Graduate Academic Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Academic Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Continuing Education



Executive Director, Peggi Kriegbaum, M.A.

Continuing Education

The mission of continuing education is to extend the Kingdom of God by providing opportunities for excellence through lifelong learning.

  • Uses innovative strategies
  • Integrates theory and practice
  • Advances professional learning based on educational needs
  • Models and inspires ethical behavior

Continuing Education

The Continuing Education department (CE) provides lifelong learning for the improvement and enhancement of the professional effectiveness of educators, primarily those in elementary and secondary education.

Continuing Education courses at Fresno Pacific University serve preschool through community college educators and administrators. The primary goal of the center is to meet the needs of school districts and provide courses that strengthen the teachers and the students they serve. Courses are offered in a variety of formats: online, workshop, distance learning, seminar, conference and institute.

CE courses are primarily designed for educators who have baccalaureate degrees and appropriate teaching credentials. Courses in the 1000 series are graduate-level, professional development units that are not part of a degree but are designed in collaboration with school districts to meet specific professional development needs. Courses in the 900 series are graduate units that are not part of a degree program, but instead are primarily used for professional advancement. Students should seek approval of appropriate district or college officials before enrolling in these courses to satisfy any degree, state credential or local school district requirement.

Important Note: Health/Physical Education (HPE) and Computer Technology (TEC) courses do not fulfill the computer or health component requirements for the California Clear Credential.

Policies and Procedures

University Credit

University credit is earned on a semester-unit basis. Numbers 999-1999 designate courses that meet objectives that cannot be served by established baccalaureate and/or graduate offerings. Coursework offered for college credit adheres to 45 hours per semester unit for 900 series independent study courses and 12.5 contact hours per unit, plus an assignment, for 1000 series professional development courses.

Enrollment Requirements

Open enrollment is available for all CE independent study courses. Students register online at ce.fresno.edu or by calling 800-372-5505 using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card.

Students may be registered for a maximum of nine (9) units concurrently:

  • A maximum of six (6) units may be completed in three (3) weeks
  • A maximum of nine (9) units may completed in six (6) weeks

Students may complete a maximum of 18 units in a semester; semester dates as defined by CE are:

  • Spring Semester: January 1 through April 30
  • Summer Semester: May 1 through August 31
  • Fall Semester: September 1 through December 31

Students have up to one year from their registration date to complete a course, and the minimum completion time is three weeks. Instructors are notified daily of new registrants.

Course information/materials are then mailed or emailed directly from the instructor, not the CE Office.

Tuition and Materials Fees

The price per course consists of $140 tuition per semester unit plus applicable materials, online and administrative fees. All prices of taxable items include sales tax reimbursement computed to the nearest mil. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. CE courses do not qualify for financial aid or loan deferment.

A telephone call charge and/or additional postage fee may be charged, at the instructor's discretion, to students receiving materials in Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. territories or foreign countries.

Dropping and Adding

Students are permitted to either drop a course or drop a course and add an alternative course within four weeks of the registration date. A full refund for tuition and fees, less a $40 handling fee, will be granted if a course is dropped within four weeks of the registration date and all materials are returned to the instructor in their original condition. After four weeks, a 50 percent refund will be granted through nine weeks. After nine weeks, there is no tuition refund.

Withdrawal Requirements

Students must officially withdraw from a course or a No Credit grade will automatically be issued one year after the date of registration.

Extensions

Students may request an extension for up to six months from the director of independent studies prior to the original due date. An Extension Request form must be submitted prior to the original course due date, accompanied by a $40 handling fee. Grades will not be released until all tuition and fees have been paid. If students do not complete course requirements within the six-month extension period, a grade of No Credit will automatically be issued.

Reducing Number of Units

Students are not permitted to reduce the number of units in an independent study or online course for which they are enrolled.

Receiving Credit

Students must submit satisfactorily completed coursework to the instructor within one year of the registration date in order to receive credit. The postmark or date on coursework mailed or transmitted to the instructor determines completion date. Students may not receive credit for duplicate courses. Grades will not be released until all tuition and fees have been paid to the university.

Grading System

Independent Study Courses are graded as either A, B or Credit/No Credit. Credit is equivalent to a letter grade of B. A grade of No Credit will be issued if coursework does not meet the course requirements. A grade of No Credit will automatically be issued if coursework is not completed within one year from date of registration and no extension has been requested.

Official Grade Reports

Grades are posted by the CE Office within five business days upon receipt of the grade form from the instructor. The electronic grade report will reflect the grade in the semester in which the course was registered. The transcript will reflect the course beginning and ending dates.

Re-Enrollment

Students may re-enroll in independent study courses if they have previously received a grade of No Credit. The current tuition fee and materials fees, if necessary, must be paid in order to re-enroll.

Grade Appeals

Grade appeals must be made within one year from the date the grade report was issued. Appeals must first be presented to the instructor. If necessary, a second appeal may be made to the CE director of independent studies, and finally to the continuing education executive director.

Plagiarism

All people participating in the educational process at Fresno Pacific University are expected to pursue honesty and integrity in all aspects of their academic work. Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will be handled according to the procedures set forth in this catalog.

Course Offerings

For details regarding course offerings and schedules, contact the Continuing Education Development by telephone at 559-453-2015 or 800-372-5505, by email at profdev@fresno.edu or on the Internet: ce.fresno.edu.

Courses are designed to explore subject area content, current theories, methodology and instructional materials for implementation in the classroom. They are standards-based, and are developed in the content areas described below:

ART: Visual Arts

These courses will empower you to help your students develop their own creative skills and appreciate the artistic work and efforts of others. All experiences are ready to use immediately with your students

Athletics: Coaching/Training

Coach your student athletes to become physically educated and active young people. Through these standards-based courses, movement concepts and principles will be applied to the learning and development of motor skills. Enhance knowledge about physical activity as it provides opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.

Bible Education

Emphases include integration of biblical educational content and teaching strategies for Christian educators, Sunday School teachers and others who are interested in teaching various aspects related to the Bible to help students develop a deep understanding of history, structure, biblical principles and real-world applications.

Early Childhood Education

These courses offer strong classroom connections between the pedagogy, theory, and best practices for guiding and assessing the development of young learners. Coursework directly addresses National (NAEYC/NCATE), State, and Local standards and help students design and implement a child-centered and developmentally appropriate curriculum specifically for the young learner in Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten classrooms. An interdisciplinary approach to curriculum design and assessment is presented which provides for the diverse needs of young children.

English/Language Arts

Courses in this area emphasize explorations in reading, writing, written and oral English-language conventions, and listening and speaking. Current theory, balanced with practical classroom application, provides a comprehensive approach to curriculum and instruction that is sensitive to the needs of all students.

Health Education

Teach your student athletes to become physically educated and active young people. Through these standards-based courses, health concepts and principles will be applied to the learning and development of motor skills. Enhance knowledge about physical activity as it provides opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.

Human Behavior Management

Study and learn about human behavior development, school climate, appropriate student and teacher behavior and misbehavior, character education and conflict resolution strategies for organizing and managing a classroom.

Integrated Curriculum

Integrated Curriculum offer exciting opportunities for teachers and students alike to explore meaningful interdisciplinary connections. When two or more subjects are linked, students are more likely to become engaged while learning conceptual relationships as well as content. Research and experience confirm that skills and knowledge taught in a holistic way are more likely to be relevant to learners. In addition, teachers overwhelmed by the demands on their teaching day may find integrated approaches both effective and manageable.

Literature

These courses invite the exploration of a wide range of literature at every grade level. Teachers are encouraged to expand their repertoires, finding new texts to excite their students' love of reading. Practical suggestions are offered to motivate reading, to build comprehension and vocabulary skills, and to develop literary appreciation.

Mathematics

Topics in these mathematics courses include number sense, measurement and geometry, statistics, data analysis and probability, and mathematical reasoning. Each is designed to enhance the teachers' proficiency in mathematics content while also providing experience with successful pedagogical tools. Resources are offered to help teachers utilize curriculum and materials to ensure that their students meet or exceed grade level standards.

Performing Arts-Music Courses

These courses will empower you to help your students develop their own creative skills and appreciate the artistic work and efforts of others. All experiences are ready to use immediately with your students

Physical Education

Teach your student athletes to become physically educated and active young people. Through these standards-based courses, movement concepts and principles will be applied to the learning and development of motor skills. Enhance knowledge about physical activity as it provides opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction

Science

Enhance science content understanding through investigations and experiments developmentally appropriate for each respective grade level. Scientific attitudes, rational and creative thinking processes, manipulative and communicative skills, and scientific knowledge in physical, earth, and life sciences are emphasized through these practical, standards-based courses.

Social Studies

These courses include studies of cultural, historical, ethical, social political, and democratic understandings and civic values. They emphasize multiple applications of skills attainment and social participation, including basic study, critical thinking, and participation skills that are essential for teaching and modeling effective citizenship.

Special Education

Today, almost every classroom includes a number of students who are dealing with a disability – either physical, intellectual, emotional, or a combination of all three. As a dedicated educator, you may often find yourself looking for resources that will help you effectively teach those students and help them learn successfully, whether in an inclusive or special education classroom. Special Education Courses are designed for teachers who want to develop and refine their ability to meet the demands of students with special educational needs.

STEM

These courses focus on an interdisciplinary approach to learning where STEM-related concepts are coupled with real-world situations. Through these standards-based courses, teachers will learn how to inspire students to think critically and apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve everyday problems. They integrate concepts that are usually taught as separate subjects and emphasize the application of knowledge

Technology

Courses in this area emphasize technology integration into the classroom, and build skills in word processing, spreadsheet and database, instructional software review, integration of multimedia material into subject area disciplines, appropriate use of Internet resources and classroom applications. A Technology Certificate is provided upon successful completion of 12 units from the four technology skills clusters.