Instructional Technology Specialist, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Daisyane Barreto

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Instructional Technology Specialist addresses the needs of K-12 teachers, as well as instructional technology specialists, community college faculty/staff, and individuals interested in advancing their career opportunities. The certificate program serves individuals who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in design, development, implementation and management of technology training and various instructional materials, web-based instruction, virtual learning communities, graphic production, multimedia production, and others. The program uses an online delivery system for the majority of courses. Some courses may require real-time virtual or face-to-face meetings to provide hands-on activities for production purposes or to offer site visitations.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Instructional Technology Specialist certificate program must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in this country or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program and have a strong overall academic record with a “B” average or better in the basic courses required in the proposed certificate program. Applicants are required to submit the following to the Graduate School Admissions Office:

Graduate School Application
Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
A letter describing educational and professional experiences, reasons for pursuing the certificate, and the contributions that the student hopes to make after completing the program
International students: TOEFL: score of 550 or higher. TOEFL scores are good for two years from the date the test is administered.
Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Applicants who plan to study for Special Endorsement in Computer in Education must currently have (or be eligible for) a North Carolina teaching license. Students may transfer up to nine semester hours as a non-degree student at UNCW toward the M.S. in instructional technology program.

Prerequisites

Students entering the certificate program must demonstrate basic technology skills. Students entering the program with very little or no computing experience will be required to take EDN 303 - Instructional Technology, or pass the performance competencies test for EDN 303.

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:

Graduate students currently admitted and enrolled in a graduate degree program may simultaneously pursue the certificate program if approved by the graduate program coordinator and the certificate program coordinator. No other application is necessary.
Students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate School who wish to pursue the certificate program must apply for admission to the program before one-half of the required credits are completed.
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.
A certificate graduate student may enroll on either a part-time or a full-time basis. Certificate graduate students enrolled as non-degree students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships nor will they be eligible for financial aid through the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.

Degree Requirements (18 total credit hours)

The certificate program requires completion of 18 credit hours of graduate level courses. Students must complete the following:

Core requirements

MIT 500 - Instructional Systems Design: Theory and Research Credit Hours: 3
MIT 511 - Multimedia Design and Development Credit Hours: 3

Approved elective courses: Must complete 12 hours to be chosen from the following:

MIT 502 - The Systematic Approach to Performance Improvement Credit Hours: 3
MIT 512 - Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning Credit Hours: 3
MIT 513 - Computer-based Instruction Credit Hours: 3 (3 credits required)
MIT 514 - Foundations of Distance Education Credit Hours: 3 (3 credits required)
MIT 515 - Web Teaching: Design and Development Credit Hours: 3
MIT 520 - Managing Instructional Development Credit Hours: 3
MIT 522 - Organization and Management of Instructional Technology Programs Credit Hours: 3
MIT 542 - Internship Credit Hours: 3

Special Endorsement in Computers in Education

Applicants who plan to apply for Special Endorsement in Computers in Education must take the following courses that meet ISTE standards.

Required courses: Must complete the following 15 credit hours

MIT 500 - Instructional Systems Design: Theory and Research Credit Hours: 3
MIT 511 - Multimedia Design and Development Credit Hours: 3
MIT 512 - Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning Credit Hours: 3
MIT 522 - Organization and Management of Instructional Technology Programs Credit Hours: 3
MIT 542 - Internship Credit Hours: 3

Must complete one of the following three credit hour courses

MIT 513 - Computer-based Instruction Credit Hours: 3 (3 credits required)
MIT 514 - Foundations of Distance Education Credit Hours: 3 (3 credits required)
MIT 515 - Web Teaching: Design and Development Credit Hours: 3 (3 credits required)

Additional Information

Note that credit for courses taken in the certificate program are part of the approved coursework of the Master of Science in Instructional Technology (MIT) program.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Instructional Technology Specialist, the candidate should be able to:

Have developed knowledge of computer utilization practices and the ability to apply them in instructional settings.
Have developed conceptual and practical understanding of principles of instructional design and development.
Demonstrate skills in instructional design processes.
Have developed production skills in the development of Web-based resources and distance education programs.
Provide leadership to educational environments and facilitate planning and implementation of instructional technology innovations.
Demonstrate skills in multimedia development.
Display sensitivity and awareness of various organizational, ethical, cultural, and pedagogical issues related to utilization of media/emerging technology.