Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education 

In all regions and at all levels, the number of students enrolled in online education continues to rise. Creating effective online learning environments to meet this demand requires professional educators who are fully equipped to deliver quality online courses and programs. The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education consists of a blend of formal learning, professional development, and professional practice to prepare professionals to work with confidence in this fast growing and ever evolving field. Graduates of this unique program will be highly prepared, marketable, and equipped with the knowledge of current trends, issues,  and best practices within online education. This advanced graduate-level coursework produces teachers and leaders ready to effectively deliver instruction at a distance.

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education is offered through an exclusive collaborative partnership between the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), a leading professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of online learning worldwide and Lamar University, a respected leader in online graduate education. Taught by online education leaders who have prepared hundreds of educators to develop quality online course materials, students will dialogue directly with respected and well-known instructors. Through a unique peer-mentoring program, students work with an expert to develop ready to use online course materials that follow best practice and research-based guidelines.

Objectives

This blend of theoretical and practical application provides students with an education that is:

  • Proven: Developed from current and applicable research.
  • Practical: Equips participants with the essential knowledge, attributes, and skills that are crucial for professional educators leading or working in online programs.
  • Applicable: Allows participants to immediately apply new knowledge and skills  through job-embedded learning activities.
  • Peer-Connected: Offers a rich and engaging learning experience where participants join other educators working together.
  • Fully-Online: Delivered fully online and designed to fit into the busy schedules of full-time educators and working professionals.

Program Details

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education is a 12-credit hour graduate certificate that integrates formal coursework with professional development activities. Coursework consists of three elements.

  1. OLC Online Teaching Certificate or the OLC Advanced Online Teaching Certificate. The OLC Online Teaching Certificate is a combination of one 9-week foundation professional development course and three, one-week workshop electives. At the same time, participants work with an experienced mentor to develop quality online course materials and apply skills learned. This learning process moves the participant from foundation to implementation while focusing on effectiveness and best practices. The OLC Advanced Online Teaching Certificate is for anyone who wishes to improve online courses through the inclusion of active learning strategies, multimedia, and social media components, and stronger assessment practices.
  2. Five OLC Institute Workshops. Offered continuously throughout the year, every workshop enables colleagues worldwide to collaborate with peers and experts via synchronous and asynchronous methods for effective and engaging learning. Topics are varied and allow participants to focus on specific skills.
  3. EDUD 6318 – Special Topics: Foundations of Distance Education. This course provides a broad foundation for the most important areas within distance education: leadership, faculty buy-in and support, student support, policy, technology, and quality evaluation. This course connects the practical coursework from OLC professional development courses with the theoretical and research foundations which support effective online education.

Unique Features

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education is unique in that participants:

  • Earn a widely-respected professional certificate from the Online Learning Consortium, the leading professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of online learning worldwide.
  • Obtain a graduate-level academic certificate from Lamar University, an award-winning leader in online graduate education worldwide.
  • Receive one-to-one mentoring by experienced online education practitioners.
  • Are eligible to transfer all twelve graduate hours from the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Online Education into the globally focused Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.

Pricing Details

  • Online Teaching Certificate or Advanced Online Teaching Certificate – $1500
  • 5 OLC workshops ($170 each) –  $850
  • Lamar EDUC 6318 Foundations of Distance Education course – $800

TOTAL COST: $3,150