Graduate Instructional Coaching Certificate
Gain Instructional Coaching Skills to Guide Teachers
The graduate instructional coaching certificate program at Grand Canyon University (GCU) is designed to help leaders in education develop the necessary skills to guide and support other professional teachers. Instructional coaches can play an essential role in helping other educators navigate professional development opportunities and achieve positive results for their students.
This instructional coach training certificate can prepare you for the opportunity to coach and support educators. This certificate aligns with the Teacher Leader Model Standards and provides a foundation for theoretical knowledge and professional skills to support the teaching and learning needs within the field of education.
Start Your Instructional Coaching Certificate for Teachers at GCU
In this instructional coach training certificate program, you have the opportunity to acquire advanced coaching skills, as well as the proper tools to implement these strategies in the areas of instruction, leadership and professional development. This allows you to remain focused on student learning needs and support effective teaching practices in the classroom.
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Instructional Coach Training Course Topics
In this certificate program, you have the opportunity to develop an inclusive, continuously expanding knowledge base of the following elements of instructional coaching:
- Delivery of effective curriculum using theories and models that enhance adult learning and development
- Enrichment of classroom instruction and learning outcomes with a strong emphasis on decision-making data
- Professional coaching and leadership skills with an emphasis on improving professional practices, workplace culture and effective communication
- Assessments using educational research-based evidence and strategies
- Effective classroom management
- Facilitation of professional development to accelerate the instructional growth of educators and improve student comprehension
Instructional Coaching Certificate Program FAQs
Instructional coaching is constantly expanding and ever-changing, which may leave you with unanswered questions. Here are some of the most asked questions regarding this certificate program.
Instructional coaches inspire others and are well-respected and admired by other professionals — often serving as role models and mentors for other teachers and educators. Instructional coaches typically have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and are likely a certified licensed educator with one or more years of experience as a teacher of record.1
Instructional coaching can play a crucial role in teachers’ professional development by providing opportunities to expand and deepen their skills. Through coaching, teachers can evolve into leaders within their industry, gaining from courses, seminars or workshops that focus on implementing new teaching strategies, support systems and data in their classrooms. Such ongoing learning opportunities enable educators to enhance their professional careers and effectively contribute to student success and academic growth.
Instructional coaches play an important role in training other individuals — which makes them teachers within their respective areas of expertise. Their mentorship and guidance not only enhance the teaching skills of educators but also foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment that benefits both teachers and students alike.
A master’s degree in any of the following areas could be helpful in pursuing an instructional coaching career: educational administration, educational leadership or curriculum instruction.
To become a qualified, professional instructional coach, you will likely need excellent communication and listening skills, experience with a variety of teaching strategies, helpful resources and a passion for fostering positive learning experiences for all. Those who regularly pursue professional development training, workshops, conferences, meetings and seminars have strong potential to be instructional coaches.
If you’re interested in becoming a professional educator who is able to guide and support professional development strategies in the educational field, GCU’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching Program may be the right choice for you.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022, Oct. 4). Instructional Coordinators: How to Become an Instructional Coordinator. Retrieved on July 6, 2023.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to applied research in education across the major quantitative, qualitative, and action research traditions. Coursework focuses on understanding the research process and its integrated components to foster knowledge in navigating research reports and projects. Research designs and data analysis options are also explored.
Course Description
Candidates survey effective professional development strategies and practices. Special focus is placed upon researching theories and models, including andragogy, that enhance knowledge and skill development for adult learners. Candidates develop professional learning activities aligned with the identified needs that ensure participant growth and advancement in their profession. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders in the development of professional capacity. Candidates will investigate various school professional development program practices including Professional Learning Communities, Collaborative Learning Communities, beginning teacher induction, and mentor program models. Additionally, candidates will analyze theoretical models, research, and best practices for improving teaching as well as learning outcomes for all students, with a strong emphasis on data-driven, learner-centered decision-making. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders who are able to positively enrich teaching and learning experiences/outcomes through leadership practices that improve teacher performance, self-efficacy, and morale. Course topics promote the learning of strategies including coaching; collaborative learning and decision-making; creating a safe and supportive professional learning culture; and reflective practice. Candidates will examine current policy and practice in the areas of teacher observation, evaluation, and teacher performance ratings. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
Candidates will apply coaching techniques in academic and professional settings. Emphasis is placed on improving professional practices, workplace culture, and effective communication. Candidates will focus on professional coaching and leadership skills. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.