Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

College Teaching and Learning Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, MCRT


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Program Coordinator: Dr. Susan Faircloth

The Post-Baccalaureate Professional Certificate in College Teaching and Learning is designed to enhance the teaching competencies of education professionals who see to effectively develop, implement, manage, and evaluate post-secondary learning environments. Grounded in the latest educational research of best practices in college teaching, the program provides graduate students (from any discipline), community college instructors, adjunct, and full-time faculty at four-year institutions the opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge to create engaging learning environments.

The College Teaching and Learning Certificate program will provide participants with a variety of diverse learning opportunities and hands-on experiences. Participants will learn about the principles of adult learning and best practices for engaging this unique cohort of students, effective course design, assessment strategies, and a variety of instructional design methods. The program is designed to be flexible in order to remain current with the changing landscape of higher education.

Certificate Program Objectives


Upon completing the College Teaching and Learning Certificate program, participants will be able to:

  1. Develop student outcomes that are realistic, measurable, and valuable.
  2. Develop curriculum, classroom activities, and learning experiences that enable students to achieve identified learning outcomes.
  3. Apply effective curriculum models, instructional practices, and delivery formats for post-secondary students in a variety of learning experiences.
  4. Develop and apply the knowledge and skills of designing, developing, delivering, and evaluating post-secondary learning environments and programs that are accessible for individuals with disabilities and are responsive to learners’ diversity and cultural differences.
  5. Use critical thinking, appropriate technology, and problem solving skills to foster creativity and innovation in post-secondary education.
  6. Utilize data and findings from assessments and other data sources to modify instructional methods and content to enhance student learning in a variety of learning environments.

 

Admission Requirements


The minimum admission standards for candidates for the College Teaching and Learning Certificate program are one or more of the following:

  • A master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in this country, or its equivalent in a foreign institution, Or
  • Be currently enrolled in a master’s program, Or
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree and currently teaching in a community college or four-year institution, Or
  • Other circumstances acceptable to the chair or program coordinator

To apply for admission to the graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Learning program the candidate must submit the following:

  1. An application for graduate admission. Students currently enrolled in a graduate program may elect to take some or all of the courses in the Certificate Program (all courses must be taken and passed with no less than a grade of C in all courses to receive the Certificate).
  2. Official transcripts of all prior university or college coursework (undergraduate and graduate).
  3. Professional resume and personal statement delineating professional background, future goals, and how obtaining the Certificate in College Teaching and Learning helps in meeting stated goals.
  4. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Individuals who do not meet all of the criteria may be admitted by the recommendation of the chair or program coordinator and if other factors indicate potential for success. The courses in this certificate program are all project-based with individual and team collaboration. Current university faculty work closely with students to facilitate the hands-on design of the practicum component of the curriculum. These factors facilitate the successful completion of the program in a timely manner.

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 Doctorate 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 Certificate in College Teaching and Learning is not a substitute for any of the above noted educational requirements.

Policies Governing Certificate Admission Criteria and Subsequent Admission to Graduate Degree Programs


The certificate admission criteria and policies governing the relation of certificates to graduate degree programs include the following:

  1. Students who are currently enrolled (not admitted) in the Graduate School and who wish to pursue the certificate program must apply for admission to the program before 10 credit hours are completed.
  2. No transfer credit from another institution will be counted toward the completion of the certificate program with the exception of courses offered as part of an agreement between the certificate program and collaborating institutions.
  3. A certificate graduate student may enroll on either a part-time or a full-time basis.
     

Certificate Requirements (12 credit hours)


The program requires a minimum of 12 credit hours. The following courses have to be completed before the elective courses can be taken.
Students must complete:

 

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