College Teaching, Graduate Certificate

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 15 hours

Note: This program is offered through Global Campus only.

The Graduate Certificate in College Teaching is designed to prepare students for a faculty teaching career in post-secondary education. The 15-credit hour certificate is intended for graduate students who desire preparation and training in the area of college teaching. Courses eligible for the certificate program include an assortment of topics relevant to teaching in higher education such as student learning theory, student learning objectives, assessment, course design, high impact teaching practices, understanding diverse student learners, classroom teaching theory and strategies, online/hybrid or distance education, and the professoriate. Students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching will take 15 credit hours, selected with their advisor from the courses listed below.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

• Undergraduate degree with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution.
• Master's degree in student's teaching-related discipline with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or current enrollment in a master's degree program .
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools you have attended.
• Current resumé identifying training, experience, and professional accomplishments.
• A one-page personal statement addressing 1) what courses or discipline you intend to teach; 2) your interest in pursuing the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching as it relates to your professional goals .
• Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to Graduate Studies.

All Graduate Certificate in College Teaching (GCCT) students are first granted conditional admission to the program. After students have completed six credit hours of the GCCT program at Central Michigan University with a B+ or better grade in each course, they may be reclassified for regular admission. Students who fail to earn a B+ or higher in their first six credits may be dismissed from the program.

Students may utilize certificate courses (a maximum of six (6) semester credits) to meet program requirements for other degrees, allowing for a concurrent awarding of both a degree and an earned certificate. Students must be accepted into both a degree program and the certificate option to obtain both options and work with their advisor to determine appropriate courses and eligibility. Students may also enroll in the certificate option alone. Students must receive a B+ or better in their first six (6) hours to remain in the program.

A Master's degree is required for admission into the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching unless one is not offered in your field. Applicants must then provide evidence of disciplinary content knowledge and expertise suitable to being hired to teach at the community college level in their chosen field or discipline. The department of Educational Leadership will be responsible for the final determination of evidence suitability for waiving the Master's degree requirement.

Individuals interested in teaching and in post-secondary education settings should know that to be eligible to teach at a community college, they must first earn a master's degree in an academic discipline and have completed a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in each discipline that they hope to teach. Individuals hoping to teach at a four-year institution typically must earn at least a master's degree to teach undergraduate students and a doctoral degree to teach graduate students. In addition, some professional programs at a four-year institution require 18 graduate credit hours in the academic discipline. This Graduate Certificate in College Teaching is not a substitute for any of the above noted educational requirements.

Program Requirements

Required Courses (15 hours)

Select from the following:

EDL 677	The American College Student	3(3-0)
EDL 680	Foundation of Teaching in Higher Education Settings	3(3-0)
EDL 681	Teaching with Technology in Higher Education Settings	3(3-0)
EDL 682	Course Design and Assessment in Higher Education Settings	3(3-0)
EDL 685	High-Impact Teaching Practices in Higher Education Settings	3(3-0)
EDL 697	College Teaching Internship	1-6(Spec)
EDL 763	The Academic Profession	3(3-0)

Total: 15 semester hours