Graduate Certificate in Community College

Program Overview

The community college graduate certificate is designed to prepare graduate students to work in community college settings as teaching faculty or counselors. Courses offered in this program provide students with an overview of the community college and its role in the American higher education system. Students will gain insights and experiences in the classroom and in fieldwork that will strengthen their knowledge and skills in working with community college students, faculty, and staff. 

The certificate program consists of 18 units; 9 units are from the master's degree program and must be approved by the student's master's degree program graduate advisor; and 9 units are specific to the study of college students, the community college, and fieldwork; 15 units must be completed at CSULB.

All students will be required to:

  1. Submit a Graduate Certificate in Community College application to the Office of Graduate Studies.
  2. Be enrolled in the CSULB Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education Master’s Program (SDHE).
  3. Complete 9 units of coursework in Educational Leadership:
    • SDHE 511 Equity and Access for the U.S. College Student (3)
      Prerequisites: SDHE 510; Must be current student enrolled in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education Master’s Program.
    • SDHE 610 Introduction to the Community College (3)
      Prerequisites: Must be current student enrolled in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education Master’s Program.
    • SDHE 643 or SDHE 644 Fieldwork: Student Development in Higher Education or Advanced Fieldwork: student Development in Higher Education (3) 
      Prerequisites: SDHE 510, SDHE 516, SDHE 643; At least one semester of fieldwork must be completed at a community college.
      • Core Competencies for CED Clinical Practice | California State University Long Beach. The core competencies ensure program, state, and accreditation standards for leadership, teaching, and counseling are met, as well as the safety needs of others in educational environments. They also align with specific conduct expectations outlined in the CED Student Code of Professional Conduct.
      • NOTE: Students requiring reasonable accommodations for clinical placements or internships — whether through an existing and approved BMAC accommodation or due to a new medical restriction — should contact BMAC as soon as possible. Setting up off-campus site accommodations often requires additional documentation and coordination time, so advance notice is essential. Learn more about services at the Bob Murphy Access Center.
  4. Complete an additional 9 units of coursework approved by the SDHE master’s degree program graduate advisor for consideration to fulfill the 18 units required for the certificate. These courses may include student development theory, teaching and learning, counseling diverse student populations, and/or counseling the adult, or any other courses deemed appropriate by the SDHE program graduate advisor.