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Community College Teaching Certificate
I'm looking to teach at a community college... What is the CCTC Program about?
The Community College Teaching Certificate is a graduate-level program that is designed for individuals aiming to kick-start their career in community college teaching. The program provides training in community college teaching and prepares individuals for teaching opportunities at community colleges.
The certificate curriculum provides a well-rounded learning experience that blends theory with hands-on teaching practicum. The program consists of three (3) courses: two lecture-based courses and one independent study course (which serves as preparation for an optional teaching internship at a community college), providing hands-on experience and valuable industry connections. Throughout the program, participants develop the confidence, skills, and expertise needed to teach a diverse range of students. The Community College Teaching Certificate program equips students with both academic training and real-world teaching experience, positioning them for a rewarding career in higher education.
What are the Learning Outcomes for the program?
Upon completing the Certificate program, participants will be able to:
- Apply the principles of sound instructional techniques for community college-level teaching
- Evaluate student performance at community college level
- Demonstrate鈥痑pplication of appropriate teaching styles and modalities for diverse student populations at the community college
- Explain the mission, philosophy, and organizational structure of the California Community College
- Display ethical behaviors and professional attitudes in the workplace in relation to students and colleagues
Who Should Attend the CCTC Program?
To get started in the certificate program, participants should be in one of the following stages:
- Hold a master's degree or doctorate degree in a discipline taught at a community college
- Be in the last term of completing a master's degree program
- Have any degree and 6 years of experience in the designated Career Technical Education (CTE) area *
Note: While the program accepts students from all 50 states as well as qualified international students, please be aware that the content is geared to and based on California Community Colleges standards.
Prior to registering for classes, be sure to confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications below 鈻�
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What are the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges?
It is important to note that eligibility for future teaching opportunities at a community college will depend on an individual's educational achievements. Prior to starting the program, check out what you are qualified to teach at a community college. To do this, you'll need to match your education to the state minimum qualifications (MQs) using the . The disciplines list in the handbook will determine the minimum qualifications for the subject you can teach at the community college level, based on the major that is printed on your master's degree or your degree plus Career Technical Education (CTE) years of experience.听
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How are the CCTC Courses Delivered?
The Community College Teaching Certificate classes are presented online (live online and/or asynchronously online, depending on the individual course). This instructor-led program utilizes our campus' Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), available through our student portal, MyCSUDH. Live online class sessions are conducted at the day/time indicated in the program schedule. Attendance and participation via Zoom at all scheduled class sessions is required.
The third course in the program, an independent study course, enables students to build and implement the course syllabus for the course they are qualified to teach utilizing tools in the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to prepare an online course. The knowledge and skills gained are also applicable to other LMS programs.
Students may also include an optional teaching internship as a component of the teaching practicum.
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Can International Students participate?
International students are welcome to take part in the program. However, the structure of higher education will be different outside of the U.S. Please be certain that the program will meet your needs.听
Individuals who have completed college or university coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts. For details, visit:
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What is the Total Program Cost?
- Program Cost:听$2,544 (Effective Fall 2025; $318/unit)
- Books: 2 required textbooks 鈥� up to $150 total for textbooks if purchased; both books available for free for online viewing via CSUDH Library
- Parking: $0 (online program)
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Program Instructors
CCTC Faculty
Dr. Rodger McGinness | rmcginnes@csudh.edu
Dr. Rodger McGinness, Ed.D., brings over four decades of experience in higher education, having taught undergraduate business courses at several Southern California colleges and graduate-level marketing and management in an MBA program. He held key administrative roles, including Dean of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles Valley College and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Copper Mountain College. Dr. McGinness earned his Ed.D. from UCLA, with prior graduate degrees from USC and Loyola Marymount University, and began his career in finance with Dean Witter Reynolds before transitioning to academia.
Ramon Baltazar, MBA |听rmbaltazar@csudh.edu
Ramon Baltazar brings over 30 years of operations management experience across the electronics, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and cosmetics industries, with expertise in supply chain logistics, ERP systems (notably SAP), and new product introduction. Since 1993, he has provided in-house corporate training and, since 2004, has taught business, marketing, and operations management at institutions including Los Angeles Harbor College, CSU Dominguez Hills, and Bethesda Christian University, where he also served as Business Department Chair. His teaching emphasizes real-world application, quality control, and technical education in both private industry and academic settings.
Dr. Michael Alvarez听| malvarez@csudh.edu
Dr. Michael Alvarez, Ed.D., has over 25 years of experience in secondary and post-secondary education, specializing in curriculum design, equity-focused instruction, and English learner achievement. An alum of the CCTC Program, he lectures at CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Northridge, teaching graduate courses in educational research and instructional strategies, and designing and implementing fully online graduate-level courses in research methods, instructional strategies, and educational psychology.听As a specialist in guided reading and technology integration, he also supports new educators through the Los Angeles County Office of Education鈥檚 Teacher Induction Program, contributing to California鈥檚 ELPAC assessment. He holds an Ed.D. from USC and a Master of Arts in Education from CSUDH.