The “Teaching College Writing” Graduate Certificate and Microcredential is a nine (9) semester hour Microcredential that provides individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to teach first-year college writing courses at any two- or four-year college. Students pursuing this Graduate Certificate and Microcredential take coursework on strategies for teaching Composition I and Composition II, as well as an introductory course in Rhetoric and Composition to ground the practical in sound pedagogical theory.
A student who completes this Graduate Certificate and Microcredential may apply the nine (9) hours of credit toward the MA with a major in English or the MA with a major in Integrated Studies. The nine (9) hours of credit may also be applied toward the MSE in Secondary Education: English Language Arts 6-12 or the Alternative Class A MSE in Secondary Education: English Language Arts 6-12. All coursework for the MA or MSE must be completed within six years. Hours earned through a graduate certificate/microcredential program may only be applied to one graduate degree.
Please review our Graduate Certificate Disclosure information.
Application Deadlines
Deadline dates for applications and receipt of all required application materials are:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 1 | Fall Admission |
| November 1 | Spring Admission |
| April 1 | Summer Admission |
Any exceptions to these deadlines must be granted by the graduate program chair.
Application Materials Required for the Graduate Certificate and Microcredential in Teaching College Writing
Applicants for the Graduate Certificate and Microcredential in Teaching College Writing must submit all the following documentation to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate degree awarding institution and all transcripts from institutions where post-baccalaureate work has been completed. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a degree from an institutionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements for the Graduate Certificate and Microcredential in Teaching College Writing
In addition to meeting general admission requirements of the Graduate School, applicants for this Graduate Certificate and Microcredential must have at least an undergraduate minor in English or its equivalent, as determined by the head of the English Department.
Unconditional Admission
- Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 grade point scale) are eligible for unconditional admission. Applicants who already hold master’s degrees will be unconditionally admitted.
Conditional Admission
- Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be conditionally admitted with the recommendation of the head of the English Department.
Minimum Requirements for the Graduate Certificate and Microcredential in Teaching College Writing
All students enrolled in this Graduate Certificate and Microcredential program must maintain a 3.00 GPA and make an A or B in each of the three required courses in order to continue in, and ultimately complete, the program. The head of the English Department will determine if a student will be allowed to retake a required course and continue in this program after making a C grade.
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for the graduate certificate. Transfer credit is not accepted toward this graduate certificate program or microcredential.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| EH 408 | Theory of Composition 1 | 3 |
| EH 533 | Teaching College Writing I | 3 |
| EH 534 | Teaching College Writing II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| 1 | If the student has already taken EH 408 Theory of Composition (3) at the undergraduate-level, another graduate-level English course may be substituted by advisement. |
9 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Certificate and Microcredential
Graduation and Comprehensive Exam
Students completing the “Teaching College Writing” Graduate Certificate and Microcredential must demonstrate competency through a presentation of their teaching portfolios and satisfactory completion of an oral exam. All students must apply for certificate completion by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to complete. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.