Webster University: Advanced Graduate Certificate in Immigrant and Refugee Education

Advanced Graduate Certificate: Immigrant and Refugee Education

Program Description

The advanced graduate certificate (AGC) in immigrant and refugee education is for educators who already have a master’s degree and some experience with immigrant and refugee education. This eighteen credit hour advanced certificate is for those who wish to make an even greater contribution at their workplace. Graduate students are encouraged to assume advocacy roles, to participate in professional organizations, and to contribute to professional conferences and publications.

See also:

Requirements

1. Any Webster University graduate courses taken that are not applied toward a graduate or undergraduate degree, may be counted toward the completion of an Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) program provided that the courses are appropriate and relevant to that specific Advanced Graduate Certificate.

2. All AGC coursework must have a grade of B- or better.

3. Any graduate coursework completed may not be counted to two different certificate programs.

4. Courses may not be transferred from another university into any Webster University Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) program.

Choose at least one course (3 hours) from each of the following three clusters:

Cluster One: Culturally and linguistically diverse students

EPSY 5510 Psychosocial Aspects of Migration (3 hours)

EPSY 5490 Seminars in Immigrant and Refugee Experiences (3 hours)

EPSY 5350 Intercultural Communications (3 hours)

SOCS 5000 Interdisciplinary Course: Multiethnic Education (3 hours)

Cluster Two: Educational and learning needs of immigrant and refugee students

EPSY 5991 Issues in Assessment: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (3 hours)

TESL 5139 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Methods (3 hours)

EPSY 5600 Practicum in Educational Psychology (3 hours)

TESL 5040 Practicum in ESOL (3 hours)

Cluster Three: Social and emotional needs of immigrant and refugee students

EPSY 5150 Resilience and Self-Concept Development (3 hours)

EPSY 5290 Family Counseling (3 hours)

EPSY 5370 Counseling (3 hours)

EPSY 5520 Children, Culture, and Violence (3 hours)

Required course:

EPSY 6000 Advanced Graduate Certificate Project: Immigrant and Refugee Education (3 hours)

To complete the 18-hour Advanced Graduate Certificate, choose two electives (6 hours). International experience and the study of a second language are strongly recommended.

Admission

Students who are interested in applying to this program should also see the Admission Section found in the front of this catalog for general requirements.

Admission Requirements

Masters Degree in Educational Psychology, Teaching English as a Second Language, or related area of study
Satisfactory completion of admissions essay
Overall GPA of 3.0
An essay is required as part of the application. Please see the School of Education Essay Requirements page for information regarding this requirement.

Send all required admission materials to

Webster University
Office of Admission
470 East Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119

Course Descriptions

EPSY 5150 Resilience and Self-Concept Development (3)

The purpose of this course is to provide theoretical frameworks, specific concepts, and teaching strategies that help enhance student engagement, self-concept development, interpersonal understanding, and psychosocial resilience in the classroom.

EPSY 5290 Family Counseling (3)

This course will provide students with the opportunity to explore their assumptions about “the family” and how it develops in a social/cultural context. The course is designed to give students an opportunity to obtain a beginning understanding of selected theories and principles of family counseling and classroom dynamics. There will be a combination of theoretical and practical information with opportunities for students to gain insights using a variety of approaches. Students will learn how to incorporate “family” into their classroom curriculum, learn about family-oriented/supportive community resources, and learn strategies to manage problem behavior in the classroom.

EPSY 5350 Intercultural Communications (3)

In order to function effectively in an interdependent world, we need to get along with and understand people vastly different from ourselves. In this course, students explore the values of their own culture, the extent to which thoughts and perceptions are shaped by cultures, and the expression of cultural differences in education.

EPSY 5370 Counseling (3)

The focus of this course is the application of major counseling theories, such as psychodynamic, humanistic, and family systems, to an educational setting. Counseling skills, such as empathetic listening, effective communication, and conflict resolution, also will be viewed in the context of the school. Student will learn, then, techniques to diffuse situations with an angry parent, methods to minimize the impact of a negative co-worker, and skills to really listen to students.

EPSY 5490 Seminars in Immigrant and Refugee Studies (3)

Seminars in Immigrant and Refugee Experiences are designed to focus on contemporary research and application. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

EPSY 5510 Psychosocial Aspects of Migration (3)

This course examines the psychosocial aspects of migration. Students learn to identify the needs of immigrant and refugee children and families, and how to help these families adapt to living in new environments.

EPSY 5520 Children, Culture, and Violence (3)

Students in this course will research and debate the psychological impact of violence on children. Topics include the effects of violent toys, games, and television and the impact of community violence on the lives of young people. How war or the threat of war affects children’s development is studied. Students will critically evaluate violence prevention programs and discover ways to promote peaceful classrooms.

EPSY 5600 Practicum in Educational Psychology (1–6)

After exploring the educational, intellectual, social, and emotional needs of children and youth, students enrolled in this practicum course will apply their knowledge of educational psychology. Students will work with children, youth and/or families on a regularly scheduled basis in a school or other educational community setting.

EPSY 5991 Issues in Assessment: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (3)

Students examine theory, research, and skills related to assessment and cultural diversity. Structured as a seminar, discussions include professional issues in psychoeducational examination, testing and assessment issues, techniques with regard to multiculturalism, reviews of past discriminatory practices that have unfairly influenced the assessment of learning, recommendations for modifying traditional assessment procedures, and ways to stress children’s cultural strengths rather than their cultural deficits.

EPSY 6000 Advanced Graduate Certificate Project (3)

The advanced graduate certificate (AGC) project is the culminating experience in the AGC program. These projects are based on applied field research at the student’s own workplace or practicum placement. Projects may be professional presentations or professional papers. Examples of final projects include a professional presentation or demonstration for other graduates students, a school district, a local board of education, a community group, a professional organization, or a professional conference; or a paper or research project that might be published or distributed within appropriate schools, community groups, professional organizations or professional journals.

SOCS 5000 Interdisciplinary Course

Students entering the program are required to take the interdisciplinary course. There are opportunities to work across discipline lines with faculty from other departments, to help develop minicourses to meet specific needs, and to work with teachers from all educational levels in a cooperative manner that encourages sharing of knowledge. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

Global Awareness (2-3)
Students explore the issues, philosophies, and methodologies in teaching global awareness education in grades K-12. Topics arising from the present nuclear-age, interdependent civilization, including population, values, the environment, diplomacy, and international economics are addressed. The inclusion of these issues in elementary and secondary school curriculum is also examined.
Multiethnic Education (3)
This course examines issues arising from the debate as to the manner in which curriculum reflects the diversity of American society. This course explores various viewpoints regarding minority and set gender curriculum issues, as well as the meaning of Eurocentric approaches to the past and present.

TESL 5040 Practicum in ESOL (3)

This practicum provides supervised field experience for students enrolled in this program. Reflective thought, observation, discussion, and actual teaching will be used to expand participants’ teaching skills. Classroom participation includes observation, interaction, record keeping, and analysis of specific strengths and needs of English language learners. Strategies and activities are designed to meet the instructional needs of individual students. Participants will also focus on interpreting and recommending curriculum materials and methods to encourage and help English language learners become proficient in their new language. Prerequisite: one core TESL/TEFL course.

TESL 5139 English of Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (3)

Methods of Teaching Languages - This course develops understanding and appreciation for the nature of languages and language teaching and learning. Participants study the most recent developments in teaching techniques and materials, and become involved in on-site activities using them. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

Updated 6/1/2011