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.
Information on admission requirements can be found at Post-Baccalaureate Certificates Admissions Requirements.
Certificate Outcomes
Upon completion of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community-Based Education and Leadership, recipients will be able to:
- Analyze formal, informal, and non-formal theories and frameworks of education.
- Examine the developmental and cognitive characteristics of learners through the life span.
- Explore sociological and cultural influences on communities, organizations, and groups.
- Create, implement, and assess community-based educational programs.
- Design engaging and innovative learning experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills of learners.
- Synthesize multiple sources of evidence to make decisions.
- Use multiple modes of communication to advocate for community-based education.
- Create management and strategic plans for the sustainability of community-based educational organizations.
- Foster collaboration among educational institutions, public, private and non-profit agencies, and other community stakeholders.
Required Courses
Students must complete the following 9 credits:
| CBEL 610 | Foundations and Frameworks of Community-Based Education | 3 credit |
| CBEL 616 | Community Engagement and Leadership | 3 credits |
| ED 606 | Socio-political and Cultural Influences on Families, Organizations, and Communities | 3 credits |
Students will select two electives from either of the following focus areas:
Management-Leadership Electives
| CBEL 670 | Volunteer Management | 3 credits |
| CBEL 672 | Advocacy in Community-Based Organizations | 3 credits |
| CBEL 674 | Legal Issues and Risk Management in Community Organizations | 3 credits |
Teaching and Learning Electives
Students will select two courses from the following focus areas.
| CBEL 612 | Innovative Teaching and Learning for 21st Century Skills | 3 credits |
| CBEL 614 | Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation | 3 credits |
| CBEL 662 | Youth Development | 3 credits |
| CBEL 664 | Teaching & Learning for Specialized Populations | 3 credits |
| ED 604 | Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development of Learners | 3 credits |