University of Southern Maine

USM Graduate Catalog 2006-2007

Certificates of Graduate Study (non-degree, post-baccalaureate)

To print information on non-degree offerings, refer to the PDF of the respective school or college that offers each program.

[Acting Techniques of Michael Chekhov
Advanced Research and Evaluation Methods
Applied Research and Evaluation Methods
Assistant Principal | Athletic Administrator
Child and Family Policy and Management
Community Planning and Development
Culturally Responsive Practices
Health Policy and Management | Literacy Certificate
Manufacturing Systems
Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician (MHRT)/Community
Middle Level Education | Nonprofit Management
Public Health | Performance Management and Measurement
Statistics | Substance Abuse Counseling]

Graduate Certificate in the Acting Techniques of Michael Chekhov

The graduate certificate, offered by the Department of Theatre, in the acting techniques of Michael Chekhov is designed to appeal to theatre and drama instructors, professional actors/directors, experienced community actors/directors, and advanced students. The courses provide an intensive overview of the acting techniques attributed to Michael Chekhov and the application of those techniques to performing, directing, auditioning, and teaching. Areas of focus will include image and body, preparing the part, characterization, and improvisation. The graduate certificate program introduces methods of teaching these techniques and provides opportunities for graduate students to teach back to the peer group and faculty, receiving feedback and guidance on their presentations. Candidates for the certificate must attend two summer institutes at USM, including an additional one and a half days in residence for the certificate program, and complete a significant one-credit independent project approved by the instructors.

For more information, contact the College of Arts and Sciences

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Research and Evaluation Methods

The certificate of graduate study in advanced research and evaluation methods is designed for students and practitioners who already are comfortable with basic statistical techniques and data analysis and presentation who wish to gain greater competence in designing research and evaluation studies, expand their range of analytical techniques, and apply methods effectively to issues in policy analysis, planning and management. Students select four courses (12 credits) including one required course and three from a list of approved courses.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Research and Evaluation Methods

The certificate of graduate study in applied research and evaluation methods is designed for students and practitioners who want to learn to use data more effectively on the job and in the community. The certificate emphasizes data acquisition, data analysis and presentation, choosing and applying statistical techniques to real world problems, and practical application of analytical tools. There is no mathematics or statistics prerequisite. Students select four courses (12 credits) including one required course and three from a list of approved courses.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Assistant Principal Certificate

The assistant principal certificate program is designed to meet the state requirements for assistant principal certification in Maine and to provide a foundation for graduate work in educational administration. This 12-credit program consists of 4 courses:

Courses may be taken in any sequence. At the conclusion of the certificate program, students will not only have satisfied state requirements for a Maine assistant principal’s certificate but will have completed a significant part of the entry and foundation coursework for a master’s degree in educational leadership. In addition, they will receive USM certificates of program completion which can be cited on résumés and vitae. Although credits from the certificate program may be transferable to a master’s program, students who wish to matriculate into a master’s program must apply separately for admission.

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development

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Athletic Administrator Certificate

The athletic administrator certificate program is designed to prepare graduates for the responsibilities of the athletic administrator in middle and high schools in Maine. Students who complete the athletic administrator certificate program will not only have impressive graduate background in athletic administration, but will have satisfied the state course requirements for a Maine assistant principal’s certificate. In addition, graduates will have completed a significant part of the entry and foundation coursework for a master’s in educational leadership. Courses may be taken in any sequence. Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded USM certificates for both athletic administration and the assistant principalship, which can be included on résumés and job applications. Upon submission of the USM transcript, the state office of certification will issue a state of Maine assistant principal certificate to candidates with appropriate professional prerequisites established by the state of Maine. Although 12 of the 18 credit hours earned in this program (indicated by single asterisks below) can be transferred into a master’s program, students who wish to matriculate into the master’s program must apply separately for admission.

*These courses will be offered every three years (2006-2007, 2009-2010)

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Child and Family Policy and Management

Today’s multifaceted social problems and an evolving definition of “family” need sound public policies, effective programs, and management strategies/skills to address the needs of children and families. The certificate of advanced study in child and family policy and management is a collaborative effort of the Muskie School’s nationally accredited public policy and management master’s degree program (PPM) and the School’s Institute for Child and Family Policy (ICFP). The interdisciplinary curriculum gives students an opportunity to gain the knowledge and competencies needed to affect change, guide policy development and implementation, and manage programs serving children and families. The certificate is designed for child and family professionals, children’s advocates, teachers, justice system personnel, policy makers, and others wishing for a better understanding of children and family policy and management.

Students select four courses (12 credits) from among the following courses in the graduate programs at the Muskie School. Students are required to take PPM 626 Public Policy and Children, one course from each of the other groups listed below, and a fourth course from either group.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Community Planning and Development

The certificate in community planning and development has two major objectives: to provide students with a grounding in land use and environmental planning, economic development, law and policy analysis, infrastructure programming, and growth management; and to develop an understanding of economic, social, legal, ethical, and political contexts within which decisions about land use, economic growth, and environmental protection are made. These objectives are met through course readings, class lectures and discussions, case analyses, and problem-solving exercises in various community-based settings.

Persons contemplating a career in local or state government or nonprofit organizations, and who are particularly interested in the fields of land use, economic development, and environmental planning are invited to discuss their goals with the coordinator of the certificate in community planning and development. Those who already practice in the field and wish to enhance their skills and understanding of the issues are also welcome.

The certificate requires the completion of 12 credit hours of coursework, at least one course must be selected from each of Groups A and B. Students may propose other courses from the CPD program in their certificate program. These must be approved by the chair.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Culturally Responsive Practices in Education and Human Development

The 12-credit Certificate of Graduate Study in Culturally Responsive Practices is being offered through the College of Education and Human Development and will begin admitting students in 2006. The certificate is offered to accommodate individuals who wish to obtain a basic background in culturally responsive practices in education and human development, especially: teachers, educational technicians, counselors, and leaders in education.

Application materials and scholarship information may be obtained by contacting:
Linda Evans, director
Multicultural Education Programs
University of Southern Maine
62 School Street, Gorham, ME 04038
(207) 780-5564
www.usm.maine.edu/cehd/Culturally_Responsive_Practices/index.htm

Program Requirements
Courses included in the 12-credit certificate program

 For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development.

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Policy and Management

The certificate program in health policy and management provides the opportunity to learn about the broad social context of health service or health service policy and to develop both policy analysis and management skills appropriate to the field. The certificate program provides health professionals from diverse backgrounds with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in health policy, planning, and financing, as well as the fundamentals of health care management and community health. Enrollment in the certificate program is limited to ensure active participation and interaction among faculty and program participants.

Students take four courses (12 credits) from the graduate program in health policy and management. Courses are offered at the Muskie School in Portland, with several offered at University of Maine System campuses through UNET (the University’s Interactive Television Network). Students admitted to the master of science in health policy and management program will receive credit for courses taken in the certificate program in which they received a grade of B or better.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Literacy

The certificate of graduate study in literacy program is offered to accommodate teachers and special education teachers, educational technicians, and other holders of baccalaureate degrees who do not want to complete all of the requirements for a master’s degree but who wish to obtain a basic background in literacy. Students who complete program requirements receive official transcript recognition of their work and a certificate from the literacy education program attesting to their completion of coursework in reading and writing instruction. Holders of the certificate have the competencies and proficiency levels needed to plan effective literacy instruction for their students. Although credits from the certificate program may be transferable to a master’s program, students who wish to matriculate into a master’s program must apply separately for admission.

This 12-credit program consists of four graduate-level courses in literacy education.
The courses include:

Admission to the literacy certificate program is based on successful completion of a bachelor’s degree and an interest in literacy-related issues. Application materials must include:

1. completed literacy certificate program application and $20 registration fee;
2. a brief essay;
3. a current résumé.

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Manufacturing Systems

The Certificate of Graduate Study, Manufacturing Systems, at USM includes 21 credits allocated as follows: 18 credits M.M.S. core and 3 credits of electives.

For more information, contact the School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology

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Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician (MHRT)/Community Certificate

The MHRT/community certificate program is especially suited for practitioners who work in the mental health system and desire training in psychosocial rehabilitation, and persons with prior graduate training who need flexible coursework to update their skills and knowledge in the psychosocial rehabilitation approach. Persons with a bachelor’s degree and one year direct experience in the mental health field may apply for the five-course sequence. For more information about the program and application materials, see the CEHD Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/ cehd/counselor-education/mhrt.htm or call (207) 780-5316. The five-course program described below leads to the MHRT/community certificate and can also lead to the new state employment specialist certificate.

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development

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Middle Level Education Certificate

The middle level education certificate program is designed to meet the professional knowledge certificate requirements for the middle level teacher endorsement in Maine and to provide a foundation for graduate work in middle level education. (Students seeking middle-level endorsement are also required to meet the academic content area requirements as established by the State.) This 12-credit program consists of 4 courses:

Courses may be taken in any sequence. At the conclusion of the certificate program, students will not only have satisfied the professional knowledge area state requirements for middle level teacher endorsement but will have completed a significant part of the coursework for the master’s degree in educational leadership. In addition, they will receive USM certificates of program completion which can be cited on résumés and vitae. Although credits from the certificate program may be transferrable to a master’s program, students who wish to matriculate into a master’s program must apply separately for admission.

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Nonprofit Management

The certificate program in nonprofit management provides traditional students, working professionals, and volunteers in the nonprofit sector with the knowledge, managerial skills, and techniques to respond to the challenges of this important and rapidly changing sector of society.

Students gain valuable expertise in critical areas such as managing human and financial resources, using technology to further organizational goals, and successfully mastering the system of performance contracting being introduced in Maine. Other topics examined include grant writing, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and management, board development, and interagency collaboration.

Many certificate courses are offered through the Education Network of Maine at locations throughout the state. Students may request to transfer certificate courses to the School’s master’s degree program in public policy and management upon matriculation.

Students select four courses (12 credits) from among the following courses from the graduate program in public policy and management.

*with faculty permission only

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Performance Management and Measurement

The certificate program in performance management and measurement is designed to equip managers with the knowledge and skills needed to monitor and report on organizational performance, to present results-oriented information in alternative formats to diverse, nontechnical audiences, and to contribute to improving performance in public organizations. The certificate in performance management and measurement is a collaborative effort of the Muskie School’s accredited public policy and management master’s degree program (PPM) and a research center known nationally for leading edge evaluation and technical assistance, the Institute for Public Sector Innovation. Students select four courses (12 credits) including one required course and three from a list of approved courses.

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health

The Certificate of Graduate Study inPublic Health provides individuals from diverse backgrounds with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in public health, health policy, community health, and epidemiology as well as offering students an opportunity to pursue interests in evaluation, planning, or quality.

The public health certificate can serve to augment a student’s previous academic training and facilitate advancement in a variety of private health and service organizations as well as public agencies. Alternatively, the certificate can serve as a strong introduction and preview to the field of public health prior to committing to a formal master’s program.

The public health certificate is awarded on successful completion of five courses (15 credit hours) from the Health Policy and Management curriculum. If successfully completed, certificate program courses will fulfill degree requirements for students who apply for, and are admitted to, a master’s degree program. Courses are held at the Muskie School on the USM Portland campus. Some courses are offered at other campuses in the University ofMaine System via the University’s distance education network.

The following three courses are required for the certificate:

One of the following courses is also required:

The fifth course is an elective selected from the following:

And either

or

For more information, contact the Muskie School of Public Service

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Graduate Certificate in Statistics

The Department also offers a graduate certificate in statistics for those candidates who are interested in attaining a working knowledge of statistical methodologies. Interested candidates should apply to the graduate program director and submit current vitae, copies of all undergraduate/graduate transcripts, and at least one letter of recommendation. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, and must have completed MAT 153, MAT 281, MAT 282 or their equivalents. To earn the graduate certificate, a candidate must earn a minimum of 15 credits in statistics, at least 12 of which are at the graduate level. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required in these courses, and they must be completed within six years of enrollment (which is defined as the date when the application for admission to the graduate certificate is accepted by the Graduate Committee). Courses taken for the certificate may also be used toward the master’s degree in statistics, as long as they are completed within six years of enrollment in the graduate program (Master of Science in Statistics).

Note: Academic matters not addressed by the Program Description should be referred to the Graduate Committee in writing (official letter) for a prompt academic solution.

For more information, contact the College of Arts and Sciences

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Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate

For those students interested in working in the area of substance abuse, the counselor education program offers coursework which will enable students to obtain a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling within their master’s degree. This expertise is available as part of the clinical mental health counseling specialty. Students who complete this certificate as part of their master’s degree meet all academic requirements necessary to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) in Maine. The following courses are required for the certificate:

For more information, contact the College of Education and Human Development.

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