Advanced Graduate Study, Graduate Certificate

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) program is an 18-hour course of study beyond the master’s degree that allows students to pursue advanced studies in the liberal arts in a focused and disciplined manner. The certificate program encourages in-depth study of a core topic while drawing upon various disciplines to provide a broad understanding of the subject.

With the guidance of an adviser, students select a topic and design a program of study consisting of courses from the M.L.S. program curriculum, departmentally based graduate courses and independent study. A student’s course of study may conclude with a research paper or creative project.

Academic Requirements

The course of study as detailed in this catalog must be completed within four years, and students must maintain a 3.000 GPA throughout the program. The curriculum of 18 credit hours is drawn from

• The M.L.S. program course offerings.
• A maximum of three credit hours in approved departmentally based graduate courses.
• A maximum of three credit hours of independent study.
• An optional three-credit-hour capstone project.

Admission Requirements

The CAGS program is designed for applicants who have already completed a Master’s degree with a GPA of 3.00 (preferred) but wish to pursue additional graduate work in the form of advanced integrated and interdisciplinary, humanities-based study. The completed online application for admission must be accompanied by:

1. A 750-word draft proposal that identifies the student’s interest area, purposes for advanced study, previous study or background knowledge of the topic, and a tentative course of study. This document is used by the program director and faculty/program chair to determine whether the student’s study proposal is appropriate for the program.
2. Official transcripts from SMU’s M.L.S. program or another graduate program.
3. Application fee.