International Education

The Graduate Certificate in International Education prepares graduate students for careers in international education, including but not limited to education abroad, international student services, and placement in other international organizations which support the exchange of students in higher education.

• Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a baccalaureate degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by the appropriate regional agency (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern or Western Association of Colleges and Schools). A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation's Ministry of Education or similar authority as a postsecondary, academic degree-granting institution.
• An overall grade point average of 2.75 on undergraduate work and 3.00 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School. Individual departments may require higher grade point averages.
• Submission of scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless their chosen program indicates otherwise. The Graduate School has no minimum GRE score requirement; individual programs may set specific score requirements and in some cases may require the advanced portion of the GRE.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. The University of Kentucky requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based). For IELTS, a minimum mean band score of 6.5 is required. Students may also use the Duolingo English Test (only tests taken after July 15, 2019 will be accepted. The minimum score will be 115, and students recommended for admission may also be interviewed by a CESL evaluator. TOEFL essentials may also be used and the minimum overall score is 9.
• Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens or resident aliens) must pay a $65 application fee; international applicants must pay a $75 fee. The application fee is non-refundable.

Who is this graduate certificate for? Any University of Kentucky graduate student (or admitted post-baccalaureate student) wishing to enhance their graduate degree.

Curriculum Information

The curriculum combines 9 hours of core courses and 6 hours of elective coursework. Students receive a foundation in comparative higher education, organization and administration in higher education, and student services.  Through elective courses appropriate to student interests, students will develop a regional area of cultural expertise and participate in at least one professional vocational experience with an emphasis on developing skills in evaluation/assessment, management, and program development.  Although the certificate does not require language coursework as part of the curriculum, participants must establish their language proficiency relative to their professional and regional concentration so that they are prepared to be effective and competitive in the field.

View curriculum requirements here.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding how formal education operates within and across nations (coursework in:  comparative/international education; higher education)
• Familiarity with programming, services, laws and regulations for students entering and enrolled in  higher education (coursework in:  student services, higher education)
• Intercultural understanding and communication (world language experience, international in situ experience, regional area studies)
• Professional experience (work experience, internship, graduate assistantship; elective coursework in program evaluation or  research design)