Instructional Computer Technology (CERT)

Unit: College of Education and Human Development

Department:  Elementary, Middle and Secondary Teacher Education

Program Information

This program is completed 100% online.

The ICT program advances knowledge and understanding across disciplines and constituencies to develop instructional computer technology leaders who will inform policy, improve practice, strengthen communities, and address pressing social concerns.  People in the 21st century live in a technology and media-inundated environment that includes: 1) access to an abundance of information, 2) rapid changes in technology tools, and 3) the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale.  To be effective in the 21st century, K-12 teachers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology.  As such, the ICT program models evidence-based practices for instructing P-12 students to prepare teachers to manage resources, publish on the web, and connect digitally with colleagues, students, parents, and local and global communities. 

The graduate certificate program is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license.  Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement program in states other than Kentucky.  Out of state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs.  For Kentucky certified teachers, completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.

The ITC graduate certificate can be completed as stand-alone or as part of a graduate degree for teachers (M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning, Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, or non-degree Rank 1).

The learning outcomes for the Graduate Certificate in Instructional Computer Technology program are as follows:

1. Support teachers and educational leaders in designing classrooms and schools that reflect high standards for incorporating educational technologies in PreK-12 schools as defined in (a) International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and (b) Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Standards.
2. Increase teachers’ understanding of the role that technology serves in providing access, equity, and inclusion in preK-12 learning.
3. Collaborate with school partners to identify and attend to technologies (and related implementation of them) that have the highest potential to support student learning of content across the curriculum and to develop students as digital citizens in the 21^st century. 

Admission Requirements

• Admission to graduate school along with the application fee or current enrollment in a graduate program at the University of Louisville.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (minimum 3.0 for graduate work)
• Valid Teaching Certificate (Certified teachers outside Kentucky should be advised that we cannot guarantee the program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state. As part of the admission process, we require a written statement confirming interest in the program for personal development and understanding that the program is designed to meet Kentucky certification requirements only.)
• Content prerequisites, as applicable
• Signed KY Code of Ethics and Signed Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement
• International applicants with transcripts that are not in English, in addition to submitting official copies of native language records, must also submit a notarized, verbatim translation in English prepared by an appropriate university or government official. The records must show both the degree granted and all coursework taken during the course of study. Applicants who are submitting transcripts from outside the United States must verify their records by submitting them to one of the following organizations: World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and other NACES approved evaluators found here https://www.naces.org/members.
• Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by successfully completing one of the following:
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination – minimum score: 6.5
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination – minimum scores: 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL
• Duolingo English Test with Subscores examination – minimum score of 105 and exam must have been taken after January 1, 2020
• Note: International students who have earned a degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. are not required to complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Cumulative GPA > 3.0
Each course GPA > C
Target or above on ISTE Standards in Course Hallmark Assessment Tasks
CAEP Standard RA1 Six sub-components