree or extra-degree programs. The number of credit hours in an endorsement is determined by the standards or criteria of the external agency. Prerequisites for endorsement courses should be included in the credit hour count unless it is expected that students will have met those requirements prior to matriculating into the program.
Foundation
Foundation courses are central to a specific field of study and common to various programs in a specific academic department’s programs.
Institutional Endorsement
An institutional endorsement is comprised of 9-17 departmentally prescribed credit hours designed to equip students with a very specific knowledge or skill-set within a particular field of study. Institutional endorsements are supplemental to a bachelor’s degree program and cannot be earned as an independent credential. Students may earn more than one institutional endorsement, but courses in an institutional endorsement may not overlap with courses in a major, minor, endorsement or second institutional endorsement. Prerequisite requirements for institutional endorsement courses are included in the program curriculum unless it is expected that students will have met those requirements prior to matriculating into the program.
Master of Arts
The Master of Arts is a graduate degree conferred upon students who have completed the program and institutional graduation requirements. Master of Arts programs are distinguished by an advanced qualitative and theoretical focus.
Master of Science
The Master of Science is a graduate degree conferred upon students who have completed the program and institutional graduation requirements. Master of Science programs are distinguished by an advanced quantitative and scientific focus.
Master of [Specialty]
The Master of [Specialty] is a graduate degree conferred upon students who have completed the program and institutional graduation requirements. Master of [Specialty] programs are distinguished by an exclusive advanced focus on a particular professional field.
Track
Tracks are distinct curriculum pathways that lead to the same credential. Tracks are differentiated at the starting point of the program but converge and culminate at the same ending point. E.g., pre-licensure and post-licensure nursing tracks.
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