Through The Tseng College, CSUN offers two types of certificate programs: graduate credit certificates and noncredit certificates.

Graduate Credit Certificate Programs

Graduate credit certificate programs offer CSUN academic credit, usually at the upper division or graduate level. These certificates are earned through a program of study comprising a minimum of five courses (i.e., 15 credit units). Members of CSUN’s faculty develop the curriculum for each Graduate Credit certificate program.

Noncredit Certificate Programs

The professional development courses offered in the certificate programs of The Tseng College earn "continuing education units" (CEUs) rather than university academic credits. Therefore, professional development courses are referred to internally (i.e., in the university's computer system) as "noncredit" courses.

CEUs are nationally recognized units for noncredit, postsecondary study, established by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training. Ten hours of instruction earn one CEU, so a 100-hour certificate program awards 10 CEUs. CEUs are particularly useful for employers, relicensure agencies and other authorities that require continuing professional education for advancement and certification.

Each certificate program offered by The Tseng College is designed to give participants the foundation knowledge and skills needed to enter or advance in an area of career specialization. Tseng College certificate programs focus on specified learning goals, and courses are structured to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills essential to effective practice in the field.

Tseng College certificate programs are distinctive in the following ways:

Our courses are graded: Only those who earn an overall grade-point average of 2.7 (B-) or above qualify for The Tseng College Certificate in Advanced Professional Development. This requirement ensures that our certificate program graduates have indeed gained and demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities that are specified for each program – an important consideration for employers.
Our grades are transcripted: Grades earned in certificate program courses become part of each student's permanent record at CSUN. Moreover, transcripts that show certificate program performance together with any other academic achievements at the university are available to students and graduates upon request throughout their lives – a valuable and enduring benefit for both individuals and employers.
Our programs are regularly updated and refined: The Tseng College program development team reviews and revises certificate program content on an ongoing basis to ensure that participants receive the best in recent scholarship and preparation for professional practice in the field.
Students can take individual courses without enrolling in the certificate program.: While the majority of students in our certificate program courses are pursuing certificates, many individuals choose to take only two or three courses in their areas of interest.