Undergraduate Certificate Programs

WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) awards undergraduate certificates in many specialized areas of academic, professional, and personal development. Undergraduate certificate programs are credit-bearing and vary in length and number of requirements. All coursework must be completed at CAPS. To receive an undergraduate certificate, learners must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher for all certificate courses taken. No course with a grade below C– will count toward an undergraduate certificate.

Learners may pursue an undergraduate certificate on a standalone basis or as a required part of a bachelor's degree — courses taken toward an undergraduate certificate program are applied to the CAPS Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies degree.* If a learner is pursuing a bachelor's degree and a certificate, overlap is allowed between the program of study and the certificate. If the certificate consists of 15 units or fewer, there should be at least 6 units unique to the certificate. For certificates of 16 units or more, there should be at least 9 units unique to the certificate. (An exception to this restriction applies to sequential programs of the same name, such as Clinical Research Management, in which case all certificate courses may apply to the next-level program.) If a learner is pursuing multiple certificate programs, overlap between certificates is allowed up to 9 units.

Please visit the individual certificate pages for more detailed information, requirements, and policies.

*

Exception: The Somatic Studies Certificate cannot be used for the BSIS degree requirement.

Admission to CAPS undergraduate certificate programs requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Newly admitted learners will complete reading and writing assessments to determine whether any foundational coursework, including mandatory English composition courses, in those areas is needed to ensure success in the chosen program of study.

• Applied GeoAI
• Business
• Business Writing
• Clinical Research Management
• Creative Writing
• Data Analytics
• Forensic Psychology
• Geographic Information Systems*
• Health Care Transitions
• Leadership and Organizational Development
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Somatic Studies (This certificate cannot be used for the BSIS degree requirement.)
• Strategic Communication
• Sustainability (This program has stopped accepting new students (as of Spring 2026).)

*

Denotes a certificate that is eligible for financial aid.

Regarding the Certificate Requirement for CAPS Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies Degrees

Learners planning to enroll in a BSIS degree program may request that the required certificate be waived if they can demonstrate substantial prior academic work or equivalent learning outcomes in the certificate's area of study. Waivers are intended to prevent duplication of learning while maintaining the academic integrity and learning objectives of the program.

Waiver Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a waiver, a learner must do the following:

1. Be formally admitted to the degree program or have completed all the requirements for formal admission to a degree program that includes the certificate requirement.
2. Provide at least two pieces of official documentation (e.g., transcripts, syllabi, course descriptions, or evidence of professional experience) showing completion of extensive coursework or proficiency in the relevant field (i.e., certificates, badges, or other credentials).
3. Demonstrate that prior coursework, learning outcomes, and/or professional experience are substantially equivalent to the content and competencies covered in the certificate program.
4. Have earned grades of B (3.0) or higher in the relevant coursework or can demonstrate equivalent mastery through professional experience or credentialing (if applicable).

Certificate waivers do not reduce the total credit units required for a degree, and no academic credit is awarded for waived certificate requirements. Learners must still complete substitute coursework or electives as determined by their Student Success Navigator.

1. The student must submit a Certificate Requirement Waiver Request Form along with supporting documentation, to CAPS. (Email caps@wustl.edu for a link to this form.)
2. CAPS will review the request to determine whether the prior course and/or professional work meets or exceeds the certificate's learning outcomes.
3. The Vice Dean or designated CAPS authority will make a decision and communicate it in writing to the student within 30 days of submission.
4. Approved waivers will be documented in the student’s academic record.

Notes:

• Certificate waivers will not be granted for capstone, practicum, or residency coursework unless explicitly approved by the Vice Dean.
• Students must still meet all institutional and program completion requirements.

​Reinstatement 

Undergraduate students who decide not to enroll continuously (from one term to the next) as full-time or part-time students will have a hold placed on their record or be discontinued from their program of study. 

• One semester of non-enrollment will result in a hold being placed on the student's record. They must connect with a Student Success Navigator to discuss re-enrollment options and request removal of the hold.
• Six continuous terms of non-enrollment (including summer) will result in the student being discontinued from their program of study. They must connect with a Student Success Navigator and apply for reinstatement to return to their program of study.   

For further reinstatement information, students should contact caps@wustl.edu. Students seeking reinstatement may be required to submit additional documentation to support their application for reinstatement.