Academic units may propose clusters of three to five courses which enable Ph.D. candidates to acquire interdisciplinary training extending beyond the doctoral program in which they are enrolled. Such proposals will be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council. Students’ enrollment in such programs and their progress in meeting requirements will be overseen by the academic unit. Successful completion of this coursework (and any associated capstone or other required learning component) will be recognized on the transcript with a notation indicating the field of advanced study. Although approved programs may be informally described as “certificates,” no separate document will be awarded by the Registrar.

Graduate certificates offer opportunities to address interdisciplinary or specialized educational goals and to respond quickly to emerging scholarly and professional areas. Students must be doctoral students currently enrolled in a Brown degree program.

Proposals for doctoral certificates originate at the academic unit and are submitted to the Graduate Council for consideration. Doctoral certificate programs requiring significant new resources may have to be approved by the Academic Priorities Committee.