Is it hard to get into a graduate certificate in English program?

Everyone’s admissions experience may be unique. Factors such as your academic background, professional experience and the competitiveness of the program can all play a role in the admissions process. It’s always a good idea to review the specific requirements and criteria for the program you’re interested in, as this can help you better navigate the expectations involved.

Graduate Certificate in English Online

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journey today.

Step 1: Educational Interests

This helps us connect you with the right enrollment counselor to help you through the process.

Degree Level

Master's

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Language

Program

Grad. Cert. in English

Current Education Level

Make a selection

Citizenship Status

U.S. Citizen

Military Affiliation

No military affiliation

Country

United States

Find Your Purpose

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Overview

Enhance Your Ability To Teach the English Language

The Graduate Certificate of Completion in English at Grand Canyon University is designed to provide a framework for current teachers to consider various career opportunities. Prepare to share your passion for the English language and inspire students by diving into pedagogical approaches and professional writing best practices. The curriculum provides in-depth instruction of the English language that focuses on four domain areas: pedagogy, teaching writing and literature, practice of professional writing and theories of writing and rhetoric.

This graduate certificate in English offers advanced education in the English discipline and field of education. This may be ideal for teachers seeking to enhance their career qualifications in preparation for a possible career teaching at the postsecondary level. This certificate program may serve to complement a master’s degree, which is the minimum requirement needed to apply for postsecondary teaching positions at many community colleges.¹

Graduate Certificate of Completion in English

Offered By

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Class Settings

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $600 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 20

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Master's)

Undergraduate Degree*
2.8+ GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

GMAT: 500
GRE: 300 combined**

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).

Why GCU

Join a Community of Educators

Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this graduate certificate program is ideally suited to current teachers who are passionate about literature and language and who feel called to teach the English language. This certificate offers a survey of various aspects of the English language and approaches to teaching. At our private Christian university, we offer faith-integrated courses taught from the Christian perspective.

Coursework

Explore Writing Theories and Teaching Practices for English Literature

Coursework in this certificate program teaches a number of core competencies that can lay a foundation for effectiveness in the postsecondary classroom, including:

Writing theory
Writing within social and technological contexts
Writing for grant applications
Best practices for teaching literature
Multimedia writing, including social media

Mirroring GCU’s Master of Arts in English with an Emphasis in Education, this graduate certificate teaches the following:

Writing theory: This area is designed to provide you with an understanding of key modern ways to think about writing. Examine historical, theoretical and practical knowledge of rhetoric and writing, as well as classical and modern theories of rhetoric in relation to contemporary theories of writing. Other areas of focus include praxis and rhetorical analysis.
Social and technological aspects of writing practice: Explore pertinent writing and technology theories that have shaped the discipline as a social and technological entity. This area addresses the relationship between theory and practice, analysis of socio-technological contexts, as well as artifacts produced like internet memes and viral videos.
Proficiency in grant writing: Survey all aspects of grant writing, from the process and its purpose to practicalities. Areas of focus include the basics of funders and concerns, proposals and research techniques. You will complete the course by writing a grant proposal.
Teaching literature practices: This area connects you to theoretical approaches. You will be expected to master the techniques for effectively teaching literary texts.
Social media: The multimedia writing course centers around creating a social media campaign informed by rhetoric theories and technology. You will develop written elements for tweets, status updates, video/audio content, infographics, webpages and various graphics.

Careers

Career Opportunities for Certificate Holders

Along with earning a more advanced degree, this certificate in English can help you gain skills and offer career options in many different industries.

Potential workplace opportunities include:^2,3

Trade/technical schools
Publication houses
Newspapers and magazines
Libraries

Accreditation

Pursue Your Graduate Certificate From an Accredited University

GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university — a designation of our commitment to quality instruction. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you decide if this certificate is right for you, we have answers to your most frequently asked questions about our graduate certificate in English online.

A certificate program may be a useful alternative for those who are not ready or able to commit to a full master's degree program in English. It may be a helpful credential for individuals who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in areas such as literature, writing or teaching English, as well as for those seeking to use their skills to potentially pursue career advancement.

Everyone’s admissions experience may be unique. Factors such as your academic background, professional experience and the competitiveness of the program can all play a role in the admission process. It’s always a good idea to review the specific requirements and criteria for the program you’re interested in, as this can help you better navigate the expectations involved.

The time required to earn this certificate can vary depending on your scheduling preferences and course load. Generally, certificates are designed to be completed in less time than a full degree. For more detailed information on your time to completion, fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor.

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

Major20 credits

Degree Requirements20 credits

Core Courses

ENG-503

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides historical, theoretical, and practical knowledge in rhetoric and writing. By studying classical and modern theories of rhetoric, contemporary theories of writing, and relationships between the two, students develop an understanding of key ways to think about writing today. To that end, this course emphasizes praxis: the relationship between practical and theoretical ways of knowing in the discipline. This course also offers an opportunity to practice rhetorical analysis, which is an important skill that will help students become effective, dynamic writers in their professions of choice.

ENG-506

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers theoretical and practical scholarship about the social and technological dimensions of writing practices. At its core, this course explores writing as a situated social and technological act. To that end, students explore important theories of writing and technology that have impacted the discipline. This course demonstrates the relationship between theory and practice by considering how disparate peoples may think about the strategies and agendas embodied in various technologies and the artifacts that they produce. Electronic media are considered, as well as the artifacts individuals and organizations produce with them, such as Internet memes and viral videos. Students apply theories discussed in this course to analyze the sociotechnological contexts that give rise to artifacts from their professions.

ENG-507

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course examines the process, purpose, and practicalities of grant writing with emphasis on the electronic nature of current communication between funding foundations and grant seekers. Students will learn about funders and their concerns, the parts of grant proposals, and techniques for successful grant research and writing. The course will culminate in the student's completion of a grant proposal.

ENG-505

4 Total Credits

ENG-508

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces learners to writing in various electronic modalities, with the aim of creating a campaign for social media. Informed by current theories of rhetoric and technology, learners create an original social media campaign and design appropriate supporting artifacts, including tweets, status updates, or other language for sharing via social media; supporting video and audio content; infographics; Web pages; and pictures, logos, or other supporting graphics.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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