Certificates

Certificates are not required for graduation. They are optional experiences that allow students to plot novel pathways through the curriculum and document interests and competencies outside of the major or minor. A certificate is a curated list of three to five credit-bearing activities in two or more departments that faculty have identified as providing a closely, coherently, and intentionally interrelated set of topics and/or skills. As certificates are not graduation requirements, students should prioritize their majors and/or minors for scheduling. Faculty are not expected to make scheduling accommodations in order for students to complete a course for a certificate.

The regulations for admission to and completion of a certificate at Franklin & Marshall are:

1. Students may not sign up for certificates before their sophomore year.
2. To declare a certificate, a student must consult with the certificate contact person and submit a certificate declaration form to the Registrar.
3. Certificates cannot share more than one credit with another major, minor, certificate, and general education requirement. For example, a student could enroll in a certificate that shares one credit with a major and one credit with their gen ed requirement. However, that student could not enroll in a certificate that includes two courses for their major.
4. A student may not select the Pass/No Pass option on more than 1 course in a three-credit certificate, or on more than 2 courses in a four- or five-credit certificate.
5. It is possible for a certificate to require extra-curricular activities. Students are responsible for evaluating all of the requirements before declaring a certificate. There are ten certificates available at F&M. Each explores new and innovative fields of study through the lens of two or more departments. To complete a certificate, students must fulfill specific, for-credit activities (such as courses or internships), similar to major and minor course requirements.

There are ten certificates available at F&M. Each explores new and innovative fields of study through the lens of two or more departments. To complete a certificate, students must fulfill
specific, for-credit activities (such as courses or internships), similar to major and minor course requirements.