About the Personal Financial Planning Graduate Certificates
The director of each certificate, in consultation with the director of graduate studies, will develop and specify a program of study appropriate for each student. If students decide to pursue studies beyond the certificate level, course credit earned toward the certificate can be considered toward a graduate degree.
Graduate certificates are intended to meet the supplemental post-baccalaureate education needs of professionals. A graduate certificate program is a set of courses that provides in-depth knowledge in a subject matter. The set of courses provides a coherent knowledge base.
A student applying for a graduate certificate program will be admitted with a “GCRT” designation. To take any graduate course, all prerequisite courses (including undergraduate courses) must be taken and necessary background obtained before attempting the course. A student will be required to have a baccalaureate degree to start a graduate certificate program. There is only one exception to having a baccalaureate degree. If an undergraduate student from Texas Tech University has a 3.0 GPA or better and is within 12 hours of completion of a baccalaureate degree, the student may start taking graduate courses toward a graduate certificate. The student must have a baccalaureate degree to receive a graduate certificate.
Graduate credits earned while the student is enrolled in a graduate certificate program may not be applied toward a graduate degree unless the student enrolls as a fully accredited graduate student. After fulfilling all other admission requirements, a student may use the courses taken for a graduate certificate degree if the courses fulfill the requirements of the program of study for the degree.
Graduate students may pursue a graduate certificate that is outside their graduate program of study. No more than one transfer course (if approved by the advisor of the graduate certificate program and the Graduate School) will be allowed for a graduate certificate program. If a graduate student is in good standing and dropping out of the graduate program, the student may receive a graduate certificate if the necessary courses have been taken. To receive a graduate certificate, a student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better. No grade lower than a C will be accepted.
About the Charitable Financial Planning Graduate Certificate Program
The 12-hour Graduate Certificate in Charitable Financial Planning is intended for those who wish to develop a specialty in the area of planned giving, including complex techniques involving private foundations, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, donor advised funds, life insurance, and remainder interests. Students also will review and discuss the latest academic research on charitable giving motivations and fundraising strategies.
Contact: Dr. Russell James, 806.834.5130, russell.james@ttu.edu
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