Cato College of Education

Academically & Intellectually Gifted (CERT)

The Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) graduate certificate prepares currently licensed K-12 teachers from all disciplines to employ diverse and effective instructional practices to enrich, extend and accelerate the standard curriculum for gifted students. Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate, students are eligible for the North Carolina K-12 Add-on Licensure in Academically or Intellectually Gifted.

Addiction Counseling (CERT)

The graduate certificate in Addiction Counseling provides students with an emphasis in addictions counseling within their master’s or doctoral degree in professional counseling. The goal of the program is to prepare students to work as substance abuse counselors. The certificate program admits practitioners and students who either hold or are currently enrolled in a CACREP-accredited graduate degree program. The Graduate Certificate is recognition of academic achievement and enhances professional standing.

Advanced Literacy Instruction and Intervention (CERT)

Literacy and reading instruction have always required the use of data to inform instruction; however, the move in recent years has been towards equipping teachers and other educational professionals to gather and analyze data to target instruction to meet the needs of individuals and groups of students. The Advanced Literacy Instruction & Intervention Certificate Program (ALII) reflects these changes by providing K-12 classroom teachers and other professionals involved with literacy with more advanced skills in using data to create instruction and interventions for groups and individual students through the 12-hour certificate.

Anti-Racism (CERT)

The online Graduate Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education allows students to explore the underlying social, economic, psychological, and political conditions that disproportionately channel advantages to particular racialized groups while denying them to others. The certificate is appropriate for educators in public and private settings, administrators in non-profit settings, counselors, religious/spiritual entities, local, regional and state government employees and others interested topics of equity.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (CERT)

The graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a non-licensure program designed for teachers and human service agency staff to acquire the skills and expertise to address the specific needs of individuals with ASD. This graduate certificate meets the Professional Content Standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate-level education through the flexibility of online learning from UNC Charlotte faculty and ASD professionals.

Child and Family Studies: Early Childhood Education (Birth - Kindergarten) (MAT)

Become the teacher you have always wanted to be and earn a master’s degree in the process. UNC Charlotte's Master of Arts in Teaching programs allow students to become a self-reflective master teacher, in addition to developing advanced competencies as a teacher-researcher and a teacher-leader. Please note the CHFD program is alternating the Child and Family Studies: Early Education (Birth – Kindergarten), M.A.T. and the M.Ed. in Special Education and Child Development: Child and Family Studies Concentration programs. The next cohort of M.A.T. students is scheduled to begin in Summer 2025.

Counseling (MA)

Admits to: Summer (can begin classes in summer or fall) Deadline: October 15 The Master's of Arts in Counseling has three concentrations: (a) Addiction Counseling, (b) School Counseling and (c) Clinical Mental Health Counseling. While each concentration has similar core course requirements, there are some important differences. The Addiction Counseling concentration prepares students to work effectively in various treatment settings and with a variety of addictive behaviors. School Counseling concentration prepares students to be effective educational leaders while providing a variety of counseling services to children and adolescents in both public and private schools. Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares students to provide a variety of counseling services to children, adolescents and adults through agencies, nonprofit organizations, corporations and private practice. Finally, students can add on to each of these areas a concentration in Play Therapy .

Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Counseling is committed to preparing multiculturally competent, ethical, clinically skilled, and knowledgeable professionals for positions as counselor educators in university settings or as clinicians and/or counselor supervisors in schools and community settings. Students in the program strive to acquire knowledge, values, and skills that are relevant to providing quality direct service to diverse populations.

Curriculum and Instruction (MED)

Why choose the UNC Charlotte M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction? Interested in innovative methods to help your students achieve their potential and to support your school in flourishing as a learning environment? If you want to be a teacher leader, the person who can be the change agent in your school or district, the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (C & I) will put you on the path toward your goal. The program is designed for teachers who want the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through an accessible, cost-effective, flexible online education program. This 30-hour M.Ed. program is based on a candidate’s initial license in a core field. It is composed of three strands (middle grades, secondary education, or TESL) that concentrate on developing knowledgeable, effective, reflective and responsive practitioners who will become leaders in the profession. Areas of study include culturally sustaining pedagogy, equity & education, educational research methodology, curriculum theory, analysis of teaching, advanced methodology and curriculum development, including the application of technology in teaching. In addition, the program includes advanced coursework in the candidate's initial-licensure area (i.e., English language arts, social studies or history, mathematics and sciences or English as a Second Language). Courses are also appropriate for teacher licensure renewal or individual professional growth. Successful completion of this program leads to “M” level (Master’s/Advanced Competencies) license. Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction (C and I) with 3 strand options: - Middle Grades Education (6-9) - Secondary Education (9-12) - Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), (K-12)