Graduate Certificate Programs - Archived 2019-20 Graduate Catalog
In addition to graduate degrees, Bowling Green State University offers graduate certificates. Students may enroll in only a certificate program, or may complete a certificate in conjunction with a graduate degree at BGSU. Certificate program applicants should hold an undergraduate degree prior to application to a certificate program. Application and graduation procedures for certificate programs follow the same process as master’s degrees. Students must apply for acceptance and apply for graduation just as they would a master’s degree. Please see the individual program degree requirements for details pertaining to application requirements.
Administration of Higher Education
This 12-credit graduate certificate requires coursework in governance, administration, law, and assessment and can be completed in one academic year. It is geared toward working professionals seeking to develop and enhance the theoretical foundations and practical knowledge and skills necessary for effective practice in administration in postsecondary institutions.
The Alternative Resident Educator Program (AREP) consists of 6 two-hour segments in a 12-hour, competency-based course delineated below. AREP supports Ohio teachers who have completed the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) and are currently teaching in Ohio schools. In addition to the 12-hour core, the state of Ohio requires at least one specialized reading course (3-hour) for most licenses. Language Arts and Special Education majors require 6 hours of graduate reading courses.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
This certificate will appeal to prospective students who are interested in professional careers in educational, health care, and/or other settings in which they work with children, adolescents, and/or adults who have behavioral challenges. Candidates in the proposed certificate will gain the knowledge and skills in order to pursue the supervised fieldwork that leads towards the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) professional credential. This credential is currently verified through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and earning the BCBA allows one to become a Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst (COBA) within the state of Ohio. The graduate certificate will be submitted to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to be validated as a Verified Course Sequence (VCS), a necessary program designation in order for candidates to use the certificate to be eligible to become a BCBA.
The focus of this certificate program is on developing a knowledge base for working with Individuals with assistive technology needs, to help such individuals increase, maintain, or improve their functional abilities. Certificate core courses include EDIS 6400, 6410, 6420, 6430, and one course from a list of approved electives.
The focus of this certificate program is on developing a knowledge base for working with individuals on the autism spectrum. The program is intended for educators (general and special), school psychologists, counselors, speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, medical personnel, and educational consultants. The program is comprised of the following five courses: EDIS 6440, EDIS 6460, EDIS 6480, EDIS 6690, and EDIS 6700.
Bioinformatics, Proteomics/Genomics
Bioinformatics, proteomics, and genomics (BPG) have transformed biological research. The health of our research and educational programs as well as progress in biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and related fields, depends on incorporating these tools.
To address the need for training in these new disciplines, an interdisciplinary team of professors from BGSU and the University of Toledo now offer a comprehensive set of four BPG courses. These courses are designed for graduate students from a variety of backgrounds. Courses may be taken individually and a Certificate will be awarded on completion of all four courses (12 semester hours). Students participate in classes through internet-based videoconferencing and computer lab sessions at one of the institutions.
The four courses are:
- Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Proteomics/Genomics
- Statistical Methods in Bioinformatics
- Introduction to Bioinformatic Computation
- Applications of Bioinformatics and Proteomics/Genomics
Biological Sciences for Professionals and Educators
This is a distance learning, graduate-level, certificate program designed for educators who desire a deeper understanding of biological concepts. The certificate requires 18 credit hours of graduate level Biology courses. It can be completed as either a stand-alone certificate or applied toward a Master’s in Biological Sciences, pending admission to the degree program.
Career Technical Workforce Education
The graduate certificate program in Career Technical Workforce Development completes the necessary academic requirements for a licensed teacher, in the State of Ohio, to be eligible to advance the Alternative Resident Educator - Career Technical Workforce Development to a professional teaching license.
College Writing: Theory and Practice
This graduate-level certificate program is designed for professionals working in a field aligned with the teaching of first-year college writing courses, especially professional educators who need to stay current in their knowledge and skills in contemporary research and best practices in teaching writing to remain competitive in their current positions and/or expand their career horizons. These individuals, whether they be educators or other professionals currently working within the field, require additional content expertise but at the moment do not require the full master’s degree. See the English program in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this Graduate Catalog for more information.
Computer Technology Endorsement
The Graduate Computer Technology Endorsement Certificate (16 hours) may be earned by teachers licensed to teach in the State of Ohio. Teachers with this endorsement will be prepared to not only provide leadership capabilities for local, state or national educational technology initiatives but also will be licensed to teach computer science courses, K-12. Students may apply for the Computer Technology Endorsement from the Ohio Department of Education after completing the 16 hours of coursework identified for this credential offered through the School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education and Human Development.
This certificate offers a continuing education vehicle to construction professionals who desire to prepare themselves to upper management levels. This certificate can be a springboard to the Master in Technology Management (MTM) program – Construction Management concentration - at BGSU or elsewhere. This certificate prepares the student to address supervisory and managerial needs in a construction, engineering, and architecture environment. A special feature of the certificate is the flexibility in meeting the needs, interests, and career goals of students while addressing the needs of industry. Therefore, the program is responsive to the needs of the industry for advanced construction management personnel. The certificate consists of five graduate courses in construction management.
The District Level Leadership program offers coursework leading to superintendent licensure. 15 semester hours are required.
Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education
This 12-credit graduate certificate offers coursework in higher education foundations, multicultural competence, social justice, and international comparative studies and can be completed in one academic year. It is geared toward working professionals seeking to develop and enhance the theoretical foundations and practical knowledge and skills necessary for effective advancement of inclusive and equitable administrative practice in postsecondary institutions.
Early Childhood Education 4/5 Generalist Endorsement
The Early Childhood Education 4/5 Generalist Endorsement is a set of 15 graduate credit hours that qualify licensed early childhood teachers to add the 4th and 5th grade generalist endorsement to an existing Prekindergarten to Grade 3 teaching license. The certificate is earned by completing courses in the four basic content areas (math, science, social studies and language arts) as well as a child development and learning course and an introductory field experience course. The certificate is available in an online format.
Ethnic Studies explores the ways in which racial and ethnic identities, social relations, cultures, and geographical spaces have been shaped over time. Focusing variously on the institutions and political/economic/social processes that have staged race at the center of the nation’s histories, Ethnic Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the significance of race in contemporary US society. Thus, Ethnic Studies provides an ethically and socially responsible scholarship that engages you in thinking critically about the world you live in and your place in it.
An Ethnic Studies certificate can be pursued along with an MA or Ph.D. program. The certificate strengthens your credentials in race and ethnic studies in both national and global contexts. It demonstrates your training in issues relating to diversity, globalization, migration, social and economic inequities, and contemporary realities.
Students must complete 15 credit hours of approved coursework in Ethnic Studies that must include ETHN 6200, Theories of Race Relations, Ethnicity, and Multiculturalism. With approval of the Ethnic Studies graduate coordinator, three elective hours may be substituted with a cognate course offered by another program or department at the University. No internship, project, or examination is required for the certificate.
For a list of the approved Ethnic Studies program courses, please see: http://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/cultural-and-critical-studies/ethnic-studies/graduate-certificate.html.
The 15-semester hour graduate certificate in Food and Nutrition allows students to pursue concentrated study of food and nutrition through graduate coursework. The Certificate curriculum includes studies in nutrient metabolism, nutritional principles related to health and disease, community nutrition, and food science. The Certificate Program provides knowledge of food and nutrition that is applicable to health care, business, professional, and personal situations involving nutrition. The Food and Nutrition Graduate Certificate may be desired by students currently pursuing other graduate degree programs (e.g. public health; human movement, sport, and leisure studies; biological sciences), allied health professions, or students in the Dietetic Internship who have an interest in advanced study of food and nutrition but do not wish to complete a graduate degree.
French for Professionals and Educators
The graduate-level certificate in French for Professionals and Educators meets the needs of professionals, such as French teachers who require graduate credits for certification or members of international organizations and of the business community with ties to a French-speaking country. The program is designed to enhance students’ linguistic ability in French, improve their intercultural communication skills, and their ability to perform professional functions abroad. The program accommodates different specializations within the context of foreign language learning by allowing students to pursue a research area in a related field such as tourism, business, history, communication studies, political science, or pedagogy. This is a stand-alone certificate program, but can be pursued in conjunction with an M.A. or Ph.D program. A study abroad program during the summer, such as BGSU's Summer in Montpellier Program, is highly encouraged. Please consult the Office of Education Abroad's website: https://bgsu.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.SimpleSearch.
The Geospatial Technology certificate program is designed to provide students with a theoretical base in geospatial technology, a basis for research design in geospatial technology, and also provide students with an opportunity to apply geospatial technology theory and research design to their field of study. Because this is a joint endeavor of the Environment and Sustainability, Geography, and Geology programs, students may opt for a sequence of courses that will be somewhat focused on either the natural or the social sciences, depending on their disciplinary orientation. The focus of the program will be GIS, remote sensing, and GPS and their applications to research design and problem-solving in the natural and social sciences.
German for Professionals and Educators
The Graduate Certificate in German for Professionals and Educators is designed to meet the needs of professionals working for businesses or international organizations with ties to a German-speaking country, as well as for teachers of German who require graduate credits for certification. The program offers students the opportunity to develop professional-grade German language skills, deepen their cultural knowledge of the German-speaking world, and acquire advanced intercultural competence.
History for Professionals and Educators
The graduate certificate in History for Educators and Professionals offers advanced graduate training for individuals employed in professions in which advanced knowledge historical content and methods is a necessity. This certificate is especially useful for individuals who already possess a Master’s degree and who want to meet the minimum requirements of the State of Ohio to teach survey-level college courses. Courses are taught by academic specialists and there is an emphasis on providing instruction on teaching at the college level.
For more information: http://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/history/graduate-program/certificate-in-history-for-educators-and-professionals.html
The Department of Visual Communication and Technology Education offers a Master of Education degree in Learning Design. The Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design is tailored to the individuals who plan to advance their knowledge and skills in instructional design for use in either educational or industrial settings, and is designed to lead to the Master’s program in Learning Design.
International/Intercultural Communication
This graduate-level certificate is designed to meet the increasing need of various individuals and organizations to communicate more effectively in international/intercultural contexts. It enhances students’ capacity for effective communication by raising international/intercultural understanding and sensitivity. A Certificate in International/Intercultural Communication can benefit individuals in organizations that deal with international partners/clients or multicultural employees/clients on a regular basis. Individuals whose careers require close international/multicultural interaction or place a strong emphasis on intercultural sensitivity can also benefit from this certificate. Recent college graduates can complete this certificate to further enhance their understanding of international/intercultural issues and expand their professional horizon.
See Media & Communication in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this catalog.
Mathematics for Professionals and Educators
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers graduate training in mathematics and statistics for professional careers in both companies and in academia. Programs are available leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Teaching; Master of Arts with specializations in Mathematics, in Applied Mathematics / Scientific Computation, and in Statistics; Master of Science in Applied Statistics; Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics; and Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics. The Graduate Certificate in Mathematics for Professionals and Educators is especially useful for individuals who already possess a Master’s degree and who want to meet the minimum requirements of the State of Ohio to teach survey-level college courses. It can be designed to lead to any of the master’s programs offered by the department.
Middle Childhood Generalist Endorsement 4-6 (Blended)
This online, non-degree program is offered in summers to graduate/guest students with a middle childhood teaching license, as well as to academically strong BGSU seniors nearing licensure completion. The endorsement permits holders to teach one - two additional core subject areas in grades 4 – 6. https://www.bgsu.edu/education-and-human-development/school-of-teaching-and-learning/endorsements-and-certificates/middle-childhood-generalist-endorsement.html
The Music Certificate Program is a one-year course of instruction designed for advanced students wishing to pursue intense and concentrated musical study in conducting, instrumental performance, vocal performance and composition at the pre-master’s or post-master’s level. This is a two-semester program, with six credits of graduate music courses required per semester for a total of 12 credits. A solo recital or concerto performance with orchestra is required for performers. A major musical composition is required for composers. A major operatic role may substitute for the recital at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.
See Reading in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this catalog.
This certificate is open to all graduate students enrolled at Bowling Green State University. Through this certificate program the student will explore the histories, theories, and practices of Performance Studies. The focus is on the relationship between text and practice; performance as a reflection of society, a witnessing to an experience, or a challenge to social structures or ways of knowing; emerging ideas of audience reception theory; interdisciplinary connections with cultural studies, communication studies; and U.S./global performance practices. May be used as a research methodology or area of specialization within a degree program or other course of study, as a gateway into an advanced degree program in Performance Studies/related field, or as a foundation for work in community-based performance or theatre of social action/change.
Core Sequence (7 credits):
THFM 6630 Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
THFM 6680 Performance Studies (3)
THFM 6660 Directed Research in Portfolio Development to serve as a capstone experience (1)
Supplementary Elective Courses (9 credits):
Electives for the Graduate Certificate Program in Performance Studies may be filled by courses in Theatre and Film, and/or other departments and programs. Electives will be selected by the student subject to approval by the graduate coordinator of the Department of Theatre and Film.
Political Science for Professionals and Educators
The certificate in Political Science provides advanced study for professional educators who need to remain current in their teaching domains and require graduate credits to teach advanced secondary and dual enrollment courses. The Graduate Certificate in Political Science for Professional Educators requires the completion of 18 graduate level credits (5000 and above).
The graduate certificate in Public History offers advanced graduate training for professionals in the public history profession. The program is practical and career-focused in its design, featuring courses in historical museum management, museology, local history, and archival administration taught by academic specialists in these topics and by expert practitioners in the field of public history/historical museum management. The program of study is capped by an internship experience to give students actual hands-on experience in the field.
Created at BGSU in response to demands from quality professionals, the quality systems graduate certificate (QSGC) reflects the American Society for Quality (ASQ) continuous improvement mission based on disciplined analysis of systems in technical environments. Process analysis for reduction in variation of product and providing high quality consistently with no defects, is the goal. This includes preparation for management and facilitation of lean, six sigma, ISO/QS 9000 standards registration and maintenance functions and new product launch changes for advanced product quality planning (APQP). The QSGC serves various learners, particularly non- traditional, full-time working professionals from various locations. All work done in quality systems courses is team-based in a project context similar to how quality improvement is pursued in actual professional functions. The curriculum is also designed to facilitate project-based course work via an applied research emphasis. All courses utilize distance technology.
Five graduate courses in reading (EDTL 6200, 6210, 6220, 6260, and 6280) plus a teaching license and a passing score on the Ohio Assessment for Educators Reading Tests (038, 039) are required for the Ohio Reading Teacher Endorsement. The courses must be taken in sequence, although some may be taken concurrently. EDTL 6280 is the culminating course of the sequence. Usually, this program is for licensure purposes only. However, the courses may be applied to the M.Ed. degree in reading if the student has obtained regular admission to the Graduate College.
The Ohio Board of Higher Education mandates that candidates for the Reading Endorsement meet the following program prerequisites: (a) current educator license, (b) completed Baccalaureate degree, and (c) completion of 9-12 prerequisite hours of reading coursework contingent on teaching license currently held by the applicant.
Research and Assessment in Higher Education
This 12-credit graduate certificate offers coursework in research and assessment methods related to higher education and/or student affairs and can be completed in one academic year. It is geared toward working professionals seeking to develop and enhance the theoretical foundations and practical knowledge and skills necessary for the review, development, and application of effective and rigorous assessment of learning outcomes, programs, and administrative units in postsecondary institutions.
Secondary Transition Certificate
This certificate program prepares educators, rehabilitation professionals, and others with the knowledge and performance skills to support youth with exceptional learning needs as they transition to adult life. Students take 15 credit hours of core coursework: EDIS 6450, EDIS 6610, EDIS 6620, EDIS 6901, EDIS 6902, EDIS 6903, and either EDIS 5310 or EDWF 6700. Program completers who hold a current Intervention Specialist or Career-Technical teaching license will be recommended for the State of Ohio Transition-to-Work (TTW) Endorsement.
This graduate-level certificate program is established to meet the needs of the rapidly changing media and communication industry while providing intellectual leadership to the study of social and interactive media. Founded primarily on social scientific knowledge, the strategic applications of social and interactive media are explored. This program also exposes students to the process of online and interactive media production to help them better understand the technology and apply it to their practice or research.
See Media & Communication in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this catalog.
This certificate is designed for students who want a focused study or credentials in the field of software engineering, but who may not currently be interested in completing a full Master’s Degree. The program provides intensive and hands-on studies in software development methodologies, software design, quality assurance, team development, and project management. The prerequisites for this certificate include a professional or academic background in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. Completion of the certificate with a 3.0 or better guarantees admission into the MS in CS program. Courses may be completed either online or in person. All courses may also be counted towards a MS in CS degree.
Spanish for Professionals and Educators
The 18-credit Graduate Certificate is a productive option for students in complementary programs seeking to add Spanish coursework to their major field of studies. In addition, the Certificate will allow working professionals to advance their content knowledge and language skills. Coursework is based on "content" in the broad field of Spanish studies, including the study of linguistics, cultural studies and literature from Spain and Latin America. Coursework in these fields improves skills that are highly valued for educators: general knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world, critical thinking, textual analysis, and advanced writing.
Many teachers have used their completion of BGSU's Spanish Certificate to pursue credentialing for teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) courses to high school students. For more information about all degree options see:
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Graduate students at Bowling Green State University have the opportunity to earn a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This set of courses serves as excellent preparation for those who wish to teach English overseas or for those wishing to pursue further studies in linguistics. Some programs outside of the English Department may accept this certificate as part of their graduate degree program. See the English program in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this Graduate Catalog for more information
This online graduate certificate in technical writing meets the needs of working professionals by providing them with a distance education opportunity to learn advanced theoretical and practical approaches to composing documents and other information products for local and global translation; writing collaboratively online in increasingly more diverse virtual workspaces; and developing best practices for new online writing workspaces that are informed by current technical communication research.
This fully online graduate certificate program reaches out to workplaces across the state of Ohio and beyond whose growing reliance on technology to enhance their productivity requires the expertise of technical communicators. The Technical Writing certificate program seeks to enhance the expertise of technical writers and thus to increase the success of the industries in which they work. See the English program in the Graduate Programs Offered section of this Graduate Catalog for more information.
The graduate certificate in Women’s Studies brings together scholars and graduate students across the University actively engaged in interdisciplinary feminist scholarship. This graduate certificate is an official acknowledgement of training and expertise in the field of women’s and gender studies. The certificate program provides students with knowledge of a unified approach to the study of fundamental issues in sex and gender studies. Students examine how sex and gender have been reflected in culture across time; how they shape institutions as well as personal experience; how they interact with issues such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class; and how new ways of thinking about gender challenge the processes by which knowledge about human beings and our behavior is acquired, interpreted, and transmitted.
The graduate certificate is intended to supplement professional training, whatever it may be. As a stand-alone credential, the certificate is designed for individuals working in fields related to women’s health care and well-being, as well as professionals in positions of advocacy for women, elementary, high school, and community college teachers, and returning, nontraditional students.
The certificate acknowledges formal training and expertise in issues of cultural diversity, gender equity, feminist theory, feminist methodology, and the infusion of gender into all psychological, social, and mediated relationship.
For more information: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/cultural-and-critical-studies/womens-gender-and-sexuality-studies/graduate.html.
Updated: 08/14/2020 10:41AM