This page describes the purpose and requirements for obtaining the Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology from the Center for the Study of Cognitive Archaeology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). These procedures are governed by the policy requirements of the UCCS College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS).

Quick links:

• Purpose
• Certificate Outline and Requirements
• Certificate Administration
• Applications
• Exit Process

Courses required for the certificate may be applied to degree programs as determined by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy for students meeting all requirements for regular admission to those programs.

This page UCCS students seeking to complete the certificate may seek financial aid, with eligibility to be governed by existing requirements.

At the completion of certificate requirements and degree requirements, notation of certificate completion shall be added to student transcripts.

Purpose

This document specifies the procedures for obtaining the Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology from the Center for Cognitive Archaeology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). These procedures will be governed by the policy requirements of the UCCS College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS) and the UCCS Graduate School.

1. The Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology provides students at UCCS and throughout the world the opportunity to study the evolutionary development of cognition in humans, early hominins, and non-human primates through a variety of courses offered by the UCCS Departments of Psychology, Anthropology, and Philosophy. Cognitive archaeology is a relatively new multidisciplinary field that applies and integrates concepts from the more traditional fields of cognitive psychology, cognitive neurosciences, neuropsychology, anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and philosophy. Cognitive archaeology considers the origins and adaptive evolutionary purposes of cognitive processes and capabilities such as concept formation, spatial cognition, social cognition, language, symbolic structures, and working memory.
2. At the present time, this certificate is unique. By offering a Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology, UCCS is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of this educational opportunity, both nationally and internationally.
3. By offering the certificate through courses taught on campus and online, UCCS is able to market the certificate to students throughout the world. This educational opportunity is invaluable to students majoring in a variety of disciplines, including psychology, anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, cognitive studies, and interdisciplinary studies.
4. The certificate will not constitute a formal credential for gainful employment.  It is intended only as recognition of a particular course of study.

Certificate Outline and Requirements

The certificate may be awarded at the master’s and doctoral levels upon completion of twelve credit hours (total) in specified core and elective courses offered by the UCCS Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy.

Students shall complete twelve credit hours at the 5000 level, covering the following core and elective courses:

Certificate Administration

1. Policy and program administration for the certificate shall fall under the purview of the Center for the Study of Cognitive Archaeology at UCCS.
2. Students accepted into the certificate program shall maintain a 3.00 GPA once graduate courses are started.
3. Courses required for the certificate may be applied to degree programs as determined by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy for students meeting all requirements for regular admission to those programs.
4. Students seeking to complete the certificate may not seek financial aid tied specifically to this certificate program (financial aid linked to students’ regular degree programs will be unaffected, with eligibility to be governed by existing requirements).
5. At the completion of certificate requirements (all students) notation of certificate completion shall be added to student transcripts. The Center will send a memo to Admissions and Records to let them know a student has completed the certificate. The Center may inform the department of a degree-seeking student about completion of the certificate.

Applications

Admission to the certificate program shall comply with all requirements set by the UCCS Graduate School. As a minimum, students shall:

1. Have an undergraduate degree (for entry into a master’s program) or a master’s degree (for entry into a doctoral program) from an accredited institution.
2. Have a grade point average (GPA) that satisfies one of the following criteria:
   • An undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.
   • Completed 15 semester hours of relevant graduate course work at an accredited university with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
3. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Allow four weeks for response. Applications should include the following:Once notified of acceptance in the certificate program, students shall apply to the UCCS Extended Studies Program through the Extended Studies Admissions Process Web site.
   • Completed admission application form;
   • Personal statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing interest in the program (i.e., objectives and goals for enrolling in the program, whether the certificate relates to current or future work plans, previous work or volunteer activities  relevant to the certificate, educational background and experience as it relates to this certificate program);
   • Current resume or curriculum vita;
   • Official transcript(s) of previous education, with minimum 3.00 GPA

Exit Process

The certificate shall be awarded (and notation of the student’s transcript initiated) upon satisfaction of all requirements. Allow four weeks for transcript annotation and certificate mailing.

1. Completion of courses required for the certificate (twelve 5000-level credits, including two core and two elective courses);
2. Portfolio for review, consisting of one sample of written work from each class;
3. Completed evaluation and suggestions for program development.

Letters of application, inquiries, and portfolios should be sent to:

Thomas Wynn
Certificate Program Director
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Center for Studies in Cognitive Archaeology
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918