Certificate Programs

Admissions Requirements

You're seeking an undergraduate certificate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The Decision Process

Admission decisions are determined by a committee appointed by the director of admissions. Your complete academic profile will be considered for admission.

Core Course Requirements

There are 16 units of academic courses required for admission.

A unit is one year of high school study or a semester/quarter of college coursework.

High School Classes

View the list of Nebraska high school classes that count toward core course requirements.

Ways to Meet Admission Requirements

If you are missing courses required for admission, there are ways to remove the deficiencies before you enroll.

Core Courses

College Specific Requirements

All colleges at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln require students meet the minimum core course and performance admission requirements (as listed above).

Some colleges have additional requirements that students must meet in order to be admitted to their requested college.

The Explore Center

If you do not meet the following college specific requirements you can still be admitted through our Explore Center.

• You will be advised by the Explore Center until you meet the college specific requirements for your desired college.
• Once you've met your college's requirements, you will have the opportunity to transfer into the college you requested.

Colleges Without Additional Requirements

The colleges below do not have additional requirements beyond core course and performance requirements.

• College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Education & Human Sciences
• College of Journalism & Mass Communications

Colleges With Additional Requirements

Transcript

You will self-report your academic record. Use an unofficial transcript to fill in your information.

Additional Documents

Provide proof of high school graduation or its equivalent, such as a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

Application Deadlines

• Summer/Fall: May 1
• Spring: December 1

Application Fee

There is a $45 application fee payable with a credit card or a check. If you participate in the free/reduced lunch program or are a military service member, military spouse or military dependent, you may request to waive this fee at the end of the application. Make the check payable to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and put the applicant's full name on the memo line.

Note: You do not need to pay the $45 admission fee if you have applied for undergraduate admission at UNK or UNO within the last year and submitted an application fee to either of those campuses.

Admissions Committee

Per Admissions Office Procedures Manual in Accordance with RP- 5.2.1-4b—an Admissions Committees may admit students that do not meet the Board of Regents assured admissions requirements for full admission. These decisions are based upon a holistic review of an individual applicants student record including but not limited to: academic achievement (GPA, academic courses, class rank, standardized test scores), high school course availability, recommendation letters, and retention services. The Admissions Committee will utilize this information through the holistic review process to determine whether there are other indicia in the record that would contribute to the applicant's academic success at the University. The Office of Admissions has three committees that perform the above described work: First-Year college students; Transfer/International and Special Circumstances.

The Special Circumstances Committee will holistically review applicants with special merit that are required to participate in intrusive and successful retention programs such as, but not limited to, Nebraska College Preparatory Academy, William H. Thompson Scholars, and Nebraska Athletics Support Services. The Director of Admissions must approve retention programs to be considered for the Special Circumstances Committee. Members of this committee will be appointed by the Director of Admissions.

Admission Based Upon Special Talents

In Accordance with RP- 5.2.1-4b, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln may admit students with special talents who do not meet the Board of Regents assured admissions requirements for full admission. Prospective students who do not meet assured admission requirements and who can provide evidence of special talents, such as outstanding artistic skills, unique educational experience or remarkable career achievements can be considered for admission with executive-level sponsorship. Each academic college and the Athletic Department are permitted to recommend no more than 15 special talent appeals to the director of admissions each term. To be considered for admission based on special talent, an applicant must:

• Identify an executive sponsor (executive-level sponsors are considered a college dean, associate dean, the athletic director or associate athletic director):
  • The executive sponsor must write a letter of reference to the director of admissions which details the prospective student’s special talent, explains why the sponsor believes the student is deserving of admission and provides specifics regarding how the unit will academically ensure the student’s success;
• The prospective student may request an executive sponsorship before or after an initial admission decision has been determined:
  • If the prospective student requests admission based upon special talents prior to applying for admission, the executive sponsor’s reference letter should be accompanied with unofficial of transcripts, standardized test scores, and English proficiency scores (for all international students or students for whom English is a second language);
    • In this case, the director of admissions will review the unofficial documents and executive sponsor’s reference letter and will make a provisional admissions decision—pending the student’s formal application for admission and submission of official documents by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s established admissions deadlines;
  • If the student requests admission based upon special talents after an initial admission decision, the prospective student may request an executive sponsor send the reference letter to the director of admissions;
    • The executive sponsor should include the prospective student’s birth date and NUID number in the letter;
    • The director of admissions will review the prospective student’s academic file and notify the applicant and executive sponsor of the admission decision.

Revocation of Admission and/or Degree

Admission to or a degree awarded from the University may be revoked for: Fraud; misrepresentation; violation of University standards in obtaining the degree; serious violation committed by an applicant or student prior to course enrollment, matriculation, or graduation; or other significant infractions endangering the safety and/or well-being of the university community.

Don't Forget

After meeting these requirements, you have to apply for admission and pay the $45 application fee to be considered for admission.