Graduate Certificates are comprised of linked courses in focused areas of study that provide students with a specialized emphasis to enhance their career options, focus their degree program, or to advance lifelong learning. Those interested in taking courses in a graduate certificate program should be sure to review the admission requirements for that specific program and contact the certificate’s director if additional information is desired.
Students who are not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program, but who are ready to begin a graduate certificate program, should apply using the application link below and choose the “non-degree seeking” option where appropriate.
In many cases, up to 12 hours of coursework from a certificate program (with grades of B or better) may be transferred into and used towards satisfaction of a graduate degree program with prior approval of the student’s graduate faculty advisor.
Educational Leadership Development
The certification-only program of study in Educational Leadership Development is designed for teachers and other practicing school professionals who have already earned a master’s degree and who want to earn Florida K-12 Instructional Leadership certification. It is a state approved program consisting of up to 30 credit hours (10 courses) of coursework that encompass the eight core areas of leadership curriculum mandated by the Florida Department of Education.
The actual number of courses needed varies by student. An advisor will perform a transcript evaluation for each student and provide a plan of study in order to achieve certification. Once certification courses are completed, the Department of Educational Leadership Development issues a letter to the student stating that certification requirements have been met through an approved state program. This letter is then submitted by the applicant to the Florida Department of Education along with the application for state certification.
The program’s constructivist, standards-based approach to studying school leadership provides a balance between theory and practice. It is structured to build the requisite skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) and enable those who complete the program to be effective leaders in today’s educational settings. Course design and scheduling address the needs of working professionals and students.
Students must maintain at least 3.0 grade point average (GPA) with no course lower than a C. An approved Planned Program (up to 30 graduate hours) and an Electronic Program Portfolio in the Collaborative Digital Network (CDN) must be successfully completed for graduation. Passage of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) will be required for graduation, effective for all candidates admitted fall semester, 2008 and after.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following:
- Present satisfactory evidence of a master’s degree or equivalent with at least a 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited institution (include official, original and unsealed, master’s and bachelor’s transcripts with application).
- Hold a current Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate (include a copy with application).
- Completed a minimum of two years teaching experience or its equivalent under a full time contract (include documentation with application).
- Complete a letter of intent, briefly stating goals for the degree (include letter with application).
- Submit documentation of completion of 60 hours of English for Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) or written plan to complete 60 hours before graduation.
- Submit three letters of recommendation (professional references, at least two from current administrators) with application.
For more information, please visit the Educational Leadership Certificate website or contact Dr. Olivia Hodges at ohodges@usfsp.edu of (727) 873-4947.
Infant-Family Mental Health
The Infant-Family Mental Health certificate program is now accepting applicants to begin in Spring 2013. Deadline for applications is December 31, 2012. For best consideration, application materials should be received by December 1, 2012.
This fully online graduate certificate program is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, criminology, human development, early childhood education, nursing and other social science-related fields. The Infant-Family Mental Health Certificate will benefit practitioners in allied health professions and social and behavioral sciences. This is a 12-credit hour certificate including a 3-credit hour practicum or internship. Students with experience in the field can substitute a program evaluation for the internship. The program does not provide specialized clinical training in specific forms or modalities of intervention but rather provides broad coverage of knowledge necessary for informed and competent work for entry-level positions in early childhood mental health, prenatal and health-related positions, child protection and child welfare positions, and other fields serving families of infants and toddlers. This certificate can also serve professionals in related fields seeking to gain greater knowledge for working with infants and their families. Program emphasis provides coverage of theoretical/conceptual and applied issues.
Admissions Requirements:
Applicants must satisfy the following:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or minimum GPA of 3.0 on all work completed while registered as an upper-division baccalaureate student.
- Prior undergraduate course work in ethics and in child development (requirement will be waived with permission of program faculty for practicing professionals working with families of children aged 0-3 with at least one year of prior direct service).
- A 1,000-word statement of intent for seeking a certificate in Infant-Family Mental Health, including discussion of your background, especially the academic and professional aspects; the specific scholarly, policy, or professional issues in which you have an interest; how your background has prepared you to excel in the Infant-Family Mental Health Certificate program; and how you intend to apply your education when you complete our certificate program.
- Three letters of recommendation from qualified people familiar with the nature of the work required of graduate students in the social sciences, and who can address your ability to excel in this type of work.
- Two examples of professional or academic writing.
Certificate Program Requirements
Required Courses:
Infant-Family Mental Health
Working with Systems of Care to Benefit Infants and Toddlers
Working with Families of Infants and Toddlers
Field Practice and Evaluation in Infant Family Mental Health Practicum*
*Students in the Infant-Family Mental Health program complete a professional practicum (internship) with an agency or organization serving infants and toddlers and and their families after completing nine hours of coursework in Infant-Family Mental Health. The practicum comes in the final semester of study. For those already working in agencies while enrolled in the certificate sequence, the final course would constitute training in program evaluation, by arrangement with the instructor.
For more information, contact the Infant-Family Mental Health Certificate Coordinator, Liz Jack at emjack@mail.usfsp.edu or (727) 873-4963.
Leadership Management
To be admitted to the certificate program in Leadership Management, students not currently enrolled in a graduate program at USF St. Petersburg must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university in their baccalaureate program. Students currently enrolled in other graduate programs at USF St. Petersburg are automatically eligible for the certificate program upon the approval of their graduate advisor.
After successfully completing the MBA Essentials online module in Management, students in the program have their choice of completing any three (3) of the courses listed below. All courses listed are three (3) credit hours for a total of nine (9) credits.
1. GEB 6930 Social Issues in Management (offered alternate Spring 2012)
2. MAN 6601 International Management (Online Spring 2012)
3. MAN 6289 Organizational Change and Development (TBD)
4. GEB 6930 Leadership and Corporate Accountability (Summer & Fall)
5. MAN 6107 Leadership Perspective (Fall 2011)
6. GEB 6930 Managing Business Sustainability (Online Summer 2012)
Requirements for Completion of Certificate Program
1. An overall GPA of at least 3.00 in the 3 courses
2. A minimum grade of C+ or better in each course
3. Completion of program within three years of initial semester of enrollment
Certificate students may transfer a maximum of two certificate courses into the MBA program, with the condition that the student has earned a minimum grade of B in both courses.
For more information, contact Dr. Alison Watkins at awatkins@usfsp.edu or (727) 873-4MBA.
Teaching of Digitally-Enhanced Mathematics
The five-course sequence for this technology-enhanced certificate program comprises a middle-grades methods course, a course in content area reading, and three mathematics courses that incorporate the use of interactive, representational technology when teaching algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis. Together these courses are designed to provide teachers with the mathematical, pedagogical, and technological foundation required to prepare middle school students for high school mathematics. The curricular focus includes both teaching conceptually-based instructional sequences, as well as developing conceptually-based instructional strategies for use in the middle school mathematics classroom. As a result, each course in the certificate will contain a school-embedded technology project to provide documentation of student learning in each of the big ideas identified by Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in mathematics.
Tuition assistance is available thanks to the generous support of Progress Energy.
Program of Study (Program Courses)
The 15-credit hour certificate consists of the following five courses, and should be completed during four consecutive semesters beginning in summer.*
- MAE 6356 (3 credit hours)–Teaching of Pre-Secondary School Mathematics
- RED 6544 (3 credit hours)–Cognition, Comprehension, and Content-Area Reading
- MAE 6327 (3 credit hours)–Teaching Technology-Enhanced Algebra in the Middle Grades
- MAE 6337 (3 credit hours)–Teaching Technology-Enhanced Geometry in the Middle Grades
- MAE 6824 (3 credit hours)– Technology-Enhanced Numerical Analysis in the Middle Grades
*For any teacher interested in pursuing a master’s degree program beyond the certificate, four of the five courses from the certificate program are transferable to the master’s degree with approval of the program advisor.
For more information, contact Dr. George Roy at royg@usfsp.edu or (727) 873-4646.