Graduate Academic Catalog 2017 - 2018 
    
    Oct 13, 2024  
Graduate Academic Catalog 2017 - 2018 [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

Center for Professional Development

The Center for Professional Development (CPD) provides lifelong learning for the improvement and enhancement of the professional effectiveness of educators, primarily those in elementary and secondary education.

Professional development 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.

CPD 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 CPD independent study courses. Students register online at ce.fresno.edu/cpd 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 the CPD 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 CPD Office.

Tuition and Materials Fees

The price per course consists of $125 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. CPD courses do not qualify for financial aid or loan deferment.

For courses listing a partial materials fee, certain materials may be shared with another student. Students ordering partial materials must ascertain that they have access to all the required materials before ordering. Any shipment of materials after the partial materials have been mailed may be subject to additional postage and handling fees.

A telephone 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 $30 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 $30 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 CPD 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 CPD 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 Center for Professional Development by telephone at 559-453-2015 or 800-372-5505, by email at profdev@fresno.edu or on the Internet: ce.fresno.edu/cpd.

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:

Mathematics

Emphases include number sense, algebra and functions, measurement and geometry, statistics, data analysis and probability, and mathematical reasoning. Course objectives include: content that enhances teachers' proficiency in mathematics; experiences that provide pedagogical tools to teachers to ensure that all students meet or exceed grade level standards; and resources that help teachers understand the theory and research behind a standards-based curriculum in order to make effective use of such materials in the classroom.

Language Arts/Reading/English

Emphases include explorations in each of the following content areas: reading, writing, written and oral English- language conventions and listening and speaking. Comprehensive, balanced language arts practices are explored in which curriculum and instruction are differentiated according to assessed needs for all students.

Social Science

Emphases include: 1) A study of cultural understandings through explorations of historical, ethical, cultural, geographic and economic events, people and places, 2) A study of social political understanding offered through in-depth explorations of important historical events—with opportunities for reflective and critical thinking and writing assignments, 3) A close look at democratic understanding and civic values, including national identity, constitutional heritage, rights and responsibilities through resources that incorporate an understanding of our national identity, constitutional heritage, civic values and rights and responsibilities and 4) Multiple applications of skills attainment and social participation, including basic study skills, critical thinking skills and participation skills that are essential for effective citizenship.

Visual/Performing Arts

Emphases include artistic perception; creative expression; historical and cultural context; aesthetic valuing; and connections, relationships and applications. By developing avenues of perception (visual, aural, tactile and kinesthetic), as well as positive emotional and aesthetic responses, students explore relationships among dance, drama/theater, music and visual arts and other areas of the curriculum.

Science

Emphases include achieving scientific attitudes, achieving rational and creative thinking processes, achieving manipulative and communicative skills and achieving scientific knowledge in physical, earth and life sciences. The courses provide breadth and depth of knowledge required to support successful standards-based science instruction. Investigations and experiments are explored with attention to developmentally appropriate content at each grade level to deepen the understanding of science content for both teacher and students.

Emphases include the development Health Education

Emphases include the development of self-awareness and decision-making and coping skills in consumer and community health, injury prevention and safety, nutrition, environmental health, family living, individual growth and development, communicable and chronic diseases, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and other lifelong, positive health-related attitudes and behaviors.

Physical Education/Athletics

Emphases include movement skills and movement knowledge, self-image and personal and social development and coaching skills.

Technology/Multimedia/Computer Education

Emphases include integrating instruction through the use of technology, word processing skills, uses of spreadsheets and databases, review of instructional software, integrating multimedia material into subject area disciplines, appropriate use of Internet resources and classroom applications.

Human Behavior/Classroom Management/Counseling

Emphases include child-through-adult development, school climate, appropriate student and teacher behavior, student misbehavior, character education and conflict resolution strategies for organizing and managing a classroom.

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 helps 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.