Composition and Literary Studies Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate for Teaching College English
Are you a licensed English teacher who wants to teach college English? If you already have a master’s degree, you can take our online Composition and Literary Studies Graduate Certificate. This program gives you the 18 graduate credits you need to meet the requirements for teaching college-level English classes. If you do not have a master’s, consider our English Education MA.
Benefits of this graduate certificate:
- A flexible schedule: Start this program any term and go at your own pace. Plus the online delivery means you can fit your studies into your life.
- Flexible outcomes: We offer a wide variety of coursework online, allowing you to match your studies to your interests and teaching goals.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll take six online courses. Study topics like:
- Writing and composition
- Literature and Literary Studies
- Rhetoric
- Film and multimodal literacies
Advance Your English Teaching Career
Teach Dual Enrollment and College English Courses
If you have a master’s degree already, this certificate is designed to make you eligible to teach college English courses. This includes concurrent / dual enrollment courses, in which students earn both high school and college credit in the same course.
If you do not have a master’s degree, explore our English Education MA degree.
Course of Study
Can Be Completed Fully Online
- You can complete this program fully online. Additional elective course options may be available as on-campus courses, but those courses will impact program costs. See the Tuition section for more details.
- You can complete this program in one year if you take two courses per term (fall, spring and summer). You can also choose to enroll in more or fewer courses each term based on your schedule. Note: if you take two or more courses in the same term, you will be eligible for federal financial aid.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 18-credit graduate certificate program.
Master's Degree Option
English Education MA
We also offer an English Education Master of Arts degree that expands on the certificate coursework. The master’s degree is a great option if you do not already have a master’s degree or if you would like to apply for federal financial aid.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Stacy Bailey
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Because this is a unique and flexible interdisciplinary program, please note:
- The ENG courses scheduled for this program will match the tuition rate noted above.
- The tuition rates for some courses could vary based on your elective choices. Many other online elective courses will also match the tuition rate noted above, though some could differ.
- Note: you will be able to complete this program entirely through Extended Campus coursework. However, if you choose to take any courses that are not offered through Extended Campus (whether they are delivered on-campus or online) you will be charged the Resident Tuition or Nonresident Tuition rate for that course. You will also need to pay the typical student fees that are charged to all on-campus students for that term.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Scholarship Opportunity for Students Pursuing Dual/Concurrent Enrollment Teaching Eligibility
If you are a K-12 teacher in a rural Colorado school district, you might qualify for the Concurrent Enrollment Educator Qualification Scholarship for this program. The scholarship supports rural high school teachers who want to offer college-level classes to their students.
Financial Aid and Support
- The federal government only awards financial aid for courses that count toward completion of a UNC degree, so federal aid is not available for this stand-alone certificate.
- If you will need financial aid, please work with UNC Office of Financial Aid for information about non-federal loans.
- UNC also offers a monthly payment option.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Must have a valid secondary teaching license in English/Language Arts (U.S.) and a minimum of one year of classroom teaching at the secondary level, ELA, in the U.S.
- Note: if you are trying to become eligible for teaching dual enrollment English courses, you will need to hold a master’s degree in addition to this certificate. If you do not have a master’s degree, you should choose the English Education MA degree instead.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
Our goal is to make it easy for you to start this continuous enrollment program. Because this program features some coursework that begins in the middle of the traditional semesters, there are multiple options for starting the program.
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 30 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: April 15
- Fall term: July 15
- Spring term: Dec. 15
- Middle of a term: contact the Admission Coach to discuss options and deadlines!
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Educational Technology – Innovative Pedagogy Graduate Certificate
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.) Spring Term (Jan.) Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status