Certificate in Postsecondary Teaching

Teach at the postsecondary-level

Do you want to teach in the postsecondary educational system?
Are you a postsecondary instructor who wants to prepare for expanding roles and responsibilities of educators in traditional and adult settings?

Enhance your college teaching effectiveness through:

Practical instructional techniques.
Assessment and evaluative tools.
Best practices for the classroom.
Knowledge and application of adult pedagogy.
Strategies for building a learning community.

Complete your Certificate in Postsecondary Teaching

18 semester credits
Register once for the entire program
Attend class with a supportive group of busy adults who progress through the program together
Be evaluated primarily on written assignments, projects, presentations, class discussions, and small group participation

Schedule designed for busy adults

Take 1 course at a time
Meet once a week either in the evening, Saturday, or online
Complete course work in approximately 9 months.
Meet on Bethel's campus (near the intersection of 35W and 694)

Courses

Examine the course descriptions below and imagine all the ways you could benefit professionally and personally from this certificate program. For course sequence, request a program calendar. Credits are listed in parentheses.

COMM605 • Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3)

Examination of the beginnings of interpersonal study, including Buber, Mead, Jourard, and Watzlawick. Analysis of the relationships between interpersonal communication and related areas: group, family, gender, and intrapersonal processes.

COMM721 • The Teaching Craft (4)

Examination of the art and craft of teaching. Development of an understanding of educational pedagogy, instructional methodology, and classroom management. Includes contrast of traditional and adult students, as well as an opportunity for course design. Learner presentations will be videotaped for individual assessment. Teaching as vocation will be considered.

COMM722 • Effective Teaching Online (3)

Introduction to the theory and tools of teaching online courses. Use of principles of good practice as a structural core to develop knowledge and skills necessary to effectively develop and teach an online course. Goal is to foster communication, collaboration, active learning, and prompt feedback. Emphasis is on personal connections, time on task, high expectations, and respect for diverse talents and ways of learning. Prerequisites: COMM605, COMM721.

COMM723 • Postsecondary Teaching Internship (5)

Classroom teaching at the postsecondary level under the supervision of a senior faculty member. Prerequisites: COMM605, COMM721, COMM722. Corequisite: COMM724.

COMM724 • Postsecondary Teaching Internship Seminar (3)

Development of reflective personal qualities, instructional and classroom management strategies and practices, and authentic assessment tools. Skills and knowledge include clarifying personal beliefs about teaching and learning, enhancement of communication skills, understanding of diverse learner skills, and the development of an effective teaching/learning environment. Teaching interns will discuss professional ethics, identify teaching skills and areas for improvement, and create a professional development plan. Significant independent study work is expected in this course. Prerequisites: COMM605, COMM721, COMM722. Corequisite: COMM723.

Bethel University reserves the right to withdraw, modify, or add to the list of courses or the course descriptions listed above and to cancel any course 10 calendar days prior to the start date if minimum enrollment has not been met.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted under the requirements of the most current catalog at the time they last enter Bethel.

The Bethel University Certificate in Postsecondary Teaching program will consider applicants who:

Submit a completed Application for Admission form with the $25 nonrefundable application fee.
Have earned a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, are currently enrolled in a master’s program at a regionally accredited institution, or by consent of the program director.
Submit an official transcript showing an earned baccalaureate degree and official transcripts from all graduate schools attended. Applicants must also submit an official transcript from any school that shows completion of required program prerequisites, if any.
Have earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
Submit a current resume.
Attend a Certificate in Postsecondary Teaching information session.
Submit two Admission References.
Submit a Computer Documentation form. Applicants are required to document access to a computer with the required capabilities and software for use throughout the program (see: application forms for specific requirements).
Submit a Student Immunization Record form.
Submit a Request for Transfer of Credit form, if applicable.
Submit a TOEFL examination score report (required of all international applicants and all applicants whose primary language is not English). A minimum score of 550 is required on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test.
Indicate acceptance of Bethel Community Expectations by signing the application form.
Interview with program faculty.

International Applicants: Additional Admission Requirements

An international applicant is any candidate who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident alien. International applicants must:

Submit official evaluations of foreign transcripts from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member organization (www.naces.org) or from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) (www.cgfns.org).

Submit a completed Certificate of Finances form and a copy of current bank statement(s) to show evidence of adequate funds to cover a minimum of one year’s full tuition and living expenses.
If an applicant is receiving funds from a sponsor(s), submit:

o Notarized Affidavits of Support (I-134).

o Letters of support from sponsors.

Submit a copy of I-94 (applicants currently in the U.S.).

Submit a copy of passport (applicants currently in the U.S.).

Submit a copy of current visa (applicants currently in the U.S.).

Submit documentation of health insurance.

If the applicant’s primary language is not English, complete a required English language evaluation as part of the admission process.

U.S. Permanent Resident Alien Applicants: Additional Admission Requirement

U.S. permanent resident alien applicants must present the applicant's green card.

Meeting minimal entrance requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. Exceptions to minimum criteria may be made at the discretion of the admissions committee.

Students with Disabilities

Bethel is committed to ensuring equal access for students with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations and services. Students must provide documentation of their disability(ies) in order to receive accommodations. For further information, click on Disability Services or contact the director of disability services at 651-635-8759 or 800.255.8706, ext. 8759.

To request disability-related accommodations or services, one week's notice is preferable.

Policies

All program policies can be found in the Graduate School catalog. The catalog can be download here in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Once the file is downloaded, you will be able to view and print the document using Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have that program on your computer, follow this link to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Need help getting started on your certificate?

Request information online
Apply online
Email gs@bethel.edu or call 651.635.8000 or 800.255.8706, ext. 8000
Attend an information session.
Request program start dates and application deadlines from your admissions advisor.