Educational Studies: Teach Your Career/Community College Teaching

This certificate is designed to address the teacher shortage in qualified Career Education instructors in the community college and to involve an untapped resource: career professionals who would like to acquire the skills to enable them to teach their career. The certificate represents a response to Strong Work Force recommendations, focusing on increasing Increase the pool of qualified Career Education instructors, based on the conclusion that there is an urgent need for Career Education programs to have more flexibility in hiring industry experts by expanding equivalency processes and definitions.

Developed for future community college Career Education instructors who may not meet the existing college hiring standard but possess significant industry experience, this pathway to classroom teaching is based on the idea that oftentimes professionals in the industry are highly skilled in their area of expertise, but lack a Master’s Degree. These same professionals frequently possess extensive industry experience, third-party industry certifications, and completion of applicable training that meets designated equivalency criteria.

The certificate is especially or students who prefer online classes and/or cannot always attend traditional face-to-face classes due to employment, marital status, family responsibilities, distance, and expenses incurred with traditional education schedules. All certificate classes are online.

Especially appropriate for students with an AA and six years of professional experience (or in the process of earning an AA) OR Bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience or students who possess a combination of education and experience that is at least equivalent to the above.

Possible employment/ illustrative examples: teaching job, community college for an adult with an AA and at least 6 years of professional experience or a BA with two years of professional experience; other teaching areas where traditional credential requirements are waived for experience; tutor; homework “helper”, curriculum developer in area of expertise; camp counselor; outdoor education specialist, depending on area of expertise.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Apply knowledge, skills, experience, and feedback to make an informed choice to be employed or to continue study in the field of education
2. Upon successful completion of certificate courses, students will be able to document knowledge and skills relevant to effective teaching in a Career Education community college classroom by applying the principles of sound instructional techniques and culturally responsive teaching, evaluating student performance, and demonstrating appropriate teaching styles and modalities for diverse student populations.

Requirements

Review Graduation Requirements.