The certificate in college teaching is designed for graduate students who are planning a career in undergraduate education. The program offers courses that enhance pedagogical skills and explore pedagogical assessment or scholarship with the use of technology in instruction.

This certificate program qualifies for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions

Policies

For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6.8 Requirements for Graduate Certificates.

Concentration in English Pedagogy

This concentration in the graduate certificate in college teaching requires 18 credits. Students must achieve a minimum grade of 3.00 in each course.

Concentration in Higher Education Pedagogy

This concentration in the graduate certificate in college teaching requires 15 credits.

Banner Code: LA-CERG-CTCH

Certificate Requirements 

Total credits: 15

This certificate may be pursued on a full-or part-time basis.

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing this graduate certificate must choose either a concentration in English pedagogy or a concentration in higher education pedagogy.

Concentration in English Pedagogy (EPGY)

Core Courses

ENGH 610Proseminar in Teaching the Reading of Literature3
ENGH 615Proseminar in Composition Instruction3
Pedagogy Courses
Select two courses from the following:6
Topics in Pedagogy
Northern Virginia Writing Project Inservice Program 1
Composition Theory
Visiting Writers 2
Applied Linguistics: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Total Credits12
1

 Offered only to full-time teachers through school district contracts.

2

Topic must be NVWP Summer Institute; open to full-time teachers on an invitation basis.

Electives

Select content-area coursework that supports their goals in developing pedagogical expertise. 16
Total Credits6
1

 Electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor.

Concentration in Higher Education Pedagogy (HEDP)

Core Courses

HE 600Introduction to Higher Education3
HE 703Higher Education in the Digital Age3
HE 704Scholarship of Teaching and Learning3
Total Credits9

Electives

Choose 6 credits from the following courses:6
College Teaching
Learning Assessment
Cultural Pluralism in Higher Education
Research Methods in Higher Education
Finance and Fiscal Management in Higher Education
Organization and Administration of Student Affairs
College Students Today
Student Development Theory
Practicum
Higher Education Law
Contemporary Issues and Fundamental Theories in Higher Education
Social Justice and Higher Education
College Access and Student Success
Scholarly Digital Storytelling
Leadership in Higher Education
Policy Studies in Higher Education
Learning Assessment and Program Evaluation in Higher Education
Internationalization of Higher Education
History of Higher Education
Organization and Administration in Higher Education
Higher Education Internship
Research Seminar in Higher Education
Research Apprenticeship
Special Topics in Higher Education
Directed Reading in Higher Education
Other courses, when relevant, with approval of advisor
Total Credits6