Departmental Email:  edhelton [at] iue [dot] edu

Departmental URL:  http://www.iue.edu/online/programs/gradcert-compositionstudies.php

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.  

Program Offered

Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies

Program offers graduate level education in composition studies for those who already teach English at the high school or post-secondary level or for those who wish to teach writing at the community college or university level that do not hold an M.A. in English.

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies is to offer students a focused certificate in the teaching of reading and writing. The certificate provides structured learning and a supportive atmosphere for students who do not wish to pursue a traditional master’s degree in English or who wish to pursue certification in Composition Studies prior to or after completion of an MA. degree.

The certificate’s courses, offered 100% online, provide flexibility in format and scheduling. Our online courses offer individualized instruction by shaping courses to individual student needs.  The certificate also provides further professional development at the graduate level for licensed teachers already teaching academic writing at the high school level. The certificate does not lead to Indiana teacher licensure.

Certificate Requirements (20 cr)

Students must complete the 20 credit hours from the courses listed below, with 12 of the credit hours earned from IU East. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better for all courses used within the certificate.  Optionally, students may incorporate one independent study into their course plan, but it must be approved by the certificate advisor. 

Transfer Credits

Candidates may be permitted to transfer up to two graduate courses or 8 credit hours from another graduate institution (or from previous graduate work at IUE) if those courses demonstrably contribute to the work required for the Graduate Certificate. Unless transfer courses are clearly equivalent to the required core courses for the Graduate Certificate, those courses will be counted as electives. Candidates should include in the application a request to transfer courses, a brief description of each course identifying how it contributes to the Graduate Certificate, and supporting documentation such as syllabi, assignments, papers, or other relevant material.

Course Requirements (20)

• ENG-W 500 Issues in Teaching Writing
• ENG-G 660 Stylistics
• ENG-W 501 Teaching College Writing
• ENG-W 620 Advanced Argumentative Writing
• ENG-W 682 Spec.Topics: Rhetoric & Composition (Capstone)

Graduate Certification Director

Professor Edwina Helton; Whitewater Hall 269: (765) 973-8460; edhelton@indiana.edu