Ashland University

Programme overview

The College Credit Plus Teacher Credentialing pathways enable practicing teachers to gain the university credential required to teach Ashland University CCP courses to secondary students. Completion shows subject-matter preparation at the graduate level and can count toward continuing education and professional development for educator license renewal. Some departments may add interview or college-teaching experience requirements.

What you'll study

Credentialing is organized by content area. Each area requires 18 graduate credit hours (typically nine 2-credit or six 3-credit courses depending on the subject). Course offerings rotate; many 500‑level seminars run twice per semester while other courses are offered roughly once every three semesters. Example course lists from AU include:

• American History (18 credits) — select 9 of the listed 2‑credit courses such as HIST 501 The American Revolution, HIST 502 The American Founding, HIST 503 Sectionalism and Civil War, HIST 505 The Progressive Era, HIST 506 The Rise of Modern America, HIST 507 Lincoln, HIST 510 Great American Texts, HIST 610 American Foreign Policy, HIST 611 The American Way of War, plus other 600‑level topics and period courses.
• U.S. Government and Politics (18 credits) — choose 9 of the 2‑credit options including POLSC 501–507 parallels to historical topics, POLSC 510 Great American Texts, POLSC 632 The American Presidency I, POLSC 643 Constitutional Rights and Powers, POLSC 642 Political Parties and other seminars.
• Business & Economics (18 credits) — select six courses from approved MBA/undergraduate foundations such as MBAF 500B MBA Foundations: Accounting, MBAF 500F Finance, MBA 501 Organizational Design, MBA 503 Operations Management, MBA 505 Financial Management, MBA 507 Marketing Management, MBA 511 Managerial Accounting, MBA 545 Business Intelligence & Data Analytics, with advisor guidance based on prior knowledge.
• Communication (18 credits) — aligned with the MA in Strategic Communication & Leadership; options include a 15‑credit core (COM 510, COM 520, COM 630, COM 640, COM 660) plus one 3‑credit elective such as COM 620 Strategic Communication, COM 590 Public Relations, COM 670 Communication and Leadership, or COM 650 Risk and Crisis Communication.
• English (18 credits) — six courses such as ENG 604 The English Renaissance, ENG 605 Creative Writing Workshop, ENG 625 Major Writers Seminar, ENG 628 American Literature, ENG 651 Composition/Rhetoric Pedagogy, and ENG 653 The Pedagogy of Teaching Literature. These are offered as 8‑week courses with two each semester.
• Criminal Justice (18 credits) — six courses including CJ 510 Constitutional and Legal Issues in Criminal Justice, CJ 520 Seminar in Criminology, CJ 530 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice, CJ 540 Ethics and Justice, CJ 560 Criminal Justice Policy and an organizational design course cross-listed as MBA 501.

Entry requirements

To be approved for CCP credentialing you must have a masters degree in the content area you will teach, or a masters degree plus 18 graduate credit hours in that content area. Individual Ashland University departments may require an interview with the department chair and/or evidence of prior college teaching experience. Any coursework taken for the credential contributes toward continuing-education/professional-development requirements for educator license renewal.

Career prospects

Credentialed teachers are authorized to deliver College Credit Plus courses in their schools, allowing secondary students to earn college credit while still in high school and strengthening the teachers professional profile. The pathway supports educators seeking to expand instructional responsibilities and those aiming to meet Ohio licensure expectations tied to teaching dual-enrollment coursework; the program specifically notes preparation for employment and licensure within Ohio.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Program costs for CCP teacher credentialing may be eligible for coverage under Ohio's Teacher Credentialing Grant Program. Candidates are advised to contact their local school district or educational service center to determine whether funding is available for credentialing courses.