Certificate Of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.) In Education (Not linked with educator licensing)

Betty Hukowicz, Ed.D.
Associate Academic Dean,
Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education
413-265-2360
hukowicze@elms.edu

Contact Information:
Dana Malone
Assistant Director,
Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education
413-265-2218
maloned@elms.edu

The Elms College certificate of advanced graduate study (C.A.G.S.) in education program has the following goals:

• To provide experienced educators who already have a master's degree in education with the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in the field of education.
• To facilitate a candidate's growth in a specific area of interest.
• To provide students with experiences which will enable them to develop their own critical and creative thinking skills and teach these skills in their classrooms.
• To prepare students to understand developmental and cultural variations in children and to develop appropriate teaching strategies for children with different backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles.
• To enable students to experience teaching as a learning process, using results of self-assessment and research to create and modify curriculum.
• To enable students to use educational technology in the planning and implementation of instruction and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Certificate Requirements
To receive the Elms College certificate of advanced graduate study in education, a student must complete a planned program of studies, which includes a minimum of 30 semester-hours of credit. All requirements for the C.A.G.S. must be met within six years of matriculation. The certificate will be awarded at the May commencement following completion of the requirements.

Upon acceptance into the C.A.G.S. in education program, students meet with their advisor to plan a course of study to accomplish their goals. The core and elective components of the program are designed to increase students' awareness of current curricular and instructional trends in education today.Certificate in Advanced Graduate

Study (C.A.G.S.) in Education (Not Linked With Licensure)
This program is an enrichment degree designed to promote the professional development of experienced teachers and community leaders who already hold a master's degree. The degree offers educators wide flexibility to plan programs to meet their professional needs and goals. The course of study provides the advanced graduate student the option to expand her/his expertise in education and in certain academic fields. Completion of the program requires 30 credit hours.

The program is composed of the following two parts:

• A core of courses focusing on diversity, research-based practice, educational technology use, and thinking skill development; and
• Education/professional development and liberal arts/academic electives.

Prerequisite: master's degree from an accredited college or university.