Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Graduate Certificate

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

• Admission to a graduate certificate program requires formal student application through the Graduate School admissions application system, including the required admissions application fee.
• Certificate programs will inform the Graduate School of their admission recommendation for an applicant. The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.
• Early application to the certificate program is recommended; late application is possible, but may incur delays for certificate conferral related to time required for credit tracking.
• 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

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

1. 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.
2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
4. 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.