This program is designed for students, scholars, professionals, and newcomers to the area interested in gaining sophisticated knowledge of the region and of the analyses and interpretations of the region by scholars and writers. This certification will be useful to regional citizens and professionals working in community and regional services, including government, business, travel and tourism, and cultural programming. It is designed to enhance the ability to work in a professional and culturally informed way in addressing local and regional issues, deepen understanding of and adjustment to the region in which candidates live and work, and refine skills at conducting research on a wide range of topics. For educators, this program will facilitate the integration of Appalachian Studies components in their curricula (elementary, secondary, and higher education).

• Appalachian Studies now offers an online Graduate Certificate.

Admissions Criteria:

• Completion of Graduate Certificate Application.
• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution; 3.0 undergraduate GPA; 500 on the Verbal portion of the GRE; 3.5 on the Writing portion of the GRE.
• Applicants who already have earned a graduate degree or who have been accepted into another graduate program at Appalachian are not required to retake the GRE.
• Consideration will be given to alternate credentials based on substantial documented work experience in related fields. Applicants may be asked to submit a resume and statement of purpose.
• This 18 hour interdisciplinary program is grounded in the social sciences and humanities, and is designed to provide candidates with in-depth exposure to regional scholarship, research resources, and appropriate methods of inquiry. The program allows some flexibility in direction of study.

Hours: 18 semester hours

1. An appropriate research methods course, chosen in consultation with the certificate program director (3 semester hours) e.g. AS 5000 Bibliography and Research
• ANT 5410 Qualitative Research Methods or equivalent
2. Choose 4 courses from at least 3 departments (12 semester hours)
• ANT 5120, Appalachian Culture and Social Organization
• BIO 5508: Biogeography
• ENG 5710, Advanced Folklore
• ENG 5720, Appalachian Literature
• HIS 5208, Seminar in Appalachian History
• REL 5400, Religion in Appalachia
• PS 5130, Appalachian Political Perspectives
• SOC 5300, Appalachia in Social Context
3. An elective course chosen in consultation with the certificate program director (3 semester hours)

A few things to keep in mind:

• Graduate certificates are not graduate degrees. They demonstrate a student's concentrated study of a subject, but are not degrees.
• Certificate students are not eligible for scholarships, fellowships, or assistantships.
• Certificate students are not eligible for Academic Common Market.
• If you must take the GRE, please allow one month from the time you take the exam for your scores to be reported to ASU's Graduate School.
• Admission to the certificate program does not guarantee admission to the MA program.