Described below are requirements for the Instructional Technology Specialist Certificate (ITSC) Program. For more information, contact John McCullough. To join the ITSC Program at any time, click here.

• To view the Admission Requirements, click here.
• To view the Retention and Certification Requirements, click here.
• To view the Course Program Plan, click here.
• To Apply for Admission, click here.
• If you want to Transfer Credits, click here.

An individual with a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college, who earned an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, may apply for admission to the ITSC Program.   Candidates for the ITSC Program must follow Clarion University application, matriculation, and graduation procedures as articulated by the Clarion University Division of Graduate Studies. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements for admission to a graduate program as described by the Divsion of Graduate Studies. Additionally, candidates who apply to the ITSC Program must:

•  submit a professional goal statement (two pages) stating their purpose for pursuing the ITS Certificate and interest in the field;

•  provide a detailed explanation of relevant experience that lends itself to successful completion of the ITSC Program;

Once all documentation is received, the prospective applicant is contacted by the director or director's designee of the ITSC Program to participate in an oral interview.   The purpose of the interview is to more succinctly determine the applicant's readiness for the program.   It has been determined that the applicant must have the following minimal technology competencies as adapted from the inventory:

•  Experience using computers in educational settings as a means to present information or instruction.

•  Experience using basic features of word processing programs and utilities to develop print materials.

•  Experience in the use of the Internet to transmit information and to conduct search inquiries.

Students without these minimal technology competencies are required to take ED 517:   Educational Computer Applications.   Students without teaching certification are required to take ED 522: Analysis of Teaching and ED 523: Curriculum Development and Evaluation.

The ITS Certificate requires 24 credit hours.   Students may receive up to six hours of credit for prior coursework or life and professional experiences.   Professional experiences must be in the form of prior education, training, or professional development that occurred within the past three years.   A description of the course(s), training, and granting institution should be submitted with a student's written request for application of this credit.   Life experiences must be fully documented with supportive evidence including samples of work, evaluations, and job descriptions.   The applicant may request a personal interview.   A committee of graduate faculty in the ITS program will evaluate all requests for credit.    In all cases, the graduate committee will have final determination for credit hours applied.

All students submit an instructional plan including goals and a course of study.   Tentative completion dates as well as planned course sequences and timelines are integral parts of this plan.   Each student receives an advisor assigned from the graduate faculty of this program.   Instructional plans are submitted within two weeks of the first semester of enrollment.   These plans are updated each semester until the candidate has successfully completed the program.   Students with special needs advise the department of specific requirements so that appropriate resources are identified.

Students are also monitored through their coursework and correspondence with field supervisors is also maintained to monitor candidates' fieldwork.   Upon completion of all coursework and passing the Praxis 1 tests, candidates for the Instructional Technology Specialist Certificate submit the necessary documentation for certification.   In addition, a self-evaluation of their educational experiences as they relate to the State standards for certification must be submitted to the Review Committee for approval before submission to the campus certification officer.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Retention Criteria
Students must maintain a quality point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applying the ITS Certificate Toward a Master's Degree
Some graduate credits earned as a part of the ITSC Program may be applied toward a given master's degree.  Students for whom this certificate would be particularly helpful include Master's Degree candidates in Communications, Library Science, and Education.  Students enrolled in a master's degree program should check with these programs to determine the number of credits from the ITS Certificate that might be applied toward their graduate program.

Click here for a Microsoft Word version of this file.

To Apply for Admission, click here.