Community-Based Education and Leadership

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Description

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community-Based Education and Leadership is designed for practicing professionals in non-formal and informal education settings who want to expand their knowledge and skills to become effective educators and change leaders in their organizations. Upon completion of the certificate, graduates will have the ability to meet the needs of diverse populations of learners, build transformative learning communities, and foster collaborative partnerships within the expanding non-formal educational sector. Coursework for this 15-credit hour certificate option can be completed online.
Due to the unique blend of coursework including understanding 21st century teaching and learning as well as organizational management and leadership, this certificate benefits a variety of positions, including and not limited to the following: athletic coaches, community education leaders, higher education professionals, non-profit leaders, and youth development specialists.

Certificate Outcomes

Upon completion of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community-Based Education and Leadership, recipients will be able to:

  1. Analyze formal, informal, and non-formal theories and frameworks of education.

  2. Examine the developmental and cognitive characteristics of learners through the life span.

  3. Explore sociological and cultural influences on communities, organizations, and groups.

  4. Create, implement, and assess community-based educational programs.

  5. Design engaging and innovative learning experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills of learners.

  6. Synthesize multiple sources of evidence to make decisions.

  7. Use multiple modes of communication to advocate for community-based education.

  8. Create management and strategic plans for the sustainability of community-based educational organizations.

  9. Foster collaboration among educational institutions, public, private and non-profit agencies, and other community stakeholders.

Certificate Policies

Certificate requirements must be completed within seven years after the first course applied to the program was completed.

For additional information, please follow the link below:

Repeating Courses and Withdrawing from Courses - Master's Degree Seeking Students

Required Courses

Students must complete the following 9 credits:

CBEL 610Foundations and Frameworks of Community-Based Education

3 credit

CBEL 616Community Engagement and Leadership

3 credits

ED 606Socio-political and Cultural Influences on Families, Organizations, and Communities

3 credits

Management-Leadership Electives

Students will select two courses from the following focus area:

CBEL 612Innovative Teaching and Learning for 21st Century Skills

3 credits

CBEL 614Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

3 credits

CBEL 662Youth Development

3 credits

CBEL 664Teaching & Learning for Specialized Populations

3 credits

ED 604Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development of Learners

3 credits

Teaching and Learning Electives

Students will select two courses from the following focus area:

CBEL 670Volunteer Development

3 credits

CBEL 672Advocacy & Fundraising in Community-Based Organizations

3 credits

CBEL 674Legal Issues and Risk Management in Community Organizations

3 credits

ED 608Action Research and Data Driven Decision-Making

3 credits