Graduate Certificates

Certificates of Graduate Studies (CGS)

Certificates of Graduate Study are primarily for post-baccalaureate-level students and provide advanced applied academic and/or professional training. Admission and retention requirements are extensive. The certificate components consist mostly of Rhode Island College graduate-level courses. Students who complete Certificate Programs at Rhode Island College may request to apply earned credits to an appropriate graduate degree program. Contact the Program Director for specific details.

Certificates of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.)

Certificates of Advanced Graduate Studies are post-Master's graduate degree program that provides practitioners the opportunity to advance in a specialized area of study.

Certificate of Graduate Studies (CGS)

Advanced Study of Creative Writing (Federal financial aid available)*

This program has been developed for those from various disciplines and backgrounds who wish to pursue creative writing in a structured environment.  The CGS serves as a credential of extended study in fiction, poetry, or literary nonfiction writing, a valuable asset in many fields. Credits earned may be applied to the M.A. should students wish to apply for and be accepted into the M.A. program.

Contact: Mark Anderson
401-456-4648
manderson@ric.edu

Advanced Study of Literature (Federal financial aid available)*

This program enables students to pursue the study of literature on an advanced, graduate level. Courses can be applied towards the Masters degree if students are admitted to the Masters program later. The certificate may be particularly useful to high school teachers seeking a credential to teach college-credit English courses.

Contact: Barbara Schapiro
401-456-8667
bschapiro@ric.edu

Autism Education (Federal financial aid available)*

Increases in the incidence of autism in Rhode Island has created the need to extend the learning opportunities for school professionals (teachers and related service personnel) to further develop their knowledge and skills in effective practices that support learning for students with autism.

Contact: Paul LaCava
401-456-9703
placava@ric.edu

Financial Planning (Federal financial aid available)*

The C.G.S. in financial planning is a program of 18 credit hours (6 courses) that prepares candidates to sit for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ without having to complete a master's program. Completion of the required course work meets CFP Board’s requirements for eligibility.

Contact: Lisa Church
401-456-9593
lchurch@ric.edu

Health Psychology

The Certificate of Graduate Studies (CGS) in Health Psychology provides post-baccalaureate education to people interested in health-related fields of work. The knowledge gained in this program has applications for careers in health-related research, patient care, and public health policy.

Contact: Christine Marco
401-456-8598
cmarco@ric.edu

Mathematics Content Specialist: Elementary

Designed to facilitate the professional improvement of teachers of mathemetics in elementary schools, this 15 credit program (5 courses) covers four topic areas.  It aligns with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Rhode Island Mathematics Standards (GLEs/GSEs) and the Common Core State Standards for mathematics (CCSS).  Each course delves into the conceptual and computational understanding of mathematics and provides the elementary school teacher a deeper understanding of the mathematics content they instruct.

Contact: Peter Andreozzi
401-456-9758
pandreozzi@ric.edu

Middle-Secondary Level Special Education

This CGS provides teachers currently eligible for teaching certification in elementary-middle level mild-moderate special education a graduate program to extend their certification through high school.  The program is consistent with the content and competencies outlined by Rhode Island Department of Education and extends learning to additional coursework in Middle Level Education.

Contact: Marie Lynch
401-456-8763
mlynch@ric.edu

Modern Biological Sciences

This CGS of 15-17 credit hours (5 courses) provides for advanced study of modern biological sciences and their application in the laboratory. It is designed to be completed in one year of full-time study.

Contact: Edythe Anthony
401-456-9793
eanthony@ric.edu

Physical Education (Federal financial aid available)*

This CGS introduces students to advanced studies in current trends and topics in Physical Education.  The program provides students with tools to adjust current physical education school programs to meet the needs of today's children and their community.  It serves to increase a student's marketability and enhance teaching techniques based on theory.

Contact: Robin Kirkwood Auld
401-456-8880
rauld@ric.edu

Teacher Leadership

This program is geared for experienced teachers who aspire to take a leadership role in their schools and districts. This program is designed to provide knowledge and skills pertaining to teacher leadership in curriculum development, instructional improvement, professional development, pre-service guidance and peer coaching/mentoring. The CGS-TL prepares teachers with the skills needed to assume leadership roles within their schools and beyond and provides important support and stepping-stones toward National Board Certification. Throughout the CGS-TL, students interested in National Board Certification will have opportunities, projects, and assignments which could be used to fulfill various portfolio requirements. In short, the CGS-TL enables teacher leaders to use their expertise to improve student learning through formal and informal ways to improve the professional skills of colleagues, to strengthen the culture of the school, and to improve the quality of instruction. This program is designed to enable teachers to build and strengthen their leadership capacity for working within a school or district setting, but still remain in the classroom.

Contact: Andrew Snyder
401-456-9633
asnyder@ric.edu

Certificate of ADVANCED Graduate Studies (CAGS)

Mental Health Counseling (Federal financial aid available)*
The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) Program in Mental Health Counseling is designed to qualify students to become licensed mental health counselors in the state of Rhode Island. Students take a variety of advanced counseling and research courses. Students gain advanced training in counseling through the advanced clinical practicum courses and also learn advanced group counseling skills.

Contact: Charles Boisvert
401-456-9621
cboisvert@ric.edu

School Psychology (Federal financial aid available)*

Contact: John Eagle
401-456-9621
jeagle@ric.edu

*Federal Financial Aid. RIC has received approval to offer federal financial aid to students in four certificate programs.  The most common form of financial aid for graduate students would be federal Direct Student Loans.  Application procedures and brief program descriptions may be found at this link on our web site:  www.ric.edu/financialAid/graduate2.php#needbased.

APPLICATION TO CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

1. Persons wishing to be admitted to a graduate program must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time they begin their graduate studies at Rhode Island College. The following material must be forwarded directly to the Academic Dean of the School to which application is made:
1. Completed application for admission to graduate study accompanied by a non-refundable application fee;
2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records;
3. Copy of teaching certificate (when applicable);
4. An interview may be required.
5. Three recommendations attesting to the candidate's potential to do graduate work.
6. See individual programs for additional requirements.
2. Applications must be completed within one year. After that time prospective students will need to reapply or update their application.
3. Upon recommendation to a program a graduate applicant has one year to submit the Plan of Study or request deferment.
4. If applicants have completed a substantial amount of post-baccalaureate work before applying for admission, this work will be evaluated with all other credentials submitted in support of admission.
5. To be accepted as a graduate degree candidate, applicants are expected to have attained an average of B overall (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in their undergraduate work. Admissions committees may also consider the undergraduate G.P.A. in the candidate's undergraduate major or coursework related to the prospective major. Applicants with undergraduate averages below this level, but not less than 2.00, may be admitted to degree candidacy upon the submission of other evidence of academic potential, i.e., satisfactory performance in post-baccalaureate work or professional experience as evidenced by publications or letters of recommendation.