Minimum Requirements for Admission to the Certificate Program

To be accepted for admission into the program, a student must present the following credentials:

1.    A baccalaureate degree in computer and/or electrical engineering or a closely related field from a regionally-accredit institution of higher education
2.    A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
3.    An application for graduate admission, accompanied by an application fee
4.    Professional resume
5.    Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
6.    A two-page statement of purpose

International students are required to have a TOEFL test score greater than 550 (computer-based 213; Internet-based 79). Students without sufficient background may still be accepted provided their undergraduate coursework included math and physics topics typical in undergraduate engineering or science programs, as well as fundamentals of electricity and electronics. However, they may need to complete up to 11 hours of foundational coursework.

Student-At-Large Status

A student-at-large is not a degree candidate. In order to be admitted as a student-at-large, the applicant must submit official documentation of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally­ accredited institution of higher education and complete a modified application form. The decision to admit an at-large student to graduate courses belongs to the Graduate Program Director, whose decision is based on an evaluation of the applicant's undergraduate coursework and possibly an interview. However, should the student decide to apply for full admission status at a later time, but within five years of course completion, only a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate coursework completed as a student-at-large can be applied toward the certificate and only courses with grades of B or better will count toward the certificate.

Transfer Admission Procedures

Students may apply up to three semester hours of graduate-level work from other regionally-accredited institutions to their certificate program. The following conditions apply to the acceptance of transfer credit:

1. Only one course with a grade of B or better will be accepted
2. Coursework must have been completed at a regionally­ accredited graduate school
3. Appropriateness of coursework will be decided by the Graduate Program Director at the time of the student's application to the program
4. Courses from outside the United States will be considered if they are evaluated as graduate level by the Office of Admission or the Commission on Accreditation of the American Council on Education
5. Transferred credit may not exceed three semester hours in any case
6. Credit for prior learning is not awarded for graduate programs

Certificate Requirements

1. A student must earn a minimum of 18 credit hours, but may need to earn up to 26 credit hours depending upon whether the student must take foundation courses. The foundation coursework consists of 11 credit hours, but may be waived for students with sufficient background. If a student is waived from the foundation coursework an additional elective course must be taken to meet the minimum 18 credit hours. This elective course can be chosen out of any of the courses that are part of the M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering requirements that are not already required for the chosen certificate.
2. Successful completion of all required courses, including at least 18 credit hours at Lewis University. No more than three credit hours in graduate coursework may be transferred in from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education.
3. Achievement of an overall GPA of 3.0 in all courses taken at Lewis University included in the certificate program.
4. A grade of C- or lower in any course(s) listed below will not apply to the certificate.