Graduate Certificate Admissions

The online graduate certificate programs in Shelter Medicine and Animal Shelter Leadership are designed for students and professionals seeking focused graduate-level education in shelter medicine, animal welfare, and shelter operations without completing a full master’s degree.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must hold either:

  • a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the University of Florida Graduate School, or
  • a DVM or VMD degree from a veterinary college recognized by the University of Florida Graduate School

International degrees must be considered equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree.

A list of acceptable accreditations is available here: UF Graduate School Accreditation Information

Applicants from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Minimum GPA Requirements

Applicants to the graduate certificate programs are expected to have a minimum 2.0 upper-division undergraduate GPA.

To calculate an upper-division GPA, please use the Upper-Division GPA Worksheet.

International Applicants

Additional requirements apply for international applicants and applicants whose native language is not English, including English proficiency documentation and transcript evaluation requirements.

View UF Graduate School International Admissions Requirements

How to Apply

View the Graduate Certificate Application Instructions for detailed application steps, required materials, and transcript submission instructions.