Have questions about applying to, enrolling in, or completing an Otis College Extension Certificate Program? Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common inquiries from prospective and current students. From application timelines and program formats to advising, policies, and completion requirements, this section is designed to help you navigate every step of your certificate journey.
Students are notified of their certificate application results three times per year. Please review the "Eligibility and Requirements" section of the certificate page that you are interested in for specific dates.
Yes, students can complete all certificates remotely through our online course options.
If you have general questions regarding Otis Extension courses, please contact the Otis Extension office at 310-665-6850 or extension@otis.edu.
If you would like information about an Otis Extension certificate program, or are an existing certificate student seeking advising, you may email certificates@otis.edu or make an appointment with an Otis Extension counselor here.
Otis College Extension is unable to issue an I-20, which allows international students to secure their F-1 Student Visa.
If a student is already here in the US and has a visa that allows them to study in the US, we would be happy to have them take part in the program.
For example, if a student has an active I-20 (and F-1 visa) from an Otis BFA/MFA programs or any other school, they can enroll in and take those classes for college or certificate credit with approval from the school that issued the I-20. If a student is interested in the four-year bachelor’s degree program, please reach out to admissions@otis.edu for more information about the BFA program and application process.
For online courses, since students are not required to be in the U.S. or on campus they can take them without an I-20 and visa. But if they take any amount of on campus classes they will need to have a visa that allows them to study in the U.S.
If you are a certificate student and would like to request an independent study or final portfolio class, please complete the Independent Study / Final Portfolio Request form.
Independent study courses are created to ensure that certificate students can stay on track with their program progress. We do not guarantee the approval of any independent study request. Please review the guidelines outlined on the form before submitting your request.
Certificate students who wish to waive a required course(s) may submit materials here for evaluation. Students will be notified of the evaluation results in 7-10 business days.
Please review the Certificate Course Waive Policy in advance of requesting an evaluation. In the event that a course is waived, it must be replaced by an elective to ensure that the prescribed number of courses have been satisfied at Otis College.
Upon completion of all required courses, please complete the Petition for Certificate Completion form.
Petitions will be reviewed by the department according to the following timelines:
- Submit your petition by December 15 to receive my certificate by June 15
- Submit your petition by June 15 to receive my certificate by December 15
To request an unofficial transcript, please email extension@otis.edu. Please be aware that unofficial transcripts typically take 3-5 business days to process. To request an official transcript, visit this transcript link.
We do not offer any certificates that can be completed entirely on campus. While many of our courses are offered on-campus and online, each certificate contains courses that are only offered online.
Our certificate programs do not qualify for federal financial aid.
All certificate students receive a 15% tuition discount upon acceptance into the certificate program. This discount can be applied to all certificate courses and specific short courses and workshops.