Undergraduate Certificate Programs
An undergraduate certificate program consists of a logically sequenced and academically coherent subset of courses, which is intended to prepare students for professional practice in certain applied fields. Because of the program’s emphasis on application, the choice of courses often represents more practice-oriented didactic contents. Courses taken toward a certificate program may be applied to an undergraduate degree depending upon the requirements of the particular degree to which a student wishes to apply the credits. Undergraduate certificate programs consist of 12-18 credit hours.
General criteria for admission to any undergraduate certificate program include:
- A high school diploma or equivalent. Individual certificate programs may have additional admissions requirements.*
- Each program may establish the minimum grade point average, English language examination score, standardized test scores, and other entry criteria. Such flexibility is permitted to meet the needs of the target student population.
- Undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program may simultaneously pursue an undergraduate certificate program, with the permission of the program or department chair offering the certificate program. Certificate-seeking students who are not degree-seeking students will be classified as certificate students for the purpose of keeping University-wide enrollment data. Certificate students will have access to the Library and University-wide facilities, subject to the rules governing those facilities.
- Certificate students are not automatically eligible for admission to the related undergraduate program. If they wish to pursue an undergraduate degree, they must submit an application, meeting all the entrance requirements for that program.
- Certificate programs alone are not eligible for federal, state, or institutional financial aid. However, federal financial aid may be applied to undergraduate certificates for students in a complementary degree program who can earn the certificate courses as part of completing the requirements for that degree. Federal financial aid may also be applied to undergraduate certificates completed by degree seeking students in programs outside of the certificate area if the courses are completed within the overall hours (generally 120 or 122) needed for graduation. Non-degree seeking students who wish to enroll in the stand-alone certificate should consult with their Success Coach regarding funding opportunities. Students may also apply for a private student loan to help finance their certificate program. Park University does not endorse or recommend the use of any particular alternative educational loan, but encourage students to review the private loan programs available to determine which option best meets their personal financial needs.
The following minimum requirements must be satisfied to earn an undergraduate certificate*:
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework at Park
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0* (for courses in the certificate)
- Meet all requirements of the specific program, as outlined in the Degree Requirements section of the catalog
*Individual departments may establish additional (or higher) requirements (refer to the Academic Degree Programs section of the catalog for program-specific requirements).
*For information and resources about student loan repayment, or to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit www.wsac.wa.gov/loan-advocacy or contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.
Personal Major Program
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center Only)
There are many reasons why students go to college. Not the least of these is to participate in the formal learning situations provided by a college curriculum. Unfortunately, the intensive learning opportunities afforded by the standard college curriculum do not always correspond to a particular student’s reasons for going to college. These intensive learning opportunities are usually cataloged as departmental major programs and impose a relatively limited number of alternatives. It would seem desirable to increase the number of options that are available to students matriculating at a college. Therefore, Park University designed the Personal Major, in which a student, with appropriate institutional guidance, is allowed to construct an intensive learning experience which corresponds to his/her own needs where these fall outside the traditional major fields.
The Personal Major Program at Park University is an individualized curriculum in which objectives and content have been chosen by the student in consultation with his/her advisor(s). The program is approved by the Provost or designee. As with other major programs, the student is subject to all general degree requirements at Park University. A 2.0 GPA is required in the major of the designed program.
Minor Programs
Minors are required for students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Economics, Geography and/or Information Systems. Students pursuing other bachelor degrees (BSW, BS, BPA, BM or BSE) may select a minor if such minor is approved and readily available at the student’s campus center. For a list of available minors, consult with the appropriate academic department or success advisor.
Note: Students are unable to select a minor in the same discipline as the major. (i.e. Students cannot do a Management major and a Management minor)
A minor must be declared in conjunction with a bachelors program. A minor may not be declared independently, with an associates program or a certificate program.
Internships and Cooperative Education
A number of majors and departments provide students with opportunities for hands-on experience related to classroom learning. Generally, work experience which is not paid but which carries significant academic credit is considered an internship.
Cooperative education is defined as an on-the-job learning experience, jointly supervised by a faculty member and a representative of the employer, for which the student is paid.
Under a cooperative education arrangement, a student typically, but not necessarily, alternates semesters of full-time study at Park University with semesters of full-time employment in an organization, which will enhance the student’s training, development and career goals. The employment periods are a regular, continuing and essential element in the student’s educational process.
Study Abroad Programs
Park University offers summer, semester and year-long study abroad opportunities in more than thirty countries; all Park students are welcome to apply. For more information, please contact the Office of Global Education and Study Abroad at (816) 584-6510.
Degree-seeking students enrolled in a study abroad program that is approved for credit by Park University are considered enrolled for the purpose of applying for assistance for federal financial aid.
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
Park University affords students the opportunity to complete the Army or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program while earning a baccalaureate degree. Completion of the four-year program leads to a commission as a second lieutenant in the active Army, Army Reserves, Army National Guard or the United States Air Force.
Cadets must meet military medical, fitness and weight standards prior to entrance into Advanced ROTC.
ROTC scholarships are also available to students who have excellent academic records as freshmen and sophomores, and who exhibit outstanding leadership potential in school or community activities. These scholarships, for two or three years, provide full tuition and fees reimbursement, a textbook and supplies allowance each semester and $150 per academic month to defray other living costs. In addition, Park University awards ROTC scholarship winners room and board remission at the Parkville Daytime Campus Center.
Prior military service in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps automatically waives the first two years (freshman and sophomore) of ROTC courses, and permits direct entrance into Advanced Military Science (junior and senior) courses.
Army ROTC Program Summary
Army ROTC is offered to Parkville Daytime Campus Center students by special arrangement. Park KC Area students in a full-time equivalent status may qualify and at Park Campus Centers where cross-town agreements have been established.
ROTC basic summer camp of six weeks may be substituted for the first two years of ROTC for community college graduates and students who do not complete basic ROTC courses in their first two years of college. Attendance at a five-week Summer ROTC Advanced Camp is required between junior and senior years.
Park University awards four semester hours of lower level electives for completion of Basic Military Science and six semester hours of upper level electives for completion of Advanced Military Science. These 10 hours may be applied toward the graduation elective requirement. There are no course fees; textbooks and uniforms are government-furnished.
Upon entering junior-level Advanced ROTC, cadets are contracted by the Army to accept a commission upon graduation with a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree and are paid $150 per month while a full-time student at Park University. In addition, cadets are paid approximately $700 plus room, board and transportation for attendance at Summer Camps.
Air Force ROTC Program Summary
Air Force ROTC Program/Aerospace Studies courses are offered only at Air Force Campus Centers offering AFROTC with cross-town agreements.
Most scholarships pay full college tuition and most laboratory, textbooks, and incidental fees, plus a $200-$400 monthly nontaxable allowance during the school year.
Aerospace Studies consists of the General Military course and the Professional Officer Course. The General Military Course is the first half of the four-year program and is taken during the freshman and sophomore years, giving the student an opportunity to “try out” Air Force ROTC for up to two years without incurring any obligations, unless the student has an ROTC scholarship. The General Military Course consists of four semesters of study with one hour of classroom work, two hours of leadership laboratory, and two hours of physical fitness training per week. The Professional Officer Course consists of four semesters of study and leads to a commission in the United States Air Force. Leadership and management skills as they apply to a junior officer in the Air Force are emphasized. Three classroom hours, two hours in leadership laboratory, and two hours of physical fitness training are required weekly. Students interested in this program leading to a commission should contact the Professor of Aerospace Studies at the participating cross-town institution.
Honors Academy
Academy Mission
The mission of the Honors Academy at Park University is to empower qualified students to apply critical thought in an exploration of academic excellence, service, and leadership, with a goal of employing those three essential elements as tools to help shape their local and global communities.
Program Description
The Honors Academy is a special program for which formal application is required. The Academy is open to undergraduate students from all disciplines. Incoming freshmen, current students, and transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 and an ACT score of at least 28 can apply for admission at: https://www.park.edu/academics/honors-academy/apply/. The Honors Academy seeks students who desire to learn not only for self-satisfaction, but also as a means through which they may contribute to their campus, city, national, and global communities in support of the University and Academy mission statements. The program is designed to challenge academically well prepared students while introducing and reinforcing the experiential learning outcomes Park University’s Literacies.
The three foci of the Academy, Service, Leadership, and Scholarship are explored through the curriculum:
Freshmen Year: Class Service Project
Sophomore Year: HN250, HN299
Junior Year: HN303, HN304
Honor Societies
Alpha Chi
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center only)
A chapter of Alpha Chi, a national honor society was established at Park University in 1987. The purpose of Alpha Chi is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among university studies and to honor those who achieve such distinction. Invitation to join the society is reserved for students within the top 10% of the junior and senior classes with a minimum of 3.80 GPA. The Parkville faculty votes on candidates meeting these criteria and selects the nominees. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs for further information.
Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the International Sociology Honor Society, will have a new chapter at Park University in Fall, 2007. AKD was founded in 1920 to provide a forum for student and faculty interchange and is dedicated to promoting, facilitating, and recognizing academic scholarship. Since its inception, over 80,000 scholars have been initiated into the Society and over 490 chapters have been chartered internationally.
Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL)
A chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society was established at Park University in 2010. It is the oldest and largest chapter based honor society for full and part time students with over 300 chartered chapters throughout the United States. For the nontraditional student, the Society is an inspiration for continuing scholastic growth and builds pride through recognition. At Park, the Pi Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda fosters university-wide appreciation for the academic achievements and contributions of students and faculty. As well, ASL helps recruit and retain nontraditional adult students. Invitations to join the Society is reserved for students within the top 10% of the senior class with a minimum of 24 earned Park hours, a grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and are actively involved in community service. For additional information contact Park Campus Centers and Online Learning for further information.
Beta Beta Beta
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in 1922, more than 175,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 430 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Delta Mu Delta
Founded in 1913, Delta Mu Delta (DMD) is the International Honor Society for business programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) at the baccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral levels. DMD recognizes and encourages academic excellence of students at qualifying universities to create a community that fosters the well-being of its individual members and the business community through lifetime membership.
Phi Alpha/Rho Epsilon
Phi Alpha, the national honors society in Social Work, was founded in 1960 and Park University’s chapter, Rho Epsilon, was founded in 2010. The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.
Phi Alpha Theta/Zeta Omicron
A professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among students and historians. We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.
Pi Gamma Mu
(International Honor Society in Social Science)
A Chapter of PI GAMMA MU, was established at Park in 1959. The society has as its primary objectives to encourage the study of social science among undergraduate students and faculty members in colleges and universities throughout the world, and to recognize outstanding achievement through election to membership and the presentation of various awards for distinguished achievement. Any Park University student of good moral character who is a junior or senior can be considered for nomination. A qualified student shall have at least twenty semester hours of social science with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and an overall GPA of 3.7; academically ranked in the upper 35 percent of his/her class; junior or senior status; and no record of academic failure in the social sciences. Contact the Social Science Department for further information.
Pi Lambda Theta
Founded in 1920, Pi Lambda Theta is the most selective national honor society of educators; a forum for exchanging and developing ideas, fostering individual leadership, and promoting professionalism. PLT also works on an international and regional basis, as well as hosts both regional and international conferences. It promotes service teaching and learning offering networking opportunities among members across the world. It is a prestigious honor to be accepted into its membership. PLT extends membership to students and professionals who satisfy academic eligibility requirements.
Pi Sigma Alpha
(Alpha Delta Upsilon Chapter)
Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States. Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1920 for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students currently enrolled in institutions where chapters are located.
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is an international honor society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology.
Sigma Alpha Pi
(National Society of Leadership & Success)
The purpose of Sigma Alpha Pi , The National Society of Leadership and Success, is to help individuals create the lives they desire by helping them discover what they truly want to do, and giving them the support, motivation, and skills to achieve their goals.
Sigma Delta Pi
(Spanish Honor Society)
Sigma Delta Pi, a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, is devoted to serving qualified students of Spanish in four-year colleges and universities. The Society provides access to Scholarship programs, annual undergraduate awards for summer study in Spain, Mexico and Ecuador, research grants for graduate students, and eligible students may apply for $500 merit-based scholarships and internships. All qualified students interested in Spanish and Hispanic cultures, literatures and the Spanish language are welcome to apply for active membership and to participate in the Society’s induction ceremony in the spring of each academic year. Contact the Department of English and Modern Languages for more information.
Sigma Tau Delta
(English Honor Society)
All students interested in writing and literature are invited to join an organization that sponsors charity events, hosts poetry and other creative writing contests, and engages in fundraising efforts to send students to the annual Sigma Tau Delta convention. While all members have associate membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the premier international English honor society, English majors and minors may apply for active membership in Sigma Tau Delta if they meet the honor society’s qualifications.
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