What classes would I take?

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing is an 18-credit hour program made up of these courses:

5 Required Courses:

• COMM 5000: Rhetoric: Written, Visual, and Oral Communication
• ENGL 5650: Theory and Practice in Editing and Style
• ENGL 6300: Teaching First Year Composition
• ENGL 6400: Teaching Developmental Writing
• ENGL 6500: Teaching Online Research and Writing

1 Elective Course:

Students who are not currently active educators should take:

• ENGL 5900: Graduate Internship

Students who are currently active educators may choose to take one of the following courses instead of ENGL 5900:

• ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age
• ENGL 5206: Public and Professional Writing

How long would it take to complete this program?

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing can be completed in a calendar year. 

Two required courses will be taught in the Fall Semester (one in each 8-week session), two in the Spring Semester (one in each 8-week session), and one in the Summer Semester.

Elective courses are offered in both sessions of the Fall and Spring semesters.

Does the program start only in the Fall Semester?

Not so. Admitted students may begin either program in fall, spring, or summer semester.

Would I have to be in physically present to complete a Teaching Internship?

No – ENGL 5990, a Graduate Internship focused on teaching skills is conducted ONLINE, so no physical presence is required. 

This internship should be taken in the same semester as one of the following classes to enrich class content with real-world experience: ENGL 6300 (Teaching First Year Composition), ENGL 6400 (Teaching Developmental Writing), or ENGL 6500 (Teaching Online Research and Writing). 

Students would engage in an internship directed by an experienced MGA professor in an online classroom. Proposals for in-person internships tailored to location of specific student can be considered.

Would I have to complete a Teaching Internship if I already have teaching experience?

Students who are already active educators do not need to complete an internship. 

They may choose to take either ENGL 5106 (Technical Writing) or ENGL 5206 (Public and Professional Writing) as an elective.

Can I combine this program with other MGA Graduate Programs, especially the MA in Technical and Professional Writing?

MGA’s School of Arts and Letters offers “stackable” graduate programs. In this case, several of the courses in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing are also required classes for MGA’s Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing, and other certificate courses can count as electives for the MATPW program. 

Students or graduates of MGA’s MA in Technical and Professional Writing could complete the Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing with the addition of as few as 1 and as many as 4 additional classes. Number of classes needed depends on individual situation, but any class in this certificate already taken for the MATPW can also count for this certificate.

Completion of this graduate certificate qualifies applicants for expedited admission to the Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing. Any courses taken for this certificate that also fulfil requirements for the MA will count toward that degree as well.

See Graduate Technical Writing Programs for course requirements for the MATPW

Any testing requirements for admission?

We do not require admissions exams for acceptance into the Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing.

Financial aid available?

Federal financial aid is not currently available for this graduate certificate. However, we do offer Graduate Certificate students other financing options such as Nelnet payment plans, alternative loans, tuition assistance programs (TAP), and third-party scholarships.

Are letters of recommendation required?

Letters of recommendation are not required for the Graduate Certificate in Teaching College Writing.

What is “evidence of aptitude for success in graduate-level studies”?

A graduate admissions committee determines aptitude for success by reviewing applicants’ official transcript(s) and statement of interest. No additional materials beyond those indicated in the application instructions are required.

Do I need to live in Georgia or near Macon?

Not at all. Both programs are fully online. MGA’s graduate writing programs have students from across Georgia, but also students from as far away as Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oregon.

Are there application deadlines?

Our admissions committee will make all efforts to review all complete applications before the start date of each semester, even those that come in after any deadline. Also, students whose applications are not complete before the 1 ^st session of a semester can be admitted for the 2 ^nd session. For admission deadline information for other graduate programs, go to: https://www.mga.edu/graduate-admissions/programs/index.php 

How do I apply?

Go to the program application page here: https://www.mga.edu/graduate-admissions/programs/certificates/certificate-teaching-college-writing.php 

Please call Graduate Admissions at 478.929.6865 for additional information or contact Dr. Monica Miller in the School of Arts and Letters at 478.471.5799 or at .