APPLY
VISIT
GIVE
View CCTC Playlist on YouTube
Community College Teaching Certificate
View Course Schedule FAQs Request Information Now!
About the CCTC Program
Looking to teach at a community college? The Community College Teaching Certificate is a graduate-level program that is designed for individuals aiming to kickstart their career in community college teaching. The program provides training in community college teaching and prepares individuals for teaching opportunities at community colleges.
The certificate curriculum provides a well-rounded learning experience that blends theory with hands-on teaching practicum. The program consists of three (3) courses: two lecture-based courses, which serve as prerequisites for a teaching internship at a community college, providing hands-on experience and valuable industry connections. With the support of the certificate program faculty, students secure their own internships that align with their personal schedule, location, discipline, and availability. This internship often serves as a semester-long job interview, offering valuable connections and frequently leading to future teaching positions.
Throughout the program, participants develop the confidence, skills, and expertise needed to teach a diverse range of students. The Community College Teaching Certificate program equips students with both academic training and real-world teaching experience, positioning them for a rewarding career in higher education.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the Certificate program, participants will be able to:
- Apply the principles of sound instructional techniques for community college-level teaching
- Evaluate student performance at community college level
- Demonstrate application of appropriate teaching styles and modalities for diverse student populations at the community college
- Explain the mission, philosophy, and organizational structure of the California Community College
- Display ethical behaviors and professional attitudes in the workplace in relation to students and colleagues
Who Should Attend
Note: While the program accepts students from all 50 states as well as qualified international students, please be aware that the content is geared to and based on California Community Colleges standards.To get started in the certificate program, participants should be in one of the following stages:
- Hold a master's degree or doctorate degree in a discipline taught at a community college
- Be in the last term of completing a master's degree program
- Have any degree and 6 years of experience in the designated Career Technical Education (CTE) area *
Prior to registering for classes, be sure to confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications below ▼
Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges
It is important to note that eligibility for future teaching opportunities at a community college will depend on an individual's educational achievements. Prior to starting the program, check out what you are qualified to teach at a community college. To do this, you'll need to match your education to the state minimum qualifications (MQs) using the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges Handbook. The disciplines list in the handbook will determine the minimum qualifications for the subject you can teach at the community college level, based on the major that is printed on your master's degree or your degree plus Career Technical Education (CTE) years of experience.
Course Delivery
The Community College Teaching Certificate classes are presented online (live online and/or asynchronously online, depending on the individual course). This instructor-led program utilizes our campus' Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), available through our student portal, MyCSUDH. Live online class sessions are conducted at the day/time indicated in the program schedule. Attendance and participation via Zoom at all scheduled class sessions is required.
The internship course consists of two parts: a community college internship with a faculty mentor and an independent study component. The internship segment is completed onsite at a community college; the independent study segment, facilitated by CSUDH's internship course instructor, includes several assignments with due dates, at least two live-online meetings, and teaching evaluations.
International Students
International students are welcome to take part in the program. However, the structure of higher education will be different outside of the U.S. Please be certain that the program will meet your needs.
Individuals who have completed college or university coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts. For details, visit:
https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/foreign-transcript-evaluation-(cl-635)