Below is a template that outlines the typical course progression for this major. Actual progression may vary based on factors such as AP/IB credits, dual enrollment, transfer credits, individual academic readiness. A College of Education academic advisor will help develop a path to graduation that is best suited for you.
Graduate Certificate in Comparative and International Education (CIE)
What can you do with this degree?
The Graduate Certificate in Comparative and International Education (CIE) is a 12-credit hour program that prepares graduate students for careers in the broad field of comparative and international education, including but not limited to education abroad, international student services, and placement in other international organizations which support the exchange of knowledge and students in global education contexts, broadly defined. The curriculum provides students with a foundation in comparative and international education and invites them to broadly or deeply explore other topics relevant to the CIE field and their professional and/or academic goals.
This certificate is designed for any University of Kentucky graduate student or admitted post-baccalaureate student wishing to enhance their graduate degree.
Delivery Method: On-campus
Credit Hours: 12 hours
Why study with us?
In addition to the rich set of experiences each student brings from their home graduate department, the proposed certificate is intended to provide the following additional skills and knowledge sets:
- Knowledge of best practices in international education, including Education Abroad and International Student Services.
- A comparative understanding of academic policies, organization, and administration of higher education institutions in the United States and abroad.
- An understanding of how to appropriately conduct comparative analyses among and between nations, regions, and institutions
What You'll Study
Core (3 Credits)
Students are required to take one core course and may choose from either:
- EPE 555 – Comparative Education: Analytic and comparative study of contemporary education in selected countries, with emphasis on the historical development and total cultural context of educational programs in non-Western countries. Informal as well as formal agencies and programs will be studied with particular attention to recent reforms and innovations.
- EPE 655 – Comparative Higher Education: This seminar will explore comparative methods and theoretical frameworks in international higher education research. Students will examine questions of access, quality, and accountability in tertiary education, student mobility within nations and internationally, and the process of internationalization and regional collaborations in higher education in the US and abroad.
Guided Electives (9 Credits)
In consultation with the Certificate Director and their academic advisor, students should choose three electives with an eye toward developing an area of professional expertise for a particular “field”. Because of the breadth of possibilities for elective study, a complete list of approved courses is not provided. Rather, the Department of Educational Policy Studies has identified a list of guided electives that invite students to explore issues relevant to comparative and international education:
- EPE 540/640 – Philosophy of Education
- EPE 632 – Student Services
- EPE 654 – Diversity in Higher Education
- EPE 661 – Sociology of Education
- EPE 670 – Policy Issues in Higher Education
- EPE 675 – Sociology of Higher Education
- EPE 755 – Seminar in Comparative and International Education (subtitles vary)
Students are encouraged to select elective courses that match their professional and/or academic interests, which may include a course from outside of the provided list. Students must therefore work with the Certificate Director and their major professor or program advisor to design the best course of study for their needs using the CIE Program Plan form. To date, The Graduate School has applied the policy that credit hours accrued toward a graduate certificate can also be applied toward a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree.
Certificate Application & Admission Process
This certificate is designed for students pursuing graduate degrees in educational policy or higher education or students pursuing other graduate degrees who wish to add a comparative and international component. Post-baccalaureate students are also eligible to apply for the CIE certificate. Graduate students in the following areas of study are especially encouraged to apply:
- Education
- Modern & Classical Languages
- Geography
- Hispanic Studies
- History
- Political Science
- Anthropology
- Public Policy
- International Studies
- Agriculture
- Diplomacy
- Behavioral Science
Application for the Comparative & International Education Graduate Certificate must be made before completion of coursework for the certificate. Award of the Graduate Certificate in CIE requires formal admission to the certificate, approval of a Program Plan Worksheet and Certificate Completion Worksheet.
Admission to the CIE Certificate Program requires that applicants:
- Submit an application for admission through The Graduate School
- Satisfy requirements of The Graduate School for admission to certificates (see the Guidelines for Graduate Certificates).
- Complete the Comparative & International Education program plan in consultation with the Certificate Director
Applications will be reviewed by the Certificate Director to assure that the student has met the University of Kentucky enrollment requirements, is a student in good standing, has clearly articulated goals for professional development in this field that can be met through completion of the certificate, and has the support of their home department.
Certificate Administration
The Certificate director is Dr. Kayla Johnson, Department of Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation. She can be contacted at kayla.johnson@uky.edu.
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