The Student Development in Higher Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is designed for higher education professionals (or aspiring professionals) who are looking to expand their knowledge about the various developmental needs of the diverse students studying at higher education institutions. This certificate is designed to offer pointed expertise in the area of student development within higher education.
The certificate foci are: (1) The history and philosophical underpinnings of student development in the United States. (2) What is the compositional diversity of students participating in higher education? (3) How do students change as a result of participating in higher education? and (4) How might student development differ across varied student identities?
To be admitted to the certificate program, individuals must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any subject with greater than a 2.7 cumulative GPA, and either (1) work at a higher education institution or (2) have expressed interest in transitioning into higher education as a career. Students can be admitted in any semester.
The four courses in the program can be completed in as few as three semesters (fall, spring, summer). Individuals who wish to continue their post-certification study are eligible to transfer their coursework into the 30 credit-hour Higher Education Administration M.Ed.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of the major historical and philosophical foundations of higher education that inform practice.
2. Candidates will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the impact of student characteristics on student learning.
3. Candidates will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the impact of the collegiate environment on student learning.
4. Candidates will demonstrate an ability to apply social theories essential to the higher education setting.