What is the difference between a certificate, diploma and a degree?
Typically, in the college/university system, a “certificate” program consists of thirty or more academic credits. One academic “credit” usually equals fourteen hours of classroom instruction, and college/university courses are usually three credits each. In most colleges/universities, it takes two semesters, with a full load of five courses each semester, to complete a certificate program. Depending on the college/university and the program of study involved, the actual number of credits required to complete a certificate or a diploma may vary greatly. A diploma usually requires around sixty academic credits to complete, while a degree normally requires one hundred-twenty credits to complete. The 2-year Law Enforcement Studies Diploma Program is comprised of 60 credits with 840 hours of course work.
