This certificate is designed to address the teacher shortage in qualified Career Education instructors in the community college and to involve an untapped resource: career professionals who would like to acquire the skills to enable them to teach their career. The certificate represents a response to Strong Work Force recommendations, focusing on increasing Increase the pool of qualified Career Education instructors, based on the conclusion that there is an urgent need for Career Education programs to have more flexibility in hiring industry experts by expanding equivalency processes and definitions.

Developed for future community college Career Education instructors who may not meet the existing college hiring standard but possess significant industry experience, this pathway to classroom teaching is based on the idea that oftentimes professionals in the industry are highly skilled in their area of expertise, but lack a Master’s Degree. These same professionals frequently possess extensive industry experience, third-party industry certifications, and completion of applicable training that meets designated equivalency criteria.

The certificate is especially or students who prefer online classes and/or cannot always attend traditional face-to-face classes due to employment, marital status, family responsibilities, distance, and expenses incurred with traditional education schedules. All certificate classes are online.

Especially appropriate for students with an AA and six years of professional experience (or in the process of earning an AA) OR Bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience or students who possess a combination of education and experience that is at least equivalent to the above.

Possible employment/ illustrative examples: teaching job, community college for an adult with an AA and at least 6 years of professional experience or a BA with two years of professional experience; other teaching areas where traditional credential requirements are waived for experience; tutor; homework “helper”, curriculum developer in area of expertise; camp counselor; outdoor education specialist, depending on area of expertise.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge, skills, experience, and feedback to make an informed choice to be employed or to continue study in the field of education
2. Upon successful completion of certificate courses students will be able to document knowledge and skills relevant for effective teaching in a Career Education community college classroom including
   1. Applying the principles of sound instructional techniques and culturally responsive teaching.
   2. Evaluating student performance.
   3. Demonstrating application of appropriate teaching styles and modalities for diverse student populations at the community college.

Review Graduation Requirements.

Course List Units

Course	Title	Units
Required Core
Complete the following:
EDUC C202	Career Education/Community College Teaching	3
EDUC C211	Media Literacy Toolkit for Teachers	3
EDUC C103	Introduction to Computers in Education: Technology Proficiencies for Teachers 1	2
EDUC C101	Tutor Training Includes a three-hour service learning component	1
PSYC C118	Life Span Developmental Psychology	3
ENGL C1000	Academic Reading and Writing	3-4
or COMM C1000	Introduction to Public Speaking
or CMST C100	Interpersonal Communication
EDUC C104	Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Diverse Contemporary Classrooms Includes 10 hours of required fieldwork/observations	1
Total Units		16-17