Next Generation Teaching & Learning

Next Generation Teaching and Learning incorporates 21st century skills (collaboration, communication, technology, critical thinking, problem solving and performances of learning), is a current direction in educational endeavors in a variety of learning environments from k-12 classrooms and teacher professional development to museums and after-school programs. This certificate combines required next generation foundations and assessment components with specialty electives, representative of cutting edge innovative pedagogy. The certificate comprises 12 hours of graduate coursework as follows: nine (9) credit hours of 11 required course work comprised of three (3) hours of the next generation learning foundations course, three (3) hours of an internship choice, three (3) hours of a course on data-driven decision making and a final three (3) chosen from specialty course options. A key purpose of the certificate work is a demonstration of research to practice knowledge and skills, through implementation and assessment of next generation pedagogy in a field setting. 

• 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.

How to Apply for Graduate Certificates

• All students wishing to pursue a graduate certificate must submit an application through Apply_Yourself, in addition to any program-specific application required by the department or program.
• There is no application fee for currently enrolled graduate students. Students applying exclusively for a certificate will be charged the standard $65 fee.
• Credit hours accrued toward a graduate certificate can also be applied toward a master's, specialist, or doctoral degree.

Curriculum details.