Faculty Preparation | Graduate Certificate

Teacher portrait
Program requirements header

College and University Faculty Preparation Graduate Certificate 

Today's higher education landscape requires faculty and academic leaders who are champions of innovation and change. Our graduate certificate aims to prepare future higher education faculty to meet this challenge.

Howard's Graduate Certificate in College and University Faculty Preparation meets the professional development needs of current and aspiring faculty interested in developing their knowledge and experience with teaching, learning, and technology in the college and university classroom, in both in-person and online settings. The program exposes students to culturally-relevant educational frameworks, pedagogical knowledge, higher education policy, and advancements in educational technology to help them excel as educators in postsecondary settings. 

Prepare for the future of higher education 

Enhance your marketability in the academic job market with Howard's Graduate Certificate in College and University Faculty Preparation. Our 15-credit graduate certificate prepares students to become familiar with contemporary issues, challenges, and opportunities in higher education. The program also exposes students to the development of educational frameworks and learning theories, instructional technology, the systematic assessment of student learning, and the creation of accessible, culturally-relevant learning environments. Students will also develop a robust teaching portfolio that will serve them well in their job search and throughout their careers. 

Program Highlights

  • Five 3-credit courses, completed in as little as two semesters
  • Semester-long teaching field experience or research project
  • Reflective use of evidence-based teaching best practices
  • Develop an online teaching portfolio for future job applications
  • Choose from a rich selection of courses that will help you better understand and be more effective in higher education contexts
  • Be challenged to introduce innovations that enhance students’ classroom learning 
  • Enhance your marketability for faculty positions by pursuing an additional specialization 
  • Learn from an accessible, supportive faculty and accomplished higher education practitioners
  • Shorten your path to a doctoral degree by earning credits that may be transferable

Ready to Apply?

Applicants to the graduate certificate program at Howard University (both internal and external applicants) must complete the GradCAS application. Please visit this website for more detailed information about the graduate certificate, including admission requirements. 

  Career Opportunities

    Higher education consultant
    Higher education researcher
    Postsecondary development specialist
    University administrator
    University professor
    University lecturer
    Adjunct instructor

  Related Degrees

    Higher Education Leadership and
    Policy Studies (Ph.D.)
    Any graduate-level degree program

   Get In Touch

     Dr. Kamla Deonauth
     Graduate Certificate in Faculty
     Preparation Program Director
     kbdeonauth@howard.edu

Apply Now | (Spring '25) Apply Now | (Fall '25) Admissions Requirements Application Checklist

Design Your Certificate 

Program of Study

CORE COURSES (6 CR)

Faculty Roles and Responsibilities

Effective Technologies in Teaching and Learning

ELECTIVE COURSES (6 CR)

Learning-centered Community College 

How to Mentor Graduate Students 

Culturally-Sensitive Pedagogies and Assessment 

Introduction to Assessment and Measurement in Teaching

Research in Curriculum and Teaching

Diversity in the College Classroom

TEACHING FIELD EXPERIENCE or RESEARCH PROJECT (3 CR)


Teaching Field Experience

  • Teaching Assistant: Assist a professor with instructional responsibilities at Howard University. TAs must be the sole instructor for one or more classes during the academic year.
  • Teaching Internship: Assist a professor with instructional responsibilities with institutions that hold an MOU with Howard University. TAs must be the sole instructor for one or more classes during the academic year.
  • Summer Internship: Assist a professor with instructional responsibilities with institutions that hold an MOU with Howard University during the summer. TAs must be the sole instructor for one or more classes during the academic year.

Educational Research Project

  • Teaching as Research: Involves the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use of research methods to develop and implement teaching practices that advance the learning experiences and outcomes of students and teachers.

Tuition & Fees 

Full-time students not enrolled in a Howard University graduate degree program but enrolled in the Graduate Certificate program pay the per-credit-hour rate for the academic year. The tuition rate per credit hour for the academic year 2024-2025 is noted on the following Cost of Attendance website.

There are no scholarships awarded for the tuition of a non-degree Graduate Certificate. Additionally, Title IV federal financial aid is not available for Graduate Certificate programs unless otherwise noted in writing. If a certificate program is not eligible for Federal Direct Loan funding, students may be able to borrow a private alternative loan with the lender of their choice to help alleviate costs associated with the certificate program.

Graduate Certificate FAQs ❱ 

Browse answers to frequently asked questions about our Graduate Certificate programs.