Certificate Programs

Educational Technology Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology is designed to prepare professionals to use educational technology and digital media to design meaningful learning experiences. All courses are aligned with the standards of both the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Students seeking this certificate may either be pursuing a graduate degree in another program or department or may apply to the Graduate School for non-degree status. Courses completed for the Graduate Certificate are applicable and transferable toward the School of Education Master of Arts in Education degree.

Learn more about the Educational Technology Graduate Certificate at this website.

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Instructional Coaching Graduate Certificate

Instructional Coaching is a school-based mechanism for promoting and supporting quality instruction in classrooms, with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes. Instructional Coaching is a well-defined conceptual construct designed to equip educators with advanced pedagogical skills, deep content knowledge, organizational skills, teaming skills, and the ability to communicate with, promote, and support classroom teachers to improve instruction and delivery.

 This certificate prepares both alternatively certified and traditionally prepared educators to support and enhance teachers' knowledge, skills, and dispositions through research-based peer-coaching models. This certificate is a 4-course sequence completed over 3 semesters. Courses can transfer to a Master's Degree or an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership (ELRC) or Curriculum and Instruction (EDCI).

The Instructional Coaching Certificate targets in-service teachers interested in increasing their educational skills by providing them with a rich framework of practice in effective instructional coaching, such as instructional modeling, demonstrations, and pedagogical skills, and focusing on the practical application of research and recommended practice in turnaround/transformation schools.

Courses are 100% web-based and delivered asynchronously.

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English as a Second Language Add-on Certificate

The add-on certificate will introduce you to theories of teaching English as a Second Language and to successful teaching in a multicultural society. As countries and cultures become more interconnected, the foundation of language becomes increasingly important. By completing the state requirements, you will gain knowledge and understanding of the following: 

• Introduction to Language & Culture
• Structure of the English Language
• Methods of Teaching ESL
• Curriculum Design for the Multicultural Classroom

This add-on certificate is ideal if you would like to teach the English Language to students from other nations who are newly enrolled in primary, intermediate, or secondary grades. Teachers can use the certificate and endorsement to stand out in the job market and to enhance their school system’s rich, inclusive resources.

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Gifted Education Add-on Certificate

This program is for teachers who already hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and/or are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Gifted Education from LSU. The Gifted Education Add-On Certificate provides a clear, documented pathway of graduate-level coursework for K–12 educators seeking the Academically Gifted Add-On Endorsement from the Louisiana Department of Education.

The program consists of 18 semester hours focused on the theory, identification, and instruction of academically gifted learners. Courses examine the characteristics and study of gifted individuals, effective methods for teaching gifted students, and the social and emotional needs unique to this population. Additional coursework emphasizes creative thinking and problem-solving, curriculum development for the gifted, and the strategic use of educational technology to support advanced learning.

Designed as an additional credential—not a substitute for a graduate degree—the add-on certification may be completed alongside a related master’s program. All coursework may be applied toward the Master of Education Degree with a Gifted Area of Focus, subject to Graduate School requirements.

Reading Specialist Add-On Certificate

This program is for teachers who already hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning or are pursuing a Master of Education (MEd) degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a Reading/Literacy focus from LSU. The Reading Specialist Add-On Certificate program provides a clear, documented pathway of graduate-level coursework for K–12 educators seeking the Reading Specialist Add-On Endorsement from the Louisiana Department of Education. The page’s existing program entries use concise descriptive paragraphs followed by sections such as Student Profile, Required Coursework, and Admission, so I’ve mirrored that format here.

The program consists of 12 semester hours focused on the foundations of reading instruction, reading in the content areas, and the diagnosis and correction of reading difficulties. Coursework is offered at LSU; however, because this program leads to a Louisiana add-on certification endorsement, completing coursework is only one part of the process. Additional requirements are established by the Louisiana Department of Education. Once coursework and state requirements are completed, teachers submit add-on certification applications directly to the Louisiana Department of Education or through their school district’s human resources office. LSU does not process add-on certification applications.