Higher Education Teaching Certificate

HigherEdCert

Become a postsecondary instructor!

Our Higher Education Teaching certificate program provides graduate-level coursework and classroom experience to prepare current and future higher education instructors. This certificate program is aimed at developing postsecondary faculty’s culturally-sustaining and responsive pedagogical knowledge grounded in social justice, equity, and inclusion. The program offers a well rounded experience that integrates theory and teaching practicum. The program is offered in a hybrid modality, with the courses taught online and the practicum activities taking place in person.

If you’re a current MA/MS student (at a non-CSU campus) or faculty member in a postsecondary institution, the Higher Education Teaching Certificate is for you!

Program Overview

  • Format: Online during the summer, hybrid during the fall
  • Units: 9 units / 3 courses
  • Start term: Summer 2025
  • Application window: November 1, 2024 - Spring 2025 
  • Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
  • Transcripts Deadline: April 1, 2025

Initial Eligibility and Requirements

  • MA/MS Degree from a regionally accredited institution or currently enrolled in a MA/MS program

  • Minimum GPA of 2.5, based on a 4.0 scale

  • Candidates must also meet all SJSU admissions requirements

  • TOEFL score of 600 and above (for international students only)
    • Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores. Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission are 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based)

Course Schedule

Summer 2025 | 2 Courses (6 units)

7 week session each, held concurrently.

EDLD 212- Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Higher Education

EDLD 250- Emancipatory Pedagogy in Higher Education

Fall 2025 | 1 Course (3 units)

15 week session

EDLD 251- Higher Education Teaching Practicum

For more details about each of these courses, visit the SJSU Catalog website

Upcoming Info Sessions

- Information Session Schedule

Please contact the department at edleadership@sjsu.edu for more information regarding the program.

Steps to Apply

International students only: Contact WES to have your international transcripts evaluated. You will also be required to take the TOEFL test and have ETS send your official TOEFL transcript to SJSU.

Step 1 | Notify Our Department

Contact Dr. María Ledesma, Higher Educational Leadership Program Coordinator, at maria.ledesma@sjsu.edu to make her aware of your interest.

Step 2 | Begin your Cal State Apply application

Cal State Apply application opens on November 1, 2024

Follow the instructions provided SJSU Graduate Admissions Office to apply for admission to San Jose State University via CalState Apply.

  • Summer 2025 application deadline: April 1, 2025
  • Program name: Certificate, Higher Education Teaching
  • Visit calstate.edu/apply to create your application profile and pay the $70 application fee.

Step 3 | Prepare Your Response

Essay Prompt

  • In no more than 300 words per answer, please respond to the following two questions:
    • Please describe your teaching philosophy and how you respond to and incorporate diverse perspectives in your pedagogy?
    • What is the role of institutions of higher education in addressing issues of diversity and social justice? 

Step 4 | Submit Your Transcripts

Request one official transcript from each college/university where you studied and submit the official sealed transcript(s) directly from each college/university to the SJSU Graduate Admissions office at: 

Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations
San Jose State University 
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0017

If the college/university provides official electronic transcripts, the institution can email the transcripts to etranscript@sjsu.edu. Questions pertaining to transcripts, GPA calculations, and application fees should be directed to admissions@sjsu.edu.

Step 5 | Submit Your Application

Once you submit your application via Cal State Apply, check your application status online at one.sjsu.edu. Your ID and PINs are provided shortly by SJSU's Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations Office after you submit your application via Cal State Apply.

The total application processing time is between five to six weeks after all necessary documents have been received by the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations Office, so we recommend that you submit your application early in the processing cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information and to apply, email the Department of Educational Leadership, at edleadership@sjsu.edu