Graduate Certificate in College Teaching (Offered by Higher Education Program)
Concentrations
Catalog Year: 2025-2026
Banner Code: LA-CERG-CTCH-HE
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.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
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.
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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGH 610 | Proseminar in Teaching the Reading of Literature | 3 |
| ENGH 615 | Proseminar in Composition Instruction | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 12 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select content-area coursework that supports their goals in developing pedagogical expertise. 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
- 1
-
Electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor.
Concentration in Higher Education Pedagogy (HEDP)
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HE 600 | Introduction to Higher Education | 3 |
| HE 703 | Higher Education in the Digital Age | 3 |
| HE 704 | Scholarship of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 6 | |