Special Programs - Graduate

Certificate of Graduate Study (C.G.S.)

The C.G.S. is a certificate program of advanced study offered in the following areas:

• Advanced Counseling
• Advanced Study of Creative Writing
• Advanced Study of Literature
• Autism Education
• Child and Adolescent Trauma
• Elementary Education - Specialized
• Financial Planning
• Health Psychology
• Historical Studies
• Mathematics Content Specialist: Elementary
• Middle Level Education
• Modern Biological Sciences
• Nonprofit Leadership
• Nursing Care Management
• Physical Education
• Public History
• Secondary Education - Specialized
• Teaching English as a Second Language

Rhode Island Teacher Education (RITE) Program

Students who hold a baccalaureate degree and who have majored in or completed a substantial amount of coursework in an appropriate academic area (see appropriate academic areas below) may pursue the Secondary Education teaching certificate or for languages the PK-12 World Languages teaching certificate in that area through the RITE program. (This will appear on the transcript as a CUS; Certificate of Undergraduate Study, as the courses taken are undergraduate offerings.) This is not a degree program and courses taken in this program cannot be used in any graduate degree program at Rhode Island College. This program is designed so that successful applicants can, in most cases, complete the required course work within three consecutive semesters.

Appropriate academic areas are:

RITE Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree with a major equivalent to an undergraduate major at Rhode Island College in an appropriate academic area listed above.
2. A completed application submitted to the dean of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, including complete transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university.
3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (2.75 beginning Spring 2017) in all previous undergraduate course work.
4. Praxis, ACT or SAT with required score as established by the Rhode Island Department of Education. (This requirement is waived if the GPA in undergraduate course work is a minimum of 3.0.)
5. The minimum GPA required in the academic major. Requirements for GPAs in specific majors are available from the Department of Educational Studies.
6. Two Disposition Reference Forms from an instructor of a college course in the applicant’s academic major, or from a professional who can document the applicant’s experience with youth, or from a work supervisor.
7. A Statement of Education Philosophy.
8. A résumé outlining educational and work experience.
9. A personal interview with the RITE program major advisor.
10. A complete plan of study approved by the RITE program advisor, the chair of the Department of Educational Studies and the dean.