Certificate of Graduate Study: Teaching in Urban & Diverse Settings

Students who pursue this certificate will deepen their understanding of the complexity of teaching in urban educational settings. Nationally, Students of Color now comprise the majority of students in US public schools, a majority that will increase in the upcoming decades nationally and is amplified in our cities. Locally, a regional survey of k-12 principals in 2015 resulted in 80% of principals naming "the need for teaching professionals with training in urban/multicultural education;" as a high/very high need; further, when asked "what are your top priorities for teacher preparation," 22% named urban education/multicultural education. Of 746 completers, 102 (or 14% of schools) indicate that urban education/multicultural education was an area that is underserved in their school/district. In that same survey, 45% offered a pay scale increase for teachers getting advanced degrees in an underserved area, and 25% offered some form of tuition support. Further, the US Department of Education's Teacher Shortage Areas report indicates that Newark, Trenton, Camden, Philadelphia, and Baltimore continue to face shortages in qualified teachers, in part due to the high turnover- in urban settings, 45% of teachers leave the profession in their first five years (Ingersoll et al, 2014), creating a constant demand. This program intends to support educators with the skills to navigate the unique challenges inherent in urban settings.

For an outline of the plan of study and courses, see the Certificate of Graduate Study: Teaching in Urban & Diverse Settings Program Guide.