Teaching: Middle Grades and Secondary Education, Graduate Certificate – Online

Classes are offered 100% online, courses are self-paced, and students complete the program on a part-time basis. Students are also required to attend virtual synchronous coursework for their teaching labs. The program can be completed in as few as three semesters, culminating in a 15-week student teaching experience after completion of all other course work. Current public school teachers may teach in their own classroom.

Please see our Course Catalog with details on courses for each concentration.

Internship/Student Teaching
The graduate-level student teaching/internship is the culminating experience for all concentrations in the Graduate Certificate program, offering candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the initial Standard Professional I teaching license. Candidates are assigned to an appropriate classroom for a full-time, semester-long experience under the supervision of the classroom teacher and University faculty. Residency teachers may complete the internship in their own classroom, but must contact the Office of School and Community Partnerships to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the student teaching/internship experience and licensure requirements. This contact should take place upon admission to the program.

• MDSK 6470: Graduate Student Teaching and Internship (3 to 6)

*Clinical Experiences

UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching offers an efficient pathway to initial teacher licensure for candidates who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and meets the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) enrollment requirement for candidates seeking Residency Licensure. Each semester consists of a clinical component of 15-30 hours per semester in a North Carolina school. Candidates then participate in student teaching, a 15-week experience where they take over the total course instruction load from their clinical instructor. Current public school teachers may complete this requirement in their own classrooms. Resident teachers are able to use their own classroom and teaching as their clinical and student teaching site.

• Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
• A bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor.
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 (If you do not have at least a 2.7 GPA, please see our GPA Forgiveness process).
• Copies of unofficial transcripts from all academic coursework beyond high school.
• A statement of purpose.
• Two online professional recommendations coming from individuals in a supervisory capacity (i.e. principal or manager) and/or academic reference (i.e. professor).
• A clear criminal background check, which will be requested after application submission. The cost of this will start at $18 and could take 2-4 weeks to be processed. Please note your application cannot move forward until this step is complete.
• The online Graduate Certificate Program requires classroom observation hours to be completed in the state of North Carolina.

One of the following:

• Option 1: Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree relevant to the subject area they are going to teach (Math, Sciences, English/Language Arts, History, Career & Technical Education). More details on Plan of Study pages.
• Option 2: ​Obtain or already possess 24 credit hours of coursework in the content area for which licensure is sought.
• Option 3: Passing scores on the related PRAXIS II Subject Assessment.

Internship/Student Teaching

The graduate-level student teaching/internship is the culminating experience for all concentrations in the Graduate Certificate program, offering candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the initial Standard Professional I teaching license. Candidates are assigned to an appropriate classroom for a full-time, semester-long experience under the supervision of the classroom teacher and University faculty. Residency teachers may complete the internship in their own classroom, but must contact the Office of School and Community Partnerships to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the student teaching/internship experience and licensure requirements. This contact should take place upon admission to the program.

• August 1 (fall)
• December 1 (spring)
• May 1 (summer first half term)
• June 15 (summer second half term)

Why Choose Our Program?

The UNC Charlotte Graduate Certificate in Middle Grades and Secondary Education is more than an educational milestone; it’s a transformational journey that prepares you for the challenges and rewards of teaching in today’s dynamic classrooms. With an emphasis on real-world application, our curriculum bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring you’re classroom-ready.

Flexible, Online, and Accredited

The program’s 100% online format, combined with in-person practicum and student teaching requirements, offers unmatched flexibility, making it possible to balance professional responsibilities with your passion for teaching.

Resident: $288.82 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident: $536.98 per credit hour

Non Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour