Post-Baccalaureate Certificates for Teachers

The Curriculum and Instruction certificate program offers experienced teachers the opportunity to learn new ways to become more effective in the classroom using additional teaching techniques and a varied approach to curriculum development.

Required Courses

Select five courses from the following:
EDU 544 – Educational Assessment (3)
EDU 552 – Global Perspectives in Teaching (3)
EDU 556 – Technology for Instruction and Management (3)
EDU 563 – Curriculum Development (3)
EDU 566 – Comparative and International Education (3)
EDU 567 – Learning Theory and Practice (3)
SPE 527 – Inclusion: Working with Special Needs Students in General Education Classrooms (3)

Total Credits: 15 

The Leadership in Teaching: Digital Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program prepares connected educators to incorporate technology as a learning tool and increase STEM-readiness in a globally diverse society. Our program emphasizes leadership, digital age pedagogy, and management for a comprehensive education aimed at developing students’ technology skills.

Required Courses 

EDU 665 – Digital Game-Based Learning and Design (3)
EDU 617 – Educational Leadership & Technology: Preparing School Administrators for the Digital Age (3)
EDU 608 – Teaching the Digital Generation in the Globalized Age (3)
EDU 614 – The Online Learning Environment: Design and Implementation (3)
Total Credits: 12

Outcomes
Upon completion of the certificate program, you will be able to demonstrate content knowledge, skills, and beliefs in the following:

• Recognize the potential of technology and technology systems to support, enhance, and promote the use of research-based best practices in leading, teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Evaluate technologies for learning and authentic assessment based on learning theories and research-based practices.
• Evaluate and apply technologies in the design, development, and facilitation of learning experiences in face-to-face settings as well as digital and virtual learning environments.
• Design and customize instruction to accommodate all learners, including those with exceptionalities.
• Model and facilitate ethical use of digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support data security, data privacy, and best practices in data-driven decision making.
• Utilize classroom management skills to effectively engage students and maximize learning opportunities for all students.

The Leadership in Teaching: Early Childhood Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program prepares educators to maximize learning opportunities for all students and address shifting demands in early childhood education. Our program emphasizes leadership; early childhood pedagogy, skills and practices; reading; curriculum; and math for a comprehensive education aimed at responding to student needs.

Required Courses 

EDU 542 – Instruction in Reading (3)
EDU 592 – Mathematics in the Elementary School (3)
EDU 515 – Curriculum/Methods and Materials for the Young Child (3)
EDU 509 – Procurement and Acquisition of Reading (3)
Total Credits: 12

Outcomes
Upon completion of the certificate program, you will be able to demonstrate content knowledge, skills, and beliefs in the following:

• Use the knowledge of students to inform your teaching practice.
• Plan assessments to monitor and support student learning.
• Demonstrate skill in checking for student understanding and using feedback to assess.
• Utilize formative and summative assessments to inform your instructional practice.
• Deepen student learning by providing scaffolded opportunities for higher level, deeper learning.
• Pass all national testing requirements, as applicable.
• Enhance career and professional development opportunities for employment pathways in the profession, e.g., elementary or secondary education teacher, highly qualified with a dual or triple certification, professional developer, preparation for teaching in higher education, etc.
• Document an ability to design a thorough lesson plan that addresses the needs of all students and which provides for both formative and summative measurable student outcomes.
• Utilize classroom management skills to effectively engage students and maximize learning opportunities for all students.

The online PBC in Enrollment Management is designed as a pathway for two types of professionals: those already working in a university setting looking to advance to director-level positions, or those without higher education experience looking to break into the field. Courses cover a range of topics and how they work in tandem including admissions processes, financial aid modeling, marketing strategies, retention, and more. Through this certificate, professionals build the broad knowledge base and expertise at best practices, processes, and regulations needed to be successful in a college or university setting.

Required Courses

EDU 500 – Principles of Enrollment Management and Retention (3)
EDU 501 – Financial Aid and Data Analytics for Enrollment Planning (3)
EDU 502 – Enrollment Marketing and Communications (3)
EDU 503 – Leadership and Strategic Planning for Enrollment Management Professionals (3)
The PBC in Enrollment Management may be completed as a standalone credential or as an area of concentration in the Masters in Higher Education program.
Total Credits: 12 

The Gifted and Talented Education Certificate program provides advanced training for instructional strategies to enrich, accelerate and extend the curriculum to provide challenging learning opportunities for diverse populations of gifted and talented learners.

Required Courses

EDGT 500 – Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 501 – Affective Characteristics of Diverse Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
EDGT 505 – Strategies for Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 506 – Theory and Development of Creativity for Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
Total Credits: 12 

The certificate program is designed to equip educators, administrators, and learning/instructional designers with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to effectively integrate artificial intelligence technologies into educational settings. The program focuses on enhancing teaching, learning, and assessment practices while fostering ethical awareness of AI’s implications in education.

Required Courses

EDU 608 – Teaching the Digital Generations in a Globalized World (3 credits)
EDU 638 – Foundations of AI in Education (3 credits)
EDU 639 – Designing AI-Driven Learning: Collaboration, Personalization, and Data-Informed Pedagogies (3 credits)
EDU 640 – Ethical Leadership, Research, and Policy in AI-Driven Education (3 credits)
Total Credits: 12

The Mathematics Instructional Leader Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for grades PreK-6 will prepare current teachers for a role as a mathematics instructional leader. The program includes mathematics content coursework as well as courses in education and leadership. Courses integrate the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (MCCRS) and will focus on the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Effective Principles of Teaching and Learning.

Required Courses 

EDU 583 – Special Topics in Mathematics Education (3)
MAT 542 – Number and Operations for Elementary School Teachers (3)
MAT 543 – Geometry and Measurement for Elementary School Teachers (3)
MAT 544 – Data and Measurement for Elementary School Teachers (3)
Total Credits: 12

The Mathematics Instructional Leader Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for grades 4-9 will prepare current teachers for a role as a mathematics instructional leader. The program includes mathematics content coursework as well as courses in education and leadership. Courses integrate the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (MCCRS) and will focus on the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Effective Principles of Teaching and Learning.

Required Courses 

EDU 583 – Special Topics in Mathematics Education (3)
MAT 501 – Number and Relationships for Middle School Teachers (3)
MAT 521 – Geometry and Measurement for Middle School Teachers (3)
MAT 531 – Data Analysis and Statistics (3)
Total Credits: 12 

The Leadership in Teaching: Online & Hybrid Instruction Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program prepares educators with the skills to deliver next-generation learning experiences through technology. With an emphasis on online pedagogy, research-based practices, and real-world application, educators will be ready to customize instruction to accommodate all learners in web-enhanced, hybrid, and online learning environments.

Required Courses 

EDU 665 – Digital Game-Based Learning and Design (3)
EDU 609 – Instructional Tools for Digital Learning (3)
EDU 608 – Teaching the Digital Generation in the Globalized Age (3)
EDU 614 – The Online Learning Environment: Design & Implementation (3)
Total Credits: 12

The Social-Emotional Learning and Flourishing certificate at NDMU provides training for the next generation of educators. Through courses in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, positive behavior supports, and culturally responsive teaching, you will be prepared to create a learning environment that enhances the social and emotional wellbeing of your students.

Required Courses 

EDUC 511 – Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (3)
SPE 524 – Positive Behavior Supports (3)
EDON 525 – The Traumatized Child (3)
EDU 536 – Social Emotional Learning and Flourishing (3)
EDGT 501 – Affective Characteristics of Diverse Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
Total Credits: 12 

Outcomes 
The curriculum of the Post Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) program in Social Emotional Learning and Flourishing creates societal impact through:

• Preparation of critical thinkers who are dedicated to serving under-represented communities and populations;
• Advancement of trained professionals who are adept in incorporating theory and evidence-based practice in the design of socially responsible and collaborative practices that lead to safe and affirming learning environments;
• Development of teachers who are knowledgeable in the frameworks and theories of social-emotional learning and human flourishing, and who are able to integrate those frameworks and theories into an effective learning program and positive outcomes for students; and
• Advancement of trained professionals who are adept in designing instructional environments that accommodate inquiry-based pedagogies, meet institutional goals of inclusivity and sustainability, and support interdisciplinary collaborations.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in STEM program offers a dynamic array of courses that focus on increasing the skills and knowledge of teachers while building their capacity to teach using STEM pedagogy and resources by providing hands-on, problem-based situations.

Required Courses 

EDU 583 – Special Topics in Mathematics Education (3)
EDST 506 – Introduction and Exploration of Design, Technology, and Engineering: Content and Instruction Strategies (3)
EDST 508 – Technology for STEM Educators (3)
ENV 561 – STEM Summer Institute: Methods of Teaching Interdisciplinary Environmental Science (3)
Total Credits: 12

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program in TESOL addresses the need for more teachers of English as a second or modern world language—both in the United States and abroad.

Required Courses

EDU 508 – Issues in TESOL (3)
EDU 545 – Principles of Linguistics (3)
EDU 546 – Methods and Materials for TESOL (3)
EDU 548 – Language Learning (3)

Outcomes 
As a student in this program, you will be able to:

1. Use the knowledge of students to inform your teaching practice.
2. Plan assessments to monitor and support student learning.
3. Demonstrate skill in checking for student understanding and using feedback to assess.
4. Utilize formative and summative assessments to inform your instructional practice.
5. Deepen student learning by providing scaffolded opportunities for higher level, deeper learning.