Graduate Certificates

In today's world, a bachelor's degree in hand oftentimes does not yield the job skills and experience needed to advance in the workplace. Acquiring advanced training in a discipline frequently gives individuals the edge needed for new job opportunities and higher salaries. A graduate certificate from A&M-Commerce is designed to give such an advantage.

A&M-Commerce graduate certificate programs are cost effective and designed to accommodate most working adults. For instance, if you are currently working in higher education or environmental science and want to add value to your present position, you may wish to consider a graduate certificate program in College Teaching, College/University Administration or Environmental Science. Likewise, if you work in law enforcement and wish to move into a supervisory position, the graduate certificate in Criminal Justice Management is available. Below are brief descriptions and contact information regarding each certificate.

College Teaching
The College Teaching Certificate program is an 18-hour program of Higher Education coursework for students who have completed or will complete a master's degree and a minimum of 18 graduate hours in a teaching discipline. Students who complete the program will have competencies in instruction, curriculum development, and the legal aspects of college faculty and student life. Please contact Dr. Jon Travis, 903/886-5609 or jon_travis@tamu-commerce.edu, for information.

College/University Administration
The College/University Administration Certificate program is an 18-hour program of coursework for students who have completed or will complete a master's or doctoral degree and wish to serve as administrators in higher education. Students who complete the program will have competencies in leadership, curriculum development, decision making, and the law related to colleges and universities. Please contact Dr. Jon Travis, 903/886-5609 or jon_travis@tamu-commerce.edu, for information.

Criminal Justice Management
The Criminal Justice Management Certificate program is a 12-hour program of Criminal Justice coursework for students who want to increase their knowledge and develop competencies in the areas of criminal causality, criminal law, police management and/or correctional settings. Information of this nature will assist students in developing management skills which may be applicable in criminal justice agencies or in a graduate program at the master’s or doctoral levels. Please contact Dr. R.N. Singh, 903/886-5320 or raghu_singh@tamu-commerce.edu, for information.

Environmental Sciences
The Environmental Science Graduate Certificate program is an academic certificate (rather than a professional certificate) designed to fill specific basic knowledge gaps for environmental professionals. This 13 hour program includes courses in Environmental law & regulation, hydrology, geospatial mapping (GIS, GPS), EPA/TCEQ Environmental Science, and Environmental Science Seminar.  Please contact Dr. Chip Fox, 903-886-5542 or haydn_fox@tamu-commerce.edu, for information.

Studies in Children’s and Adolescent Literature and Culture
The Studies in Children’s and Adolescent Literature and Culture Certificate program consists of 18 hours of graduate study. The certificate provides students with a solid foundation for analyzing children’s and adolescent literature and will enhance their understanding and capacity to teach the cultural, ideological, and historical nature of children’s and adolescent literature in primary, secondary and post-secondary settings. Contact Susan Stewart at 903/468-8624 or susan_stewart@tamu-commerce.edu.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Candidates for a graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages pursue studies in the Structure of English, General Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, and Teaching English as a Second Language in addition to a 3-hour elective and a 1-hour practicum.  Holding the certificate will bring enhanced professional status and will also enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the postsecondary level.  Courses are offered through Distance Education at the Mesquite Metroplex Center, the A&M-Commerce main campus, and other locations in the region.  There is no campus residency requirement for this certificate and it is available to degree- or non-degree-seeking students.  Please contact Dr. Robert Baumgardner at 903/886-5254 or robert_baumgardner@tamu-commerce.edu