Graduate Certificate students in the Cato College of Education will take between 16-22 hours during a 12-18 month period, embedded with rich clinical experiences and convenient off-site clinical training. Students will take online courses focused on instructional design, cultural competence and classroom management. Additionally, students will take specific methods courses based on their area of specialty. Students will participate in off-campus labs where they will rehearse instructional practices before using them with students in the classroom. In the final semester, non-practicing teachers will complete a full-time student teaching internship. Practicing teachers will teach in their own classroom with specialized support. 

Clinical experiences are embedded into the Graduate Certificate program at UNC Charlotte.

For non-practicing teachers, the Cato College of Education will assist students in finding clinical placements through our partnerships with local and regional school districts. The final semester of the program culminates in a student teaching internship for all candidates. They will receive support and coaching throughout, from clinical educators, site supervisors and faculty.

For our working teachers-in-residence, our faculty will work closely with them to assist with the research-based best practices being implemented into their classrooms.

The Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte strives to be a leader in educational access, engagement and excellence. Our faculty members are engaged in cutting-edge research related to students with special needs, struggling readers and culturally relevant instruction. Because of our commitment to elevating underrepresented voices and expanding the range of perspectives on campus and beyond, we host an on‑campus speaker series and conferences that are open to faculty, students and the greater community. 

All courses will highlight the importance of understanding different cultural, social, and educational contexts, and every student in our Graduate Certificate program will complete a course focused on effectively supporting learners with varied life experiences and needs.

As a part of the internship experience, our students are assigned a current practicing teacher, referred to as a clinical educator, to work alongside over the course of the year. Additionally a site supervisor is assigned to the student to help coach and guide them throughout the process—particularly during student teaching. The site supervisor visits the school frequently and provides students with feedback as they work to hone their skills. The clinical educator and site supervisor collaborate to work closely with students and help them develop into impactful educators.

The Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte consistently works towards improvement of its programs for all candidates. Our Graduate Certificate programs recently underwent extensive redesign to better meet the needs of candidates who are pursuing teacher licensure in North Carolina. Our newly redesigned program allows coursework to be accessible and affordable to incoming students, and our innovative approach shows our commitment to quality training of current and future educators.