Graduate Certificate in Teaching: Secondary (9-12) Education (English, Math, Social Studies, or Science)
Graduate Certificate in Teaching: Secondary (9-12) Education (English, Math, Social Studies, or Science)
The Graduate Certificate in Secondary (9-12) Education is 21- hour program designed for students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree or professional teaching license in Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate, students are eligible for a level “A” professional educator’s license for North Carolina.
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate, qualified students have the option of completing 18 additional hours to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching. Admission to the Graduate Certificate is separate and distinct from admission to a graduate degree program and not an indication of automatic admission to the M.A.T. degree program.
All courses for the Graduate Certificate must be completed within four years.
To see program planning sheets, refer to the links on the left-hand side of this page. For more information on the Graduate Certificate Program, please or contact Bethany Myers in the Education Recruitment office at 704-687-7353 or bddawkin@uncc.edu. You may also contact Joshua Avery at 704-687-8727 or jadavery@uncc.edu.
General Requirements for Admission to the Graduate School
Please refer to admission information in the “Graduate School” section of the Graduate Catalog.
Admission Requirements for Graduate Certificate in Teaching Programs
1. An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution
2. A cumulative GPA of a 2.75 or a 2.7 with very strong recommendations
3. Three recommendations from persons knowledgeable of the applicant’s
interaction with children or youth (Names and email addresses)
4. A statement of purpose
5. A clear criminal background check
*For Secondary Education a relevant degree or 21 hours of background courses specific to the content area (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) will be required PRIOR to admission. See planning sheets for a list of recommended courses.
Apply online at gradadmissions.uncc.edu.
Admission to Candidacy
The Candidacy form supplied by the Graduate School must be received no later than the eighth instructional day of the semester in which completion of all degree requirements is expected.
Application for Degree
The Application for Degree/Graduation form supplied by the Graduate School must be received early in the last semester of the student’s program.
Internship
A three-hour internship is required for Graduate Certificate students. The graduate-level internship is the culminating experience of the Graduate Certificate program, offering students the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the North Carolina Standard Professional 1 (SP1) Professional Educator’s License. Students are assigned to an appropriate classroom for a full-time semester-long experience under the supervision of the classroom teacher and university faculty. This internship can be done in a student’s place of employment or the University can find a placement for the student. Lateral entry teachers and teacher assistants must contact the Office of Field Experiences to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the internship experience and licensure requirements. This contact should take place at least one semester before the internship.
Clinical Field Experiences
Most courses require students to develop their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in public school settings. These experiences broaden their ability to help all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. During clinical experiences, students apply research and/or evidence-based practices gained in coursework, analyze P-12 student learning, and develop the ability to positively impact all learners. All students are expected to complete clinical experiences in at least two significantly different settings.
Candidates who are lateral entry teachers and teacher assistants must move beyond their own classrooms and schools for at least two clinical experiences. Alternative settings must be approved by the instructor and may include schools on different schedules, after-school and summer programs, Saturday programs, and private and charter schools. A limited number of clinical experiences may be approved in significantly different classrooms within their school of employment. Employed candidates are encouraged to seek assistance and support from their administrators.
Advising
All students are assigned an advisor upon formal admission to the program. Students should consult with their advisor at least once each semester. The advisor for Secondary Education is Dr. Adam Myers. He can be contacted at 704-687-6055 or amyers35@uncc.edu upon admission.
Licensure
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Secondary, students are eligible for a level “A” professional educator’s license for North Carolina. For this license, students are required to complete an electronic licensure portfolio that is created during coursework and the internship. Students will also be required to take and pass appropriate licensure exams. Students apply for the level “A” professional educator’s license in the TEAL office (Cato COED 119).
Financial Aid/Financial Assistance
Information about available scholarships can be found at scholarships.uncc.edu
Information about financial aid can be found at finaid.uncc.edu
Loan forgiveness programs are available in high needs areas:
Forgivable Education Loans for Service
Program Accreditation/Approval
All teacher education programs at UNC Charlotte are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. All programs have been approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.