CS Certificate FAQs
What CS certificate concentrations are available?
Please visit our CS Certificate page for details. Admission to a certificate program is not a guarantee of future admission to the MCS degree program.
How many credit hours are required for completion of a CS certificate?
Each CS certificate requires the completion of 12 credit hours (three courses).
What are the certificate application deadlines?
Fall Semester: June 30
Spring Semester: October 30
Summer Semester: March 1
What are the requirements for admission to the certificate program?
Applicants to the certificate program must have been awarded a 4-year bachelors degree equivalent to that granted by the University of Illinois (GPA 3.0/4.0 minimum).
What materials must I submit to be considered for the certificate program?
Applicants must submit the application form and official copies of transcripts of all completed university course work. The application form can be found on our CS Certificates page and all materials should be mailed to the CS department:
I2CS Certificate Program
Computer Science Department Academic Office
1210 Siebel Center
201 N. Goodwin
Urbana, IL 61801
How much is the certificate application fee?
There is no application fee for the computer science certificate program.
Do I need to submit GRE scores? How about the TOEFL?
Neither the GRE nor TOEFL scores are required.
Can I transfer credit from another University into the CS certificate?
No.
Can I complete a certificate and then use it toward the MCS degree?
Yes. The 12 credit hours taken as part of a computer science certificate will count toward the MCS degree if admitted. If you complete the entire computer science certificate prior to being admitted to the degree, and choose to apply these 12 credit hours to the MCS degree, you have reached the transfer limit and may not apply any credit from other Universities toward the MCS degree.
If I am admitted to the MCS degree prior to completing the computer science certificate, can I still earn the certificate?
Yes. You will need to contact the CS department to inform them that you are still interested in receiving the certificate even though you have been admitted to the MCS degree.