Dec 21, 2024

Graduate Catalog | 2024-2025

Teaching: Middle Grades and Secondary Education, Graduate Certificate

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The Graduate Certificate in Teaching - Middle Grades and Secondary Education is a 16 credit hour program, including the graduate student teaching/internship experience plus any background content courses needed, designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree. Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate, students are eligible for the North Carolina Standard Professional 1 (SP1) Professional Educator’s License. The program is designed for current (Residency Teachers) and aspiring middle and secondary school teachers of math, science, English language arts, social studies, and Career and Technical Education fields (Business, Marketing, Technology, and Family and Consumer Sciences).

The required courses for the Graduate Certificate are identical to Phase I of the M.A.T. Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate, qualified students have the option of continuing into Phase II to complete the M.A.T. Admission to the Graduate Certificate is separate and distinct from admission to a graduate degree program and not an indication of automatic admission to the M.A.T. degree program. For more information on this option, refer to the M.A.T. in Middle Grades and Secondary Education .

All courses for the Graduate Certificate must be completed within five years.

General Requirements for Admission to the Graduate School

Please refer to admission information in The Graduate School section.

Admission Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Teaching program

An undergraduate degree from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body
A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (For alternative ways to demonstrate academic competence, contact the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL))
One of the following:
1. Hold a relevant undergraduate degree
2. Obtain or already possess 24 credit hours of coursework in the content area for which licensure is sought
3. Passing scores on the related PRAXIS II Subject Assessment
Two professional references in a supervisory capacity (i.e. principal or manager) and/or academic references (i.e. professor)
A statement of purpose
Clear criminal background check
Apply online at graduateschool.uncc.edu

Certificate Requirements

Concentrations

Select one of the following concentrations:

Middle Grades English Language Arts Concentration

Middle Grades Mathematics Concentration

Middle Grades Science Concentration

Middle Grades Social Studies Concentration

Secondary English Language Arts Concentration

Secondary Mathematics Concentration

Secondary Science Concentration

Secondary Social Studies Concentration

Career and Technical Education Business Concentration

For candidates seeking 6-12 CTE licensure in Business. CTE candidates select only one of the two offered adolescent development courses listed below: MDLG 5130 (for candidates wishing to teach at the middle school level) or SECD 5140 (for candidates wishing to teach at the secondary school level).

Career and Technical Education Family and Consumer Sciences Concentration

For candidates seeking CTE licensure in Family and Consumer Sciences. CTE candidates select only one of the two offered adolescent development courses listed below: MDLG 5130 (for candidates wishing to teach at the middle school level) or SECD 5140 (for candidates wishing to teach at the secondary school level).

Career and Technical Education Marketing Concentration

For candidates seeking 6-12 CTE licensure in Marketing. CTE candidates select only one of the two offered adolescent development courses listed below: MDLG 5130 (for candidates wishing to teach at the middle school level) or SECD 5140 (for candidates wishing to teach at the secondary school level).

Career and Technical Education Technology Concentration

For candidates seeking 6-12 CTE licensure in Technology. CTE candidates select only one of the two offered adolescent development courses listed below: MDLG 5130 (for candidates wishing to teach at the middle school level) or SECD 5140 (for candidates wishing to teach at the secondary school level).

Internship/Student Teaching

The graduate-level student teaching/internship is the culminating experience for all concentrations in the Graduate Certificate program, offering candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the initial Standard Professional I teaching license. Candidates are assigned to an appropriate classroom for a full-time, semester-long experience under the supervision of the classroom teacher and University faculty. Residency teachers may complete the internship in their own classroom, but must contact the Office of School and Community Partnerships to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the student teaching/internship experience and licensure requirements. This contact should take place upon admission to the program.

MDSK 6470 - Graduate Student Teaching and Internship (3 to 6)

Certificate Total = 16 Credit Hours

Advising

All candidates are assigned an advisor upon formal admission to the program. Candidates should consult with their advisors at least once each semester.

Clinical Field Experiences

Most courses require candidates to develop their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in public school/agency settings. All candidates are expected to complete clinical experiences in at least two significantly different settings. Clinical field experiences provide opportunities for helping all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. During clinical experiences, candidates apply theories and understandings gained in coursework, analyze 6-12 student learning, and develop the ability to positively impact all learners. Arrangements for the clinical field experience are made through the Office of School & Community Partnerships.

Residency teachers may complete clinical requirements in their own classroom and school. Alternative settings must be approved by the instructor. A limited number of clinical experiences may be approved in significantly different classrooms within their school of employment.

Licensure

Upon successful completion of the Phase I/Graduate Certificate, candidates will be recommended for the North Carolina Standard Professional 1 (SP1) Professional Educator’s License. For this initial license, candidates are required to complete an electronic licensure portfolio that is created during coursework and student teaching.

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