Please note: Graduate Certificates of Achievement are available to graduate-level students only.

Classroom Behavior Management

Courses cover advanced topics related to classroom behavior management, including the science behind behavior management for special education students and attachment theory. Considering the result of relevant research and exploring innovative strategies and processes to meet the various management challenges within today's classrooms will enhance your capabilities as an effective practitioner. The following courses are required to earn this certificate.

Educ 533 - Classroom Management and Leadership (3 credit hours)

This course encompasses the role of management and leadership in the classroom as a system that is inter-linked with the individual, class, school, community, state, etc. Research on key aspects of management and/or leadership styles will be analyzed.

Educ 570 - Attachment and the Defiant School Child (3 credit hours)

This course will study the relationship between attachment organization and the development of defiant school behavior. It will focus on developing interventions for teachers to use in classroom management of oppositional, defiant children.

SpEd 540 - Behavior Management (3 credit hours)

This course will focus on basic principles of behavior modification as well as survey practical applications of this approach. Course content will include theoretical implications, behavioral and functional analysis, targeting behaviors, collecting information, interventions, postive behavioral support, and monitoring for change.

Instructional Mastery

Courses cover advanced topics related to instructional mastery, including contemporary instructional strategies and processes that support a collaborative learning environment. Considering the results of relevant research and exploring innovative strategies and processes to meet the needs of all learners within today's classrooms will enhance your capabilities as an effective practitioner. The following courses are required to earn this certificate.

Educ 530 - Contemporary Instruction: Theory and Practice (3 credit hours)

This course is designed to provde the progfessional educator with opportunities to test educational theory and apply best practices in actual classrooms. The course should enhance and further develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of effective teaching. The five propositions of accomplished teaching (as defined by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards - NPBTS) will be analyzed and their applications investigated within working classroom environments at the elementary and secondary levels.

Educ 540 - The Master Teacher (3 credit hours)

This is a course for classroom teachers who wish to analyze their teaching styles and methods to improve their repertoire with additional methods of teaching. Teachers will do more micro-teachings in their subject, participate in critques of micro-teaching, and learn and practice new methods.

Educ 569 - Teachers as Collaborative Leaders (3 credit hours)

In this course, teachers will understand the phenomenon of teacher leadership that will help teachers develop skills required to act as leaders and learners to impact school improvement from within. By examining their personal and professional roles, teachers will learn to be more effective leaders in their professional communities. Students will better understand the new opportunities for leadership in schools through communication strategies, facilitation methods, and mentoring.

Instructional Technology

Definitely (and positively!) answer the question "Technology - Cure or Complication?" by pursuing this skill-oriented certificate. Develop application software, internet, and desktop publishing skills within the context of the role of technology in the learning process. The following courses are required to earn this certificate.

Educ 552 - Introduction to Multimedia Authoring (3 credit hours)

This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills associated with the principles of multimedia, and the means whereby they can utilize their knowledge and skills effectively in an educational setting. Through a variety of project-based learning experiences, students will explore the hardware and software related to multimedia authoring.

Educ 553 - Using the Internet (3 credit hours)

The purpose of this course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of how to utilize the various components of the Internet and integrate that knowledge into their professional practice. As students study a variety of topics associated with the Internet and its uses in the classroom, they will have the opportunity to share experiences and data with their peers, examine web sites and develop curriculum for use in their own educational settings.

Educ 556 - Desktop Publishing for Teachers (3 credit hours)

The course provides training in the production of quality documents and publications for use in educational settings. Students combine text and graphics to create a variety of documents including resumes, reports, flyers, brochures, etc. Application projects are integral to the course.