Graduate Certificate in Critical and Creative Thinking
The objective of the fifteen-credit certificate program is to provide a coherent and substantial course of study resulting in an understanding of the skills needed in teaching, training, or designing curriculum for critical and creative thinking and an enhanced ability to use and communicate these skills in professional practice. Students seeking the certificate take a total of five courses: a sequence of two foundation courses, Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking; and three other CCT courses. Customarily, these include either Foundations of Philosophical Thought or Advanced Cognitive Psychology, an elective course, and Practicum: Processes of Research and Engagement. Alternatively, students may, after consultation with their faculty advisor and with the approval of the Program Director, take up to three electives in one specialty area.
Certificate students may count CCT courses that they have taken towards completion of their M.Ed. or another UMass Boston Masters degree. Students entering the certificate program must meet the same admissions criteria as students entering the Master's program, except their statement of intent can be shorter and one fewer letter of recommendation will be acceptable.
CCT Certificate with a Special Focus
For each of the following foci CCT Certificate students take CrCrTh 601 and CrCrTh 602, three other courses from a recommended list of electives, and complete an exit performance as part of one of the courses taken. Students should consult with instructors for permission to take electives without prerequisites when this is necessary to complete the certificate within an annual cycle. On-line sections are available for several courses. For more information, please contact the Program Office, email cct@umb.edu.