English Graduate Certificate
The online Graduate Certificate in English is designed to meet the needs of professional adults by giving them an opportunity to acquire an 18-hour certificate, a credential that provides candidates with qualifications needed to teach in a wide range of higher education settings.
Students completing the graduate certificate in English do not need to choose a concentration, which is required of the MA in English program. In addition, students only enrolled in the graduate certificate will not complete the graduate capstone series. Upon approval by the English department faculty, certificate students may choose to complete the additional coursework needed to meet the requirements of the MA English program.
Students who have successfully completed 6 hours of coursework in the graduate certificate program may apply to enter the MA in English program. Interested students should submit an internal application to the English department chair, including identifying a concentration and an updated statement of purpose.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for acceptance into the Graduate Certificate in English program.
- A bachelor’s degree in English or related field (communications, for example). If a student does not possess a bachelor’s degree in English or related field, then 12-15 hours of upper-level English courses is recommended, approved by the program coordinators upon evaluating transcripts;
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all work completed beyond high school; and
- A clear and well-written 250-word statement of purpose, explaining the student’s objectives and purpose for pursuing a Graduate Certificate in English.
OR
Graduates from Gardner-Webb University’s BA in English or BA in English with Teacher Licensure Program (9-12) will be considered for seamless admission into the Graduate Certificate in English program within 1 year of graduation. Applications will only be required to show proof of meeting criteria 2 and 3 listed above.
No standardized test score is required.
Upon completion of certification requirements, candidates are required to apply for graduation and pay the Graduate Certificate Fee. Candidates applying past the deadline for the semester in which they completed their certificate requirements will be charged the Late Graduate Certificate Fee.
Certificate Program Outcomes
To accomplish the mission of the Department of English Languages and Literatures, students in the Graduate Certificate of English will
1. read, write, and think critically on a professional level;
2. demonstrate proficiency in discipline-specific content; and
3. demonstrate discipline-specific research methods
Course Requirements (18 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 18