This graduate certificate program offers a unique opportunity for students interested in teaching in higher education to gain knowledge about teaching and learning, both generally and within their discipline. Prospective teachers venturing into today’s higher education environment would benefit from an understanding of teaching and learning theory, research, and effective practice. Successful instructors require many tools to teach, as well as the wisdom to know when and how to apply those tools. This wisdom comes from a critical, reflective understanding of the research and theory behind teaching and learning. The 15-credit certificate program is multi-disciplinary, drawing upon current coursework in Communication, the School of Education, and other disciplines that have teaching and learning courses in place.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to admission, and must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average. Applicants with a graduate degree must have a minimum 3.00 graduate grade point average. Applicants must also complete the reason statement in the application.
Application
- Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
- All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
Credits and Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Select two of the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Principles and Foundations of Adult Education | ||
| Instructional Design and Teaching Strategies | ||
| Role of the Professoriate | ||
| College Teaching | ||
| Practicum | ||
| AD LDSP 750 | Internship in Administrative Leadership 2 | 3 |
| or COMMUN 998 | Communication Internship | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits from Teaching and Learning (General) and/or Teaching and Learning (Discipline Specific) | 6 | |
| Teaching and Learning (General) | ||
| Serving Multicultural and Special Needs Learners | ||
| Using Technology With Adult Learners | ||
| Distance Education for Adults | ||
| Seminar in Adult and Organizational Learning | ||
| Instructional Communication in the College Classroom | ||
| Cognition: Learning, Problem Solving and Thinking | ||
Any core course not taken as a required core course | ||
| Teaching and Learning (Discipline Specific) | ||
| Examples of such courses include: 1 | ||
| Writing Pedagogies | ||
| Seminar in Professional Writing Theory and Pedagogy | ||
| Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Instructional Strategies for Patient Education | ||
| Professional and Pedagogical Issues in History | ||
| Guided Teaching Experience in Health Sciences | ||
| Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership in the Health Sciences | ||
| The Art and Science of Teaching Physics | ||
| Curriculum Development in Nursing Education | ||
| Teaching in Practice Disciplines | ||
| Practicum and Seminar in Health Professional Education | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
Students can count discipline-specific teaching and learning courses from their own department as electives or as one of their core courses (3 credits) with the permission of the Certificate Coordinator.
- 2
These credits should not be taken before completion of at least 9 credits of coursework.
Successful completion of this certificate is NOT a teaching license or credential for K-12 instruction.
Additional Requirements
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. Courses will be considered for transfer into the certificate program only if the applicant can provide ample, acceptable evidence that the course taken is substantially the same as one of the five courses that constitute the certificate. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.