Oklahoma Baptist University’s McCabe School of Education is expanding its graduate-level offerings with two new 18-hour certificates designed to serve both new and experienced teachers seeking advanced credentials.
The first of the two, a certificate in Curriculum and Instruction, will launch this summer. The Reading Specialist certificate is currently in development and will be available soon.
Both certificates are fully online and tailored to fit the schedules of working professionals. Students take one course at a time, allowing for manageable workloads. The cost is $375 per credit hour.
“These certificates are a great next step for educators who want to grow in their careers or transition into leadership roles,” said Annie Keehn, assistant professor of education and co-director of OBU’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and ACCESS programs. “We’re especially hoping to reach experienced teachers who are ready to move into coaching or reading intervention roles.”
The Curriculum and Instruction certificate prepares educators for advanced positions such as instructional coaches, curriculum developers, and department leaders. The six-course sequence emphasizes educational leadership, instructional methodologies, school-wide collaboration, and curriculum design. Courses begin May 2, and enrollment is currently open.
The Reading Specialist certificate, which will launch soon, will train educators to support struggling readers through diagnostic assessments and evidence-based interventions aligned with the science of reading. Upon completion, participants will be eligible to sit for the reading specialist certification exam, earning an additional credential on their teaching certificate.
Both certificates can stand alone or be applied toward the MAT degree. Students who complete any two certificates can earn the full MAT in just two years. Other certificate options currently offered include Behavior and Trauma, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and ACCESS.
OBU’s ACCESS program (Alternative Certification and Credentialing for Elementary and Secondary Schools) is a separate 18-hour certificate that academically prepares individuals pursuing alternative certification.
“We’re seeing more and more ACCESS students stay on to complete their full master’s degree,” Keehn said. “But we also really want to serve the seasoned educators, those with 10 to 15 years of experience, who are ready to lead and take on new challenges in their schools. This is a flexible approach for achieving that.”
For more information about the Master of Arts in Teaching and available certificates, visit
okbu.edu/programs/teaching-ma.html.
