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Special Certificate Programs - Columbus State University

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Academics

Special Certificate Programs

African Studies Certificate

The African Studies Certificate is designed as a multi-disciplinary course of study to enhance understanding of the African continent, its people and cultures. The 18-hour program is open to all students enrolled at CSU in good standing and pursing a baccalaureate degree. Requirements include:

  • ANTH 3125, "People and Cultures of Africa;"
  • Three semester hours of an indigenous African language (e.g. SWAH 1001) or demonstration of proficiency above the intermediate level in an indigenous African Language(**); or Arabic in the absence of the availability locally of an indigenous African language and when approved by the African Studies Committee;
  • 12 semester hours from the following: (Note: no more than 6 semester hours of any language or from any one discipline may be included):
    • ANTH/SOCI 3225 Model African Union
    • BIOL 5535 (selected topic-The Ecology of Sub-Saharan Africa)
    • BUSA 3135 International Business*
    • FREN 4555 (selected topic-Francophone African Literature)
    • HIST 3127 Introduction to Modern Africa
    • HIST 3128 Introduction to Traditional Africa
    • HIST 5546-(selected topic in African History, titles vary)
    • HIST 5547 History of South Africa
    • POLS 3555 (selected topic-Politics of Developing Nations*)
    • POLS 3555 (selected topic-African Political Economy)
    • SOCI 3107 African Women and Development
    • SOCI 3120 Educational Development in Africa
    • Up to 6 semester hours of an African Language (indigenous African languages or the non-indigenous African languages of Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portuguese)
    • Independent Study relevant to African Studies for a max of 3 sem hours*
    • Other Selected Topics Courses with significant Africa-related content*
    • Any courses offered through the University System of Georgia's Online African Studies Certificate program.*
    • A maximum of nine semester hours may be awarded for courses taken at other institutions that are deemed equivalent to CSU offerings.*

(*) Approval must be granted by the African Studies Coordinator, or in his/her absence, by the Director of the Center for International Education, upon verification of the significant Africa-related content of the course.

(**) Native speakers can sign up for FLAP credit of 6 or 9 units depending on the requirement in their major. They can earn credit through either 2001 or 2002 of the relevant language.

Artist Diploma Certificate

The Artist Diploma is a unique conservatory-inspired post-baccalaureate program, focused on developing both the artistry and professionalism of gifted young musicians. Candidates for the diploma possess not only great talent, but also the ability and determination to realize that talent in the contemporary musical world. Artist Diploma students focus on performance, deepening their artistry in close collaboration with master teachers. Requirements include: sixteen semester hours of applied music lessons at the 6000 level, and four semester hours of ensemble participation at the 6000 level. To qualify for this certificate, students must have completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent in music, as well as a thorough interview process.

Computer Science Undergraduate Research Certificate

The "Computer Science Undergraduate Research Certificate" is designed to prepare undergraduate students for the rigors of a graduate program that encompasses a research emphasis. The 15-hour program is especially designed for students wishing to complete their last semester in an undergraduate computer science program that requires a significant research project and who wish to continue into the M.S. in Applied Computer Science. To qualify for this certificate, the students must have finished the equivalent of seven semesters of Computer Science in good standing including courses in data structures, operating systems, databases, computer architectures, and algorithms. Requirements include: CPSC 4205 Senior Project & Portfolio (3 Credits), CPSC 4899 Independent Study (3 Credits), CPSC 4500 Undergraduate Research (6 Credits), and at least one additional three-credit upper division computer science class approved by the School of Computer Science.

European Union Certificate

The European Union Certificate is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary course of study on the European Union. The target students are those already completing degrees in business, the social sciences, and humanities. Requirements include: EURO 2105, EURO 4105, and 12 semester hours from the following (no more than six hours in any single discipline): ARTH 2126, ARTH 3127, ARTH 3555, BUSA 3135, CRJU 3555, ECON 3165, ENGL 4145, EURO 3105, ITDS 2748, MGMT 4116, MUSC 3229, PHIL 3116, PHIL 3125, POLS 3138, POLS 3141, POLS 3555, and POLS 4166. In addition, students may also apply HIST 5557U, HIST 5565U or HIST 5575U toward the certificate if the course is approved by the Director of the Center for International Education. Students must complete HIST 1111 or HIST 1112 and EURO 2105 before entering the certificate program. The EU Certificate may be obtained by students pursuing a degree program or by those who have already completed an undergraduate degree. Students must also complete a study abroad program, overseas research, or an international internship.

Latin American Studies Certificate

The Latin American Studies Certificate is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary course of study on Latin America. Students from all majors with a minimum 2.80 GPA are eligible to participate. Requirements include: six hours of Spanish or French at the 3000 level, or demonstration of proficiency above the intermediate level in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Haitian Creole or Quechua; ITDS 2107 or SPAN 3175; and nine semester hours from the following (no more than three hours from the student's major): ANTH 5305U, ANTH 5515U, ANTH 5555U, ARTH 3555, BUSA 3135, COMM 4555, ECON 3165, HIST 3135, HIST 3136, HIST 3137, HIST 5535U, ITDS 1156 ,ITDS 2107, MGMT 4116, POLS 3146, POLS 3555, SPAN 2002, SPAN 3150, SPAN 3160, SPAN 3170, SPAN 3175, SPAN 3177, SPAN 4116, SPAN 4120 AND SPAN 5555U. Students must complete 30 semester hours of credit at a four-year institution or 15 semester hours at a two-year institution, and ITDS 2107 or SPAN 3175 before applying to enroll in the certificate program. Courses that are to be applied toward the Certificate must have a minimum of 25% Latin American content. All coursework for the Certificate must be approved by the certificate coordinator or the Director of the Center for International Education. The Certificate in Latin American Studies must be taken in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree program. For more information, contact the Center for International Education.

Professional Writing Certificate

The Professional Writing Certificate is a seven course, eighteen-credit program open to all majors and to non-degree students. This is a stand-alone certificate that does not require a student to be enrolled in a degree program at CSU. Up to 6 hours of transferred coursework may be applied to the certificate, provided the coursework is approved by the department chair. The program is designed for individuals who want to enhance their careers through a development of writing skills. The prerequisites to take courses in this certificate program are ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102. The curriculum requires students take ENGL 3176, ENGL 5167, and four courses (12 hours) from the following: ENGL 3155 (or ENGL 3182), ENGL 3156, ENGL 3158, ENGL 3159, ENGL 3176, ENGL 3171, ENGL 3172, ENGL 5149, ENGL 5153, ENGL 5167. The curriculum will end with ENGL 5000, a portfolio the student must successfully complete in order to receive the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

The Professional Writing Certificate is specifically designed for students who need writing skills for career advancement. By completing this eighteen-credit curriculum, the student will achieve the following skills:

  • appreciating rhetorical situations, especially audience awareness
  • accomplishing different writing tasks found in the workplace
  • designing for both print and digital media
  • understanding English grammar
  • building a portfolio of completed written projects.

TESOL Certificate

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate is designed to prepare students to teach English as a second or foreign language, either in the United States or abroad. Any student admitted and enrolled in an undergraduate (U) or graduate (G) degree program at CSU is eligible to participate. The program consists of the following 18 hours of coursework: ENGL 5148U/G, ENGL 5147U/G, ENGL 5165U/G, ENGL 5167U/G, ENGL 5168U/G and ENGL 5169U/G. A grade of C or better is required in each course. For more information, contact Department of English.

With the TESOL certificate program, students take courses in three different areas (language and culture, language analysis, second language learning and teaching) plus take a teaching practicum. The TESOL certificate program aims to prepare future teachers of English as a second or foreign language to be informed practitioners by promoting

  • a pedagogically and theoretically sound knowledge base,
  • respect for diversity in language and culture, and
  • collaboration in a global community.

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