I've Googled, but not found what I was looking for. Would anyone know of writing grad certs which are Title IV eligible? I lean toward Professional Writing or writing instruction, but am also open to Creative Writing, perhaps others. I think a cert would help my career, particularly if the school has name recognition. So I'd pay more for a good school, but not heaps more.
I'm not sure what you're looking for but there are a shmillion writing certs out there. Here's one https://extension.berkeley.edu/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=17210
I'm looking for RA credits since I may want to apply them toward a Masters. The challenge is finding certs that are Title IV eligible.
I still don't really understand the problem. The vast majority of RA schools are Title IV eligible. I can't even think of one that isn't.
I'm going to second Kizmet's comments- I think your problem might be that you're searching "Title IV eligible" instead of simply clicking on their financial aid link. I can think of exactly 1 RA college that opts out of federal financial aid (which doesn't mean their aren't more, of course) but there are just under 4,000 RA schools, so just adjust your search terms and you'll be good. PS, I'm curious what kind of profession would benefit from a grad certificate in professional writing. Is that a journalism thing or maybe tech writing? In my opinion, a company would have to be smarter than the average bear to know that a graduate certificate is different than a run of the mill non-credit certificate offered through a college. I'm not convinced that anyone outside of academics or people who hold graduate degrees/certificates would even know that it's a thing. (translation= the ROI might not make it worth it)
I'm no Title IV expert (like, at all) but I do know that for programs like the GI Bill you can't always use benefits for a certificate. There may be some provisions for some certificates, but overall, those benefits are largely geared toward degrees or vocational training (including flight school). Slipping through the cracks are things like grad certificates. So if I wanted to earn, say, a grad certificate in history from American Military University, I would need to actually enroll in the Masters program to fully access my benefits. As long as I complete the courses and they would count toward the degree, I could (if the school allowed) quit after completing the 18 credits and then apply for the certificate. If I try to enroll in the certificate first, the benefits get cut or denied (in some cases). So maybe something like that is at play here?
I'm only looking at their certificates, not degrees. I find that around 60% say not eligible, and I contacted some who didn't specify and was told they're not eligible. "While non-degree programs, such as graduate or post graduate certificates, are usually not eligible for federal financial aid, you may be able to apply money from college savings plans..." - Best Colleges
Well, seems like it'd open some doors for teaching. Frequently, employers say a bachelors in the field is required to write for them... I believe they would take a grad cert in its place, and that I'd learn more from graduate classes than undergrad. A non-credit cert would be nice too, but then I couldn't get a federal loan. Plus, I wouldn't be able to apply those credits towards a Masters if I felt like continuing on. Oh, and the non-credit certs cost about as much as RA certs? At least those that I saw: non-credit certs from schools like UC Berkeley.
I'm not sure that's allowed -- if the lender found out someone dropped out right after getting the certificate credits, they might want the loan repaid immediately or disqualify them from future loans? Because that's trying to skirt the rules and get a loan for something which isn't qualified? If it's allowed, then sure, that would vastly increase the options. I also don't know if I'd trust the school -- someone in advising might say that's allowed, but then when I apply for my cert, they might check and say it's not allowed? I suppose I'd need it in writing from a higher-up before beginning classes.
You're making this entirely more complicated than it has to be. Grad certs fit inside of Grad degrees all day long. There isn't any deception- you simply apply for the degree program and when you've knocked out the first courses that ALSO equal the cert, you "graduate" with your cert but you're still enrolled. You can keep going or drop at that point. And though you didn't ask, you're borrowing money to pay for this? To be an online teacher with a bachelor's and a grad cert? I give that two thumbs down. I can't imagine a scenario where this would work except in career and technical education (like my industry) but having spent 20 years in that career, I would advise you to pursue it as an adjunct first and see if you like it. People with doctorates are going to be climbing over you to grab those $5,000 per year jobs - and now apparently they are taking "volunteers" for teaching as well. Edit to add: I want to be helpful, and this might help. WNMU has an online interdisciplinary master's that might be perfect for you. You complete 2 separate 18 credit concentrations (each is also worth a certificate) and that "qualifies" you for you 18 credit teaching requirement. https://interdisciplinary.wnmu.edu/graduate/masters/ Choose 2 - both together = your degree, each separately = a grad certificate. Win-win. You might especially be interested in English + Writing. Discipline Advisor Email Program Details Bilingual Education [email protected] Coming Soon Business [email protected] More Info Criminal Justice [email protected] More Info Education [email protected] More Info Educational Leadership [email protected] Coming Soon English [email protected] More Info History [email protected] More Info Instructional Technology & Design [email protected] More Info Management Information Systems [email protected] More Info Philosophy [email protected] More Info Political Science [email protected] More Info Psychology [email protected] More Info Reading Education [email protected] More Info Special Education [email protected] Coming Soon Writing [email protected] Their program is the CHEAPEST when you take only 2 courses per semester. At just under $700 per COURSE, it's a steal. https://online.wnmu.edu/tuition/
Sounds good. I read that Walden U won't let a student stop and get a cert -- unless they enrolled in the cert to start with. Not that I want to go to Walden U, just figured other schools had this kind of policy too. I'll see what they say. Yeah, the competition worries me. I heard that there was more demand for writing instruction than anything (and perhaps English in general). I have an M.Ed. but no grad credits in a subject (besides a bit in poetry) and that seems to be a barrier. My undergrad is not related to Eng/writing. I'm not necessarily hoping to teach at a RA school, or even an NA school, but I feel that I'm seeing opportunities where they dislike my particular degree vs. one in a subject area. I'm not aiming high, trying to aim for work that others might pass up, because I need flexible, remote work. Still seems that there's plenty of competition. I've been applying and feel the cert could make the difference, but perhaps not. I also want structured guidance so I can improve my skills. Thanks, very interesting. That's amazing. It seems like it's only cheap in the summer, but not too bad in the fall/spring.
Oh, and online teaching seems more stressful than I'd like, and less flexible. I'm mostly aiming to write, and you'd think that a degree wouldn't be required for that, but I see it all the time from educational organizations. My reasoning is that I want to take courses anyway, to learn and improve my portfolio, but figured RA would make sense and it's seems to be available at around the same price. Also would like to pay more for a better school (not heaps more), as I believe I'd get better pay and make it back quickly enough.
Some certificate programs are academic, and some are professional. Professional certificates do not qualify for government loans and grants. Academic certificate programs need to consist of a minimum number of credits to qualify for financial aid. I can't remember if it's 15 or 18 credits, but I've come across two RA schools that list which certificates are eligible for financial aid, and the eligibility is based on program length.
I see mostly 12 and 15 credit certs that are not eligible. I'll try focusing on 18 credit and see what happens. Thanks. I have seen one with 18 credit certs that are eligible, or mostly eligible, but they don't have writing.
thinking out loud... community college's adult college readiness programs are desperate for teachers. I've never even heard of a college that didn't have that job posted 24/7/365 hoping someone would apply. Why? It's not glamorous, teaching adults to read or do addition. Also, it's not a good pathway to full-time teaching and it doesn't pay a ton. But, there is a desperate need, it literally epitomizes the mission of a community college front and center, and YOU ALREADY HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE???? What? You're already qualified. This is also a good way to find out if you like teaching adults.
