Education Graduate Certificates
Saint Joseph’s College offers a number of graduate certificates in education.
The courses in each area can be used toward credit fulfillment of the Master of Science in Education degree.
Curriculum
Certificate in School Leadership
The 15-credit school leadership certificate program at the graduate level includes all course requirements for the Assistant Building Supervisor certification as specified by the Maine Department of Education. It fulfills many of the standards of the Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) used for certification in states throughout the country. This certificate is also valuable for learning the tools of being a teacher-leader.
The certificate program is designed for the educational practitioner who desires to become eligible to apply for the Assistant Building Administrator certification. Students who complete this certificate will be nearly half way towards their master's degree in School Leadership should they choose to continue in their graduate education.
Certificate in Catholic School Leadership
This four-course certificate program in Catholic school leadership highlights the essential tools necessary to be the spiritual and educational leader of a Catholic School without having to complete a full master's degree. Each of the four courses of this graduate certificate is included within the Catholic School Leadership master's degree and may be rolled into this degree at a later date.
The graduate certificate explores school leadership from a Catholic perspective. This is designed for education professionals who find that the full master's degree is out of reach due to time or budgetary constraints. This certificate includes the fundamentals elements of Catholic Principalship. Each of these courses is part of the full master's degree in Catholic School Leadership.
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study: Interdisciplinary Studies
The certificate of advanced graduate study is for the student who already holds a master's degree and wishes to continue their studies. Some career tracks recognize the CAGS for compensation rewards beyond the Masters. This certificate allows for students to self-design their learning. All 18 credits must be earned at Saint Joseph’s College. This certificate allows students to take courses inside or outside of their profession and degree area (theology, nursing, education, health administration, business).
Students can choose any combination from the courses listed; the design is interdisciplinary. The final course is always the CAG 600 Interdisciplinary capstone course, but the student will request which program area or faculty they wish to have supervise that final course. *Tuition costs vary depending on program areas.
Some of our faculty
BA, Virginia Tech
MA, University of Chicago
BA, Princeton University
EdS, Cambridge College
MS, Troy University
BS, Georgia Southern University
Student stories
Career moves
Public school teachers must be licensed, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and the completion of an approved teacher education program; private school teachers do not have to be licensed but may still need a bachelor's degree.
Many states offer alternative licensing programs to attract people into teaching, especially for hard-to-fill positions.
Teachers must have the ability to communicate, inspire trust and confidence, and motivate students, as well as understand students' educational and emotional needs.
Job prospects are best for teachers in high-demand fields, such as mathematics, science, and bilingual education, and in less desirable urban or rural school districts.