In July 2022, the University of Washington’s Graduate School approved revisions to Graduate School policy Memo 43: Graduate Certificates after a tri-campus feedback process and Graduate School Council faculty approval. The revision allows for a new “stacked” graduate degree policy (Memo 50: The Stacked Graduate Degree) used by other programs, but we are particularly excited for these changes because they will help reduce barriers for all graduate students supplementing their home degrees (Masters or PhD) with a graduate certificate.
Previously, only a maximum of six credits could be shared between the home degree and the graduate certificate. This limitation has been eliminated, which allows for students to complete their studies in a more efficient way, saving time and tuition.
The interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Textual Studies is great for students thinking about further studies and careers in editing and publishing, libraries and archives, and in contexts where working with cultural and literary materials in archival or digital formats will be paramount. Past certificate recipients have included students in Art History, Asian Languages & Literature, Comparative Literature, Drama, English, French Studies, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, the Information School, International Studies, and Scandinavian Languages & Literature. We’re pleased this policy change will make the certificate more accessible to graduate students!