The Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching

The department of Adult and Higher Education (AHE) within the College of Education at North Carolina State University have developed an online graduate certificate program in Community College Teaching. The program focuses on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to design and deliver course-related content through technology-enhanced learning environments for faculty who teach in community colleges and other post secondary settings or plan on teaching in the near future. The courses developed for the graduate certificate will enhance faculty abilities in both online and classroom environments.

It provides a way for those teaching or wishing to teach in a post secondary setting to upgrade their instructional skills. The Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching strives to reach current and aspiring faculty members through distance education, strengthening the services provided by post secondary institutions.

Goals and Objectives:

The key goal for the online Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching is to provide high quality content and instruction for the systematic development of instructional expertise for those teaching or desiring to teach in a post secondary setting.

Key instructional goals for the certificate program include:

1. Developing the fundamental knowledge and skills regarding the adult learning, instructional strategies, and the nature of a supportive learning community and classroom instructional environment.
   
2. Enhancing skills and adapting classroom design, instruction, and evaluation in disciplinary content areas.
   
3. Gaining knowledge and skills for critical decision-making in the necessary adaptations of classroom activities for diverse students who represent diverse contexts.

ATE/NSF Project #0302839