Academic Program

Postsecondary Literacy Instruction

Certificate

The Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction is a graduate certificate offered by the Graduate Program in Literacy in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. This is a stand-alone certificate that can be earned without being accepted into a Master's Degree program, and all courses are taught online.

The purpose of the Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction is to prepare instructors with theoretically and pedagogically sound expertise in literacy instruction at the postsecondary level, including teaching developmental reading and basic writing in community college, four-year college, and adult literacy program contexts. With foci that incorporate both theory and practice, coursework in the Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction addresses educational issues that arise in most community colleges and adult literacy programs.

The Certificate coursework addresses educational issues that arise in most community colleges and adult literacy programs, including: foundations of postsecondary literacy instructions; methods of postsecondary literacy instruction with foci on reading and writing; reading and writing processes a the postsecondary level; literacy instruction with English as a Second Language learners; sociocultural issues of language and society; practical, hands-on experiences through a practicum course; and projects focused on students' specific teaching interests or contexts.

The Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction:

  • prepares students to teach developmental reading and basic writing in community colleges and adult literacy programs.
  • may satisfy some employment requirements and/or continuing education requirements for many institutions.
  • is taught online, providing a flexible alternative for teachers with convenient scheduling and online delivery methods - all certificate requirements can be completed without a visit to Cincinnati.
  • includes a hands-on practicum at a site convenient to the student.
  • uses Blackboard as a delivery tool with a multimedia, interactive learning environment and frequent opportunities to interact with our online instructors and other students.
  • offers a high-quality, from research to practice, model of teacher preparation from an NCATE approved program

Tuition Information

Students who are admitted to the Certificate only, and are not in a degree-seeking program at UC, are eligible for the professional development tuition rate of 50% in-state graduate tuition. This rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. For students who have been admitted to a graduate degree program at UC and are earning the certificate as a part of that degree, regular University of Cincinnati graduate tuition rates apply.

If Certificate courses are to be used as continuing education credits or to fulfill other specific employment requirements, it is the student's responsibility to ascertain their applicability toward those requirements.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction is competitive. Applications are reviewed each academic quarter, with new cohorts typically beginning during the Summer. In addition, there is one co/pre-requisite that must be satisfied before completing the program: candidates must have taken a graduate-level reading and/or writing and/or language arts education course in the past five years. Students who do not meet this prerequisite may fulfill this requirement by taking an additional class online as part of their Certificate coursework.

It is not necessary to be admitted to a Master's Degree program to work toward and earn the Certificate, and acceptance to the Certificate does not imply acceptance to a Master's Degree program. Applicants should:

  • hold a Baccalaureate Degree (Master's Degree is recommended, but not required).
  • have a GPA of at least 2.8 out of a 4.0 scale for undergraduate coursework.
  • have a basic familiarity with computers and the Internet.

Transfer Admission Requirements

Advanced Statnding

Certificate students may transfer up to 9 graduate quarter credits from other regionally accredited universities and colleges and apply for advanced standing for equivalent UC courses. At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) and course descriptions from an official university publication to the Coordinator of the Certificate in Possecondary Literacy Instruction.

Application Information

Application Procedures

Applications are reviewed every quarter; students may begin coursework in any term (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring). To receive application materials, applicants should send their mailing address to Dr. Eric Paulson (eric.paulson@uc.edu). An application package including an introductory letter and the Graduate Supplemental form will be sent through standard mail. Applications will include:

  • the online University of Cincinnati Graduate Certificate Application (see below)
  • a check for the application fee of $15 made out to the University of Cincinnati
  • the Graduate Supplemental form
  • copies of transcripts from all university coursework
  • a brief statement of purpose that outlines past/current teaching experience, and career goals.

To access the University of Cincinnati Graduate Certificate Application form, visit www.grad.uc.edu, click the "Admissions" button on the left and follow the prompt for Certificates. Select department "Teacher Education" and then "Post-Secondary Literacy Instruction" in the pull-down menus on the second screen. Upon completion of the online Graduate School form, applicants will be given instructions for mailing in the $15 application fee. This fee may also be sent in with the rest of the hard-copy application materials provided in the packet mailed to the applicant's provided address. Completed application packet forms, a statement of purpose, and transcripts (transcripts may be mailed separately) should be sent to:

Dr. Eric Paulson
Coordinator, Postsecondary Literacy Instruction
CECH
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210002
Cincinnati, OH 45221

Licensure Information

The completion of the graduate Certificate in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction does not result in the issuance of a teaching license, nor is it a master's degree. Since postsecondary institutions vary widely in their teaching requirements, candidates are encouraged to contact the institutions at which they are interested in teaching to ascertain specific employment requirements.

Curriculum

All courses are offered online. Most courses are 5 weeks in length and worth 3 quarter credit hours. LTCY 807P, the Projects course, is offered for 3 or 6 credit hours; students will be informed as to whether they need to take the 3-hour or the 6-hour version of this course based on their past graduate work. Additionally, LTCY803P, the Practicum, is a 10-week course and requires in-class instructional time in a developmental classroom setting at a school convenient to the student. Location details for the Practicum will be arranged between the student and the PLI Program Manager prior to beginning the Practicum course.

Entering the Certificate program during the Summer term allows students to complete the courses within a calendar year; however, applications are reviewed year-round and students may enter the program at the start of any academic quarter.

For more information, please see this pdf.