Advance Your Career in Education with Courses & Certificates
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The º£½ÇÂÒÂ×’s Professional and Continuing Education courses and certificate programs are designed by educators for educators to motivate teachers, enhance instruction and stimulate student learning, while also expanding your opportunities for professional advancement.
Continuing education is essential for teachers, many of whom seek out our high-quality programs (offered online, on-campus, and in several Los Angeles locations) motivated by a passion for lifelong learning, as well as professional growth and salary advancement.
Choose from hundreds of online and independent study courses for teachers covering a wide range of subjects. Earn graduate-level extension credit that can be applied toward salary advancement or professional development (with prior district approval), while also enhancing your resume.
Designed for busy working teachers, our online educator certificates are comprehensive, multi-course programs of study that demonstrate mastery of a specific body of knowledge (for example Classroom Management, Teacher Leadership and Bullying Prevention). Completing an educator certificate program can be an excellent way to:
Learn how to identify and prevent school bullying through the Bullying Prevention Certificate program, offered 100% online through the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×.
The online STEAM Certificate Program is designed for experienced teachers seeking to become a designer of learning, enhance their skills as an educator, and promote STEAM curriculum in their classroom.
Looking for a high-quality online TESOL certificate program? Explore the online certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) offered by expert instructors through the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×.
Classroom management is an essential skill for both new and experienced teachers. USD’s classroom management certificate is designed to help teachers learn how to make the classroom a place where both you and your students can focus on educational goals in a positive environment.
The Mental Health First Response Certificate program focuses on how to respond to the emotional, mental, and social issues in a school environment. In this certificate, Educators are trained to recognize and respond to the symptoms of mental or emotional distress impacting their students.
Online Certificate Program for Professional Development Facilitation and Leadership focusing on adult learning theory, Andragogy, and how to apply it to create successful learning experiences for adult learners.
Explore a series of courses covering in-depth expertise in single subject areas. Similar to our educator certificates, you will earn graduate-level extension credit that can be applied toward salary advancement or professional development (with prior district approval), while also enhancing your resume.
Is your curriculum design where it needs to be? Learn how to design effective curricula in our online development course.
A series of online courses for educators to promote collaboration and creativity in the classroom using Google for teachers.
This series is to enhance anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and social justice in the classroom providing K-12 educators with the skills and knowledge on how to incorporate strategies into their teaching.
Learn how to teach remotely with our series of courses for training online teachers.
Elevate your classroom teaching with technology enhanced curriculum.
The Beginning Teachers Series is designed for those who are new to teaching, as well as those wanting to advance their teaching career. Beginning teachers will receive an introduction to teaching with these beginning teachers courses.
Our educator programs are ideal for teachers, administrators, and others who are working in the K-14 field of education. These programs are a great way to expand your skills, develop new specializations, and enhance your resume. Plus, you’ll earn graduate-level extension credit that many teachers apply toward salary advancement or professional development (with prior district approval). Our curriculum is designed to appeal to educators and others whose interests include:
The top reasons so many K-12 teachers and community college-level instructors enroll in our educator programs include:
The º£½ÇÂÒÂ× offers high-quality online and on-campus courses and programs geared to lifelong learning, professional growth, and career advancement in a number of different formats.
These on-campus courses are offered in a traditional classroom where you can connect with your instructor and classmates in a live setting. This learning environment facilitates communication in real time, enables immediate feedback and fosters face-to-face interaction with the instructor and classmates. Classroom courses have a scheduled start and finish date, and students are expected to attend all course sessions.
Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.
How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
Independent Study Self-Paced: Independent study courses offer you flexibility and the ability to complete a course faster or slower than you would a traditional live course. In this online format, you may register at any time and you will have a set time period (typically 9 months) from the time of registration to complete your course. This convenient format is often helpful for:
Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.
How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
The flexibility of the curriculum allowed me to focus efforts in the directions my students’ needs demanded. I had support and feedback on every idea and it gave me the motivation to start a huge video work project for the courses I teach. I would highly recommend courses through USD.
The courses offered at USD have been valuable in my teaching career! I have implemented engaging and differentiation strategies to reach the needs of my students. Thank you!
I love the continuing education classes at USD because unlike classes I’ve taken at other universities, I feel like the material is really applicable and I’m actually learning something. The courses push my learning without being too challenging/time consuming to complete while working full time. The professors also really seem interested in your growth rather than just checking off that you completed the requirements.
Earn graduate-level extension credits that can be applied (with prior district approval) toward professional development goals and requirements.
Many educators complete our programs to qualify for salary increases (with prior district approval), and to advance their careers.
Choose online educator courses for optimal scheduling flexibility to balance your teaching duties, your USD studies, and family life.
The educator program faculty instructors at the º£½ÇÂÒÂ×’s Division Professional & Continuing Education possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience as educators. USD PCE faculty attributes and benefits include:
USD’s widely respected Division of Professional & Continuing Education is dedicated to connecting students with high-quality courses and certificate programs.
If you are passionate about lifelong learning or if you are seeking educational opportunities to gain specific knowledge and skills for personal or career advancement reasons, then (yes!) the º£½ÇÂÒÂ× is right for you.
USD has been crafting high-quality curriculum for over 70 years
Number of students who have enhanced their career
Majority of courses are offered in flexible and convenient formats
If you experience issues enrolling, or have questions, complete our º£½ÇÂÒÂ× Form or call our Enrollment and Student Services team between 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (PST), M-F, at (619) 260-4585 or toll free at (888) 321-6658.
Transcripts can be ordered online via your student account. For more detailed information, please visit the Student Transcript Request Page
The credit earned is considered Graduate Level Extension Credit, in semester hours (1 semester hour= 15 contact hours). The credit earned is usually used for salary advancement, credential renewing and/or recertification. Graduate Level Extension credit is not usually transferrable towards a degree. Prior district approval is highly recommended and the responsibility of the student if using the units towards salary advancement, credential renewing and/or recertification.
The address for classroom courses are provided at the section level detail on the course page. Once you know the address, we recommend you use Google Maps. Otherwise please contact the ESS during business hours of 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (PST), M-F, at (619) 260-4585 or toll free at (888) 321-6658.
USD Professional and Continuing Education allows for a maximum of 18 units to be completed during any one semester: fall (September – December); spring (January – April); and summer (May – August).
Yes, on the course page, click on Request Information and you will be notified by email when enrollment is open for the course or you can complete the Course Inquiry form
The education industry is always changing and evolving, perhaps now more than ever. Learn how you can be prepared by downloading our eBook.
Check out our Career-Building Course, Certificate, and Series Offerings for Educators