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 18 credits.

Banner Code: LA-CERG-CTCH

Certificate Requirements 

Total credits: 18

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

Choose 9 credits from the following courses:9
College Teaching
Learning Assessment
Higher Education in the Digital Age
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Assessment and Program Evaluation in Higher Education
Practicum
HE 685Practicum3
Total Credits12

Electives

Choose 6 credits from the following courses:6
The Community College
Cultural Pluralism in Higher Education
Research Methods in Higher Education
Introduction to Helping Skills
College Students Today
Student Development Theory
Research and Theories on College Students
History of Higher Education
Other HE courses, when relevant, with approval of director or advisor
Total Credits6