On-line Graduate Certificate in Service-Learning and Community-Based Learning

Posted by Portland State University on July 31, 2017

Fully On-Line Cohort, Portland State University, Graduate Certificate in Service-Learning and Community-Based Learning

  • Gain High Impact Strategies for How to Teach, Coordinate, Lead, Research, and Assess Service-Learning for Educational Improvement and Community Enhancement.
  • Join students from around the U.S. and the World–and pay only Oregon in-state tuition!
  • 18 Credit Professional Development Service-Learning Graduate Certificate (officially transcripted by Portland State University)
  • Complete program in 3-4 academic quarter terms (less than one year)

Designed for:

  • College Staff and Administrators who (or who want to) coordinate and direct various forms of civic engagement including volunteerism, community service, service-learning and community-based learning.
  • Faculty/Instructors at colleges and Teachers in K12 schools interested in connecting academic content with experiential and community-based learning and service activities including how to conduct community-based research, assessment of outcomes, and the scholarship of engagement.
  • Community Professionals interested in connecting non-profit agencies, NGOs, and social service organizations with colleges and schools in order to support student learning and community enhancement.

Fall Term:
ELP 542 Introduction to Service-Learning and Community-Based Learning* (4 credits)
*students complete ~3hrs/wk at own local service site of their choosing (under advisement)

Winter Term:
ELP 543, Service-Learning Leadership and Policy: Leveraging Learning and Community Change* (4 credits)
*students complete ~3hrs/wk at own local service site of their choosing (under advisement)

Spring Term/Summer Term Options: (in consultation with faculty adviser)
ELP 536, SL Curriculum and Pedagogical Design
ELP 522, Teaching Diverse Adult Learners
ELP 506, SL Capstone Project

Application Process
Graduate Certificate students complete a very short application form. For more information or to begin your application go to: http://www.pdx.edu/elp/service-learning

For application questions, contact Kris Smith, Admission Specialist: elpadmit@pdx.edu or (503) 725-4654

For general graduate certificate questions, contact Stefanie Randol, Admission Advisor: srandol@pdx.edu or (503) 725-4689

Faculty Advisor and Coordinator
Christine M. Cress, PhD, Professor, Educational Leadership and Civic Engagement

Dr. Cress developed and directs the Graduate Certificate and Master’s Degree Specialization in Service-Learning and Community-Based Learning. She was honored with the Oregon Campus Compact Engaged Faculty Scholar Award, served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Middle East Technical University in Turkey, and has conducted trainings on curricular integration of civic engagement at colleges in North America, Caribbean, Europe, Japan, and India. An accomplished scholar (75+ publications) on cognitive, cultural, pedagogical, and evaluation issues in civic engagement, she is lead author of the internationally best-selling textbook, Learning through Serving: A Student Guidebook for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement across Academic Disciplines and Cultural Communities.


More in "Miscellaneous"


Stay Current in Philly's Higher Education and Nonprofit Sector

We compile a weekly email with local events, resources, national conferences, calls for proposals, grant, volunteer and job opportunities in the higher education and nonprofit sectors.