What you will study
Gain insight into the dynamic inner workings of colleges and universities and learn
new teaching strategies — no matter your discipline — at the University of Central
Missouri. You’ll get this wide range of knowledge from focused courses such as:
- Preparation for the Professoriate: Understand the governing structures, financial decisions and legal issues of higher
education institutions.
- Teaching Methods in Post-Secondary Education: Examine the principles of teaching in a post-secondary classroom — and techniques
for doing so — specific to adult learners.
Earn this credential as part of a full UCM graduate degree program
You may use electives for your master’s degree in Career and Technology Education
or your Educational Specialist degree in Professional Leadership to complete this
certificate.
Excellence in Teaching
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in college teaching
Get a real-world view of college teaching from the University of Central Missouri
when you take advantage of the opportunity to:
- Apply your learning: Put theory to practice and gain hands-on experience in your coursework. You’ll develop
plans and practices you can use tomorrow in your adult education classroom.
- Conduct a faculty interview: You’ll speak with a faculty member of your choice to connect the various aspects of
the job — service, teaching and research — to your classroom learning.
- Define your teaching philosophy: As you complete each course, your understanding of the vast role of faculty may change.
Your thoughts on — and plans for — teaching in higher education may also likely change
or evolve. As such, you’ll create a teaching philosophy statement to guide you forward.
- Expand your professional network: Make connections with other post-secondary instructors, faculty and staff who can
benefit your career when you join industry associations such as the Missouri Community
College Association (MCCA) or the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education
(MoACTE).
What can you do with a graduate certificate in College Teaching from UCM?
Upon completion of the College Teaching graduate certificate, you’ll better understand
not only how to teach adult students, develop their curricula and assess their performance
but also the multifaceted responsibilities of faculty outside the classroom. With
your expanded knowledge and skills, you’ll be more prepared to:
- Teach higher education courses
- Get hired as a faculty member
- Continue your education
Like other UCM students, you may pursue UCM’s Career and Technology Education MS or Professional Leadership, EdS: Adult, Career and Technical Education option to take your career to new heights.
Planning your next steps with a College Teaching graduate certificate
As you consider your career path in higher education, take advantage of the support
of UCM’s Career and Technical Education faculty. They’ll work with you to customize
a plan and curriculum to meet your professional goals. To understand the opportunities
that await you as a college professor or adjunct instructor or faculty member, use
the interactive tool below.
Financial assistance options for your College Teaching graduate certificate
Enhance your value to colleges, universities and other professional school programs
when you complete a College Learning graduate certificate at the University of Central
Missouri. To help you get the training you need to reach your career goals, we offer
some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation and have been recognized by
LendEDU for low student debt. You may also choose to use the resources we provide
to degree-seeking students to finance your education — loans, grants, employment opportunities and scholarships.
What scholarships are available to me?
Are you completing a graduate degree, such as an MS or EdS, at UCM? If so, you may
qualify for program-specific scholarships. Discover opportunities by using the .
Meet Dr. Michelle Conrad
UCM’s Career and Technical Education graduate program coordinator
Dr. Michelle Conrad, who holds two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., knows the challenges
and rewards of higher education. As a Career and Technical Education course professor
at UCM, she has real-world experience to guide you to success in a higher education
career.
Learn More About Dr. Conrad
Customize Your Education
Get personal attention to achieve your goals
UCM maintains small class sizes for our graduate certificates to enable close interaction
with faculty. They’ll take time to understand your goals and help you tailor the program
coursework to make the most effective use of your time.
Meet Our Faculty
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Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this certificate, you will have a base of knowledge in the theories
and practices of post-secondary learning and an understanding of the dynamic administrative
environment of higher education.
- Develop a working knowledge of higher education, history, legal issues, administration,
governance, and finance.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of faculty.
- Understand the adult learner in post-secondary environments.
- Design, implement, and evaluate higher education curriculum and assessments.
- Analyze the principles and techniques of presenting content-specific information to
facilitate student learning.
Admission requirements
Admission to Graduate Studies
To submit your application, go to our online graduate admissions application form. You must pay a $30 non-refundable application fee and arrange for official transcripts
from all colleges or universities you have attended to be sent to UCM Graduate Studies.
You may also print a hard copy of the Graduate Application and mail it to:
UCM Graduate Studies
P.O. Box 800
Ward Edwards 1800
Warrensburg, MO 64093
Requirements for admission to graduate study include:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (2.70 GPA is required)
- Application on file prior to registration
- Official transcripts of previous college work
After admission to the Graduate School, your application is then forwarded to the
CSPA program. Additional documents required by the program include:
- Two current letters of recommendation
- Current resume
- Autobiographical statement of purpose in pursuing graduate work
These items must be sent electronically to mconrad@ucmo.edu
Standards and Practices
Our CSPA Program follows the standards and practices of the following organizations: