The Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) is a terminal degree for education professionals beyond the master’s degree. It should not be taken by students who plan to pursue a doctorate at a later date. Credit earned for an awarded C.A.S. degree cannot be applied toward a doctorate degree. The Certificate of Advanced Study is offered on-campus and online.

Program Plan

Upon admission to a Certificate of Advanced Study program, each student is assigned an academic advisor. Using a C.A.S. Degree Program Plan form, the student and advisor plan a program of study to meet the student’s individual goals and general degree requirements. A copy of the student’s program, signed by the advisor, must be filed with the Graduate Student Services Office during the first semester of registration.

Time Limits

Graduate students and advisors should be guided by the Graduate College policy on C.A.S. degree time limits.  If a time extension is desired, it may be requested by completing a Graduate Student Petition, including an Academic Progress Plan. These petitions are considered and acted upon by the student’s advisor, the department, and the Graduate College. Each individual who has the authority to act on the petition may either approve or deny the petition.

Course Requirements for C.A.S. Students

All students admitted to a Certificate of Advanced Study degree program must fulfill Graduate College requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Study degree, departmental requirements, and the following College of Education minimum requirements on the Urbana campus or through Urbana off-campus or online courses:

Students who have completed a master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign must fulfill the following minimum requirements:

1. The entire program must be planned in advance and must be preceded by at least two years of acceptable professional work experience. The C.A.S. Degree Program Plan form must be completed and filed with the Graduate Student Services Office.
2. Thirty-two or more hours in approved coursework must be taken beyond the master’s degree.
   1. Sixteen of these 32 hours must be taken at the 500-level.
   2. 595 Independent Study can be applied up to a maximum amount of eight hours.

Students who have completed a master’s degree at another institution other than the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign must also fulfill the following minimum requirements:

• Completion of 32 hours including 8 hours of foundations coursework:
  • 4 hours: Psychological Foundations coursework in Educational Psychology:
    EPSY 400, 401, 402, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 430, 485, 490, 553
  • 4 hours: Philosophical and Social Foundations coursework in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership
    EPOL 401, 402, 403, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 412, 413, 480
  • Note: EPS courses have changed to an EPOL rubric. See the EPOL foundations crosswalk for specific foundations courses.

In addition to the specific requirements stated above, individual programs in the College of Education may require additional courses to complete the student’s degree program.