What you will study
The graduate certificate in Teaching Writing is a 15-month program that facilitates
professional networking and active learning. Designed by the University of Central
Missouri in conjunction with the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, the graduate
program coursework is taught by experienced K–12 teacher consultants who help prepare
you to transform classroom practices and publish professional research.
Unique learning opportunities in teaching writing
UCM’s graduate certificate in Teaching Writing prioritizes active learning for our
students, focused on classroom practice with student work at the on-campus learning
center:
- Teachers-teaching-teachers model: Instead of splitting up learning between the classroom and the field, we use a teachers-teaching-teachers
model in which teachers are both student learners and co-teachers based on classroom
experiences. This includes explicit modeling and engagement in and feedback about
pedagogical writing strategies between professors and students.
- Professional writing badges: During the Teaching Writing graduate certificate program, you can earn digital credentials
within the professional learning network of the National Writing Project. These badges
recognize skills in advocacy, teaching writing and leadership. You’ll also have the
ability to network with various regional writing education organizations, including
the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, Missouri Writing Projects Network and the
National Writing Project.
What can you do with a graduate certificate in Teaching Writing from UCM?
Earning UCM’s graduate certificate in Teaching Writing is a great way to expand your
capabilities as an educator and assert yourself as a literacy leader in your school
and district. Practicing teachers who complete this program can advance on district
pay scales and become eligible to teach dual credit classes. This graduate certificate
can also give you the ability to teach composition at the community college level.
Learn more about careers in teaching writing
Browse possible career pathways that UCM’s graduate certificate in Teaching Writing
can open for you using the interactive tool below. Gain insights into potential earnings,
job outlooks and more.
Financial assistance options for your graduate certificate in Teaching Writing
Advance your career as an English teacher affordably at the University of Central
Missouri. Did you know that we’re rated as a top college nationally for low student
debt by LendEDU? Plus, our tuition is lower than the national average for a public
college.
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Jennifer H.
Graduate Certificate Teaching Writing ’15 - ELA Teacher, Lee’s Summit West High School
“The graduate certificate courses reinvigorated my teaching practice by requiring
me to write in ways expected of today’s students, providing me with invaluable insights
to share in my classroom. Additionally, the program connected me with area educators
who have been my inspiration and support in the years since.”
Meet Jeff D.
Graduate Certificate Teaching Writing ’15 - ELA Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator,
Raytown C-2 School District
“Relevant coursework, extraordinary instructors and diverse, innovative learning structures
and experiences helped me grow as a teacher of writing in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.
The graduate certificate in Teaching Writing helped me grow as an educator in ways
no other graduate experiences have.”
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Admissions
The admissions process for the GCTW will be the same as those for the MA in English
with the addition of the following items:
- Candidates must successfully complete the GKCWP Invitational Institute prior to admission
of the certificate.
- Candidates who hold a BA degree in a discipline other than English may be admitted
to the program if they demonstrate a commitment to teaching writing within their own
discipline as a central component of their pedagogy. Such a commitment can be demonstrated
in the writing sample or letters of recommendation.
Step 1: Apply for graduate admission at UCM.
Step 2: Each student seeking admission must submit the following materials to Katie Kline
(kkline@ucmo.edu):
- Two confidential letters of reference. The letters should be written by those most
able to address the student’s academic work, written and verbal skills, and promise
of achievement at the graduate level.
- A writing sample. The writing sample is a one-page typewritten statement of purpose
in which the student outlines his/her educational background, teaching and/or research
experience (if any), and reasons for pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Teaching
Writing.
Program Outcomes
The teacher with a Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing, will use the knowledge
and skills obtained in the program to
- Understand the writing process as it translates to the teaching of writing in varied
genres and contexts.
- Develop writing assignments that demonstrate how writing can be used as a tool for
learning and critical inquiry.
- Design effective writing tasks using or situated within new media environments.
- Create a personal writing pedagogy that leads to consistency in practice when teaching,
assigning, responding to, and assessing writing.
- Fulfill leadership roles in professional development programs related to improved
literacy instruction.
