Frequently Asked Questions

Provided in this section are answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching. If you have additional questions which are not addressed here, please contact us.

Who is the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching designed for?
The Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching is designed for people who are currently teaching or wishing to teach in a post secondary setting to upgrade their instructional skills. The program is structured to assist in 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. This distance education option has been developed for those who, based on geographic location, work schedules, or other restrictions, are unable to attend classes on campus and for those who prefer to complete a certificate via distance education.

Who is eligible for the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching?
The Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching is a "Graduate" certificate program, meaning applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Students with Associates degrees from two-year community colleges are not eligible. It may help to think of the certificate as a step between an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree (although those already holding a graduate degree with an interest in this certificate are welcome to apply). Up to 12 hours of course work taken in the certificate program may be applied, under certain circumstances, to a graduate degree at NC State. Admission to the certificate program, however, carries no guarantee that a student will be admitted to the Graduate School in any degree program. Such decisions are made separately from the certificate admissions process.

Is this a cohort-based program?
No. A cohort is a group of students admitted at the same time into a program and enroll in all of their courses together. Although building an online learning community is very important in distance education, we realize that all students may not be able to maintain a schedule of more than one course per term. For this reason, the online Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching is NOT a cohort-based program.

Is on-campus attendance required?
No on-campus attendance is required to complete the certificate. All courses are delivered via the Internet and can be accessed anywhere from a viable Internet connection.

Is synchronous attendance required?
Some courses in the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching do require students to meet online at the same time to participate in synchronous whole-class or small group activities. Synchronous meetings usually occur in the evening. Synchronous online meetings typically do not last more than an hour or so, however students should contact the instructor of classes they wish to register for to determine if any synchronous meeting times will be required and how long they will last.

What hardware/software is required to participate in this program?
At a minimum, participants must have ready access to a PC desktop or laptop computer that meets or (preferably) exceeds the NC State recommendations for computers you already own. While this configuration is sufficient, we recommend that participants upgrade their current machine or consider purchasing a computer that meets (or exceeds) the recommendations for new computer purchases.

Connectivity: At a minimum, students must have dial-up access with a 56k modem. To improve access speed and enhance the playback quality of video/audio materials, we strongly suggest that students who are accessing courses from home consider investing in a high speed Internet service. Educationally priced software is available for purchase at the NCSU Bookstores (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsubookstores). Students must also have a Web browser that is approved for use with Blackboard Vista. Several browser plug-ins are required for each course (Acrobat Reader, Flash, RealPlayer, etc). You will be informed of the plug-in requirements in each course.

Through which course management system or platform are Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching courses taught?
NC State utilizes a host of distance learning tools. Individual instructors choose the course management system or platform to deliver their course(s) within the boundaries of services standardized by the university. Students in the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching will likely be exposed to courses taught through Blackboard Vista, Moodle, and the Elluminate two-way audio conferencing tool. This diversity in delivery platforms should benefit and enhance the flexibility of students preparing for their careers.

Does the application process require taking an admissions test such as the GRE?
No, because the certificate is a non-degree program, an admissions test is not required.

Does the application process require a fee?
No fee is charged for applying to the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching. Once accepted into the program, however, there will be a non-refundable $25 Non-Degree Studies application processing fee associated with enrolling as a non-degree studies student at the university level.

What are the costs involved in enrolling in the online Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching?
Distance classes are registered through the NCSU Pack Tracks system. Current tuition information can be obtained through the office of Distance Education at http://distance.ncsu.edu/tuition/graduate-tuition.php . Please also visit http://ced.ncsu.edu/ccteachonline/apply.htm .
In addition to tuition costs, you can expect an average of $50-$100 per semester in textbooks. Other costs may include some hardware and software you will need, depending on the status of your computer.

Is financial aid available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching?
Students enrolled in non-degree studies are generally not eligible for financial assistance. To be eligible for financial aid, students must be enrolled in degree programs offered by the University. But please free to contact the Cashier’s office at http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/cashier/.

I've just been admitted into the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching, now what?
After you are informed of admission into the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching, you will need to apply with the university's non-degree studies (NDS) office. Non-degree studies will provide students with a campus Unity ID, password, and pin number to register for courses.

Is there a certain sequence or order in which courses must be taken?
There is a recommended sequence (but not required) on taking the courses in this graduate certificate program which you can review at http://ced.ncsu.edu/ccteachonline/curriculum.htm.

How many courses can I take at one time?
Non-degree studies students can take no more than two courses per semester.

How long will it take me to complete the coursework for the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching?
Most students are employed full-time and therefore try to take one or two courses per term. Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment. Non-degree studies students are limited to a maximum of two courses per semester. To assist with your course scheduling, all of the certificate courses have been listed below along with the term in which they are offered.
Courses Offered in Fall Terms
EAC 559: The Adult Learner
EAC 539: Teaching in the Online Environment
Courses Offered in Spring Terms
EAC 559: The Adult Learner
EAC 538: Instructional Strategies in Adult and Community College Education
EAC 560: Assessment & Evaluation in Adult and Higher Education
EAC 700: Community College and Two-year Postsecondary Education 
Courses Offered in Summer Terms
EAC 559: The Adult Learner
EAC 580: Designing Instructional Systems in Training and Development

I went to register for a course, but it was full. Do I have to wait a year to retake the course?
Since non-degree studies students are only allowed to register after graduate students in degree programs, it is entirely possible a Certificate student may find a course they wish to take is full when they go to register. We have done our best to reserve space in courses offered in the program to accommodate students, but in order to avoid such circumstance, please make sure to register as soon as registration is open to NDS students. Many online courses are capped at about 20-25 students to maintain the quality of student-instructor and student-student communication. While we cannot guarantee enrollment in a closed course, certificate students should contact the instructor of record for any closed courses they wish to take to let the instructor know they are a certificate student. Instructors teaching courses affiliated with the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching may be able to accommodate students who are only a course or two away from completing their certificate. If students cannot be accommodated, and they have no other course they can take from the posted curriculum, they should contact the Certificate Coordinator Dr. Pooneh Lari at pooneh_lari@ncsu.edu for alternate arrangements.

Can international students apply to the Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching?
Yes, international students can apply as NDS non-degree students but they have to pay full out of state tuition http://distance.ncsu.edu/tuition/graduate-tuition.php and are required to take the TOEFL exam.

Can I transfer classes from my Graduate Certificate Program in Community College Teaching into a degree program?
Up to 12 hours of course work taken in the certificate program non-degree studies (NDS) classification may be applied, under certain circumstances, to a graduate degree (depending on the degree and department). The NDS classification and admission to a certificate program, however, carry no guarantee that the student will be admitted to the graduate school in any degree classification. Students who earn credits in the NDS classification and are interested in pursuing a graduate degree should contact the Director of Graduate Programs in the department of interest. The Department of Adult and Higher Education offers master's and doctoral degrees.