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Northern Illinois University

Counseling, Adult and Health Education

Certificate in Adult and Higher Education

Program Objective

The university offers several certificates of graduate study. A certificate of graduate study is a course of study, not linked to the pursuit of a degree, consisting of a coherent set of courses addressing a specific theme. Completion of the requirements for a certificate of graduate study will result in an appropriate notation on the student’s academic record an the award of a certificate, rather than a diploma.

To pursue a certificate of graduate study, a student must be admitted to the Graduate School or to the graduate-level classification of student-at-large, and must have the approval of the individual responsible for administration of that certificate. Only courses taken at NIU for graduate credit may be applied toward a certificate, and a GPA of at least 3.00 must be earned in the course work used toward the certificate, all of which must be completed within the six years immediately preceding awarding of the certificate. With the approval of the student’s major department, courses used to satisfy requirements of a certificate may also be applied toward a graduate degree, unless the Graduate Catalog indicates otherwise under the description of the specific degree or certificate.  

Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is available to any graduate-level student in good standing.  This certificate is designed to prepare professionals for work in higher education settings with a better understanding of the nature of institutions of higher education. Students who want to pursue this certificate must file an application with the certificate coordinator and develop a plan of studies with that coordinator.

This program is designed for graduate-level students other than those interested in, or pursuing, an M.S.Ed. or Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education. Students interested in pursuing a masters or doctoral degree in this area should see the Academic Programs Page for the M.S.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, the Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education, and the Resources and Forms Page for more information about these programs.

Eighteen(18) graduate credit hours are required to earn a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, including:

Core Courses (9 Credit Hours)

  • CAHA 757 Seminar in Higher Education (3)
  • CAHE 770 The Administration of Higher Education (3); or CAHE 702 Student Dev. in Higher Ed.: Theory to Practice (CAHE 522 should be taken first)
  • EPFE 723 History of Higher Education (3)

Elective Course Work (9 Credit Hours) from:

  • CAHA 555 Seminar in the Community College (3)
  • CAHA 560 Nontraditional Adult Higher Education (3)
  • CAHA 568 Continuing Higher Education (3)
  • CAHA 590 Workshop in Adult and Higher Education (3). Workshop must be directly related to higher education and approved by the higher education certificate coordinator.
  • CAHE 509 Culture of the College Student (3)
  • CAHE 522 Student Dev. In Higher Ed.: Programs, Issues, and Practices (3)
  • CAHE 572 or ETR 572x Assessment Methods in Higher Education (3)
  • CAHE 701 Personnel Services in Higher Education (3)
  • CAHE 702 Student Dev. in Higher Ed.: Theory to Practice (CAHE 522 should be taken first) (If not taken above)
  • CAHE 751 Community College Student Personnel Services (3)
  • CAHE 770 The Administration of Higher Education (3) (if not taken above)
  • CAHE 771 Legal Aspects of Higher Education Administration (3)
  • CAHE 772 Business Management in Higher Education (3)
  • LTRE 719 Principles and Methods of Teaching Postsecondary Reading (3)
  • Individualized Study (3). Students may take up to 3 hours of individualized study toward the certificate with the approval of the higher education certificate coordinator. These hours should be compatible with the student’s career goals and must be directly related to higher education and may not include thesis or dissertation hours.

For additional information regarding the Certificate in Higher Education you may attend an AHE Open House, or email Dr. Laurel Jeris, Assistant Professor. You may also review/complete an initial draft of the Application for the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education to email Dr. Jeris.