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Graduate Certificate Program in Urban Education

Promote a culture of respect, understanding, responsiveness and social responsibility in the classroom with our flexible and affordable online Graduate Certificate in Urban Education.

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Develop Critical Awareness and Leadership Skills for Equity and Inclusion in the Classroom

Explore equity, social justice and inclusive classroom practices with our Graduate Certificate in Urban Education. K-12 teachers can benefit from this four-course online certificate program. Racial and linguistic diversity is increasing in school systems across the county. Such diversity is a strength, but it also presents challenges. Upon program completion, you will embrace a more responsive and inclusive approach to teaching and understand how systems have historically marginalized groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability.

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Variety of Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

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Complete in as Little as 12 Months

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One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation

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Apply Anytime

Learning Outcomes

  • Foster equity for racially, culturally, socioeconomically and linguistically diverse learners through teaching practices.
  • Understand the challenges students face who differ from the majority population in language, ethnicity, culture, gender and sexual orientation.
  • Encourage partnerships between schools, families and communities.
  • Explore culturally responsive teaching and social and emotional learning and development.
  • Contemplate thinking, writing, and talking about texts, emphasizing anti-racist literature and social justice.

One Success Leads to Another

Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

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Graduate Certificate Program in Urban Education
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Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum Outline

- Total Course Required: 4 (12 Credits)

Required Courses (3 Courses / 9 Credits)

Elective Courses (1 Course/ 3 Credits)

Course Descriptions

This course will examine special education laws and ethical practices in K-12 settings. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

Examines the methods of teaching students with moderate disabilities at the secondary level. Topics include curriculum (including the Massachusetts frameworks), IEPs, and instructional modifications appropriate for students with special needs. 3 credits.

This course provides an introduction to the principles of social justice education, by examining and applying theories and methods of curriculum design, classroom teaching, and social emotional learning and development. This course will prepare educators to foster equity in classroom practice and pedagogy for racially, culturally, socioeconomically, and linguistically diverse learners. 3 credits.

This course will address thinking, writing and talking about texts. It will examine the range of literacies including critical, print, technology, visual, media and informational. A special focus will be on anti-racist literature and texts of social justice. 3 credits.

This course will focus on the study of the acquisition of language and the relationship of language learning to the development of literacy. Students will examine both first and second language acquisition. Students will be expected to apply their knowledge of language acquisition to best teaching practices for enhancing first and second language development in the classroom and to the development of literacy. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

As the world becomes increasingly diverse, educators must be prepared to examine, confront, and manage the factors that affect the education of all children. This course addresses several central issues focusing on how teachers address the problems that confront students who differ from the majority population in language, ethnicity, culture, gender, and sexual orientation. Ensuring that their families and communities are actively involved in the educational process is also an important component of the course. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

Graduate Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.

Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .

Completing a Graduate Certificate Program

Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.

Tuition & Fees

At UMass Lowell, we believe that students should have as much information as possible up front so they can make informed decisions before enrolling in a degree program or signing up for a course.

Tuition for all undergraduate courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition for all online graduate courses is also the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition is priced per credit. To calculate the tuition for a course, simply multiply the per-credit tuition by the total number of credits per course. Exception: If the total number of course contact hours is greater than the total number of credits, the per-credit tuition is instead multiplied by the total number of contact hours.

Fall 2022 Tuition

 Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Graduate
Online Education $470 $1,410
Online Doctoral Education $495 $1,485

*Please Note: If the number of contact hours exceeds the number of credits, tuition is calculated by multiplying by the total number of contact hours.

**Applies to ACCT, BUSI, ENTR, FINA, MGMT, MKTG, MIST and POMS courses.

***Applies to CHEN, CIVE, EECE, ENGN, MECH, PLAS and MSIT courses.

The cost to audit a course will be charged the rates listed above.

Additional Fees

Graduate
Online Registration Fee Per Term $30
Late Fee For Non Payment $50
Program Application Fee $50

Please Note: Test requirements for graduate applications have been temporarily waived. Learn more.
Apply Now

Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?

Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

Already Applied?

Check the Status of Your Application
Out-of-State

Information for Out-of-State Students

International

Information for International Students

Registration

Current students can register using SiS Self-Service. New students who have not already applied and been accepted to a program must use the Non-Degree Registration Form.

You can take courses without being officially enrolled in a certificate or degree program, but you must meet course prerequisites. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Class size is limited. We recommend that you register early to reserve your place in class.

For more information, please visit our Registration Page.

New Students

If you have not already applied and been accepted to a program.
Register with Non-Degree Reg. Form

Current Students

If you have applied, been accepted to and are currently enrolled in a program.
Register with SIS Self-Service

Questions?

Email our Advising Center for assistance, or call 800-480-3190 to speak with an advisor.

Please Note: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented within this website, the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies reserves the right to implement new rules and regulations and to make changes of any nature in its program, calendar, locations, tuition and fees. Whenever possible, appropriate notice of such changes will be given before they become effective. In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

Applying into an Online Graduate Certificate Program

UMass Lowell Graduate Certificate Programs provide knowledge and expertise that are vital in today's rapidly changing workplace. In many cases, graduate certificate courses may be applied toward a master's degree at UMass Lowell. Most graduate certificates consist of four courses, for a total of 12 graduate credits. This is a great way to earn a graduate-level credential on the way to earning your master's.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Holders of an appropriate bachelor's degree

HOW TO APPLY?

Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest. When you're ready, you can apply online or download an application at http://www.uml.edu/grad.

There is a $50 application fee for all programs except engineering and business, for which there is a $75 application fee. NO Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs. Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Students who complete a graduate certificate with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better in a UMass Lowell graduate certificate program may be able to waive the GRE when applying to a related master's degree. Graduate Certificate Programs must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and with not more than one course with a grade below B. Courses completed for one certificate may not be used for other certificates. Once you have completed all of the courses required for your certificate, please complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form.

For specific information regarding any of the above application materials (which may vary for some programs), please see UMass Lowell's Graduate Application Requirements at https://www.uml.edu/Grad/Process/.

Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Each application is processed — and each applicant notified — as soon as all admissions materials have been received and reviewed. For additional details, please visit https://www.uml.edu/grad/.

Graduate Program Admissions Requirements

Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before they have formally applied into the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.

Please Note: Test requirements for graduate applications have been temporarily waived. Learn more.
Apply Now

Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?

Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

Already Applied?

Check the Status of Your Application
Out-of-State

Information for Out-of-State Students

International

Information for International Students

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