Advanced Foundations of Career and Technical Education Microcredential

The Advanced Foundations of Career and Technical Education microcredential builds on the skills introduced in the Foundations of Career and Technical Education Microcredential. Participants learn practical strategies for teaching CTE subjects, supporting student literacy, and managing classroom and laboratory environments.

Career and technical education (CTE) prepares students for careers in skilled trades, technical fields, and applied professions. The Advanced Foundations of Career and Technical Education microcredential builds on the core knowledge introduced in the Foundations of CTE program. It helps educators deepen their instructional skills and strengthen their ability to teach career and technical subjects.

The Advanced Foundations of CTE microcredential is a three-course sequence that builds on core teaching skills for career and technical educators. These courses focus on instructional methods for CTE subjects, literacy strategies for middle and secondary students, and effective classroom and laboratory management. Together, they help educators strengthen their teaching practice in career and technical education programs.

Courses may be taken at the undergraduate or graduate level. Please check with your employer to determine whether you should complete the coursework at the undergraduate or graduate level. Current tuition rates are available on the Student Accounts Office website.

Upon successful completion of the microcredential, you'll receive a digital badge!

If you are interested in completing a degree rather than a microcredential, please visit the Career, Technical, and Science Education department website.

Required Courses

Undergraduate Microcredential

  1. CTE 404: Methods of Teaching Career and Technical Subjects. Basic principles and methods of teaching business and marketing subjects. Prepares the student to effectively teach subjects in this area.
  2. EDU 416: Teaching Literacy in Middle and Secondary School. Special problems in reading encountered in middle and secondary schools. Includes the reading process, reading skills, and techniques for assessing developing reading skills. Special emphasis on critical reading in content areas.
  3. CTE 306: Classroom/Laboratory Management. Organizational factors that influence the success of career-technical education teachers. Includes facility planning, redesign, and
    managerial phases of the career-technical teacher's responsibilities.

Graduate Microcredential

  1. CTE 536 Contemporary Methodology. New and emerging techniques of instruction and their applications to specific individual problems; development of models appropriate to students' particular subject areas.
  2. EDU 609 Literacy Instruction in the Upper Grades. Practical strategies to help secondary-level students engage in literacy practices across the disciplines, the reading process; student motivation; developing vocabulary, comprehension, study, and writing skills, evaluation and assessment. Emphasizes using the topics of the disciplines as the departure point for designing instructional strategies, and materials with a focus on literacy for social interaction, voice, and advocacy with literacy viewed as a social practice.
  3. TED 507 Technology Education Facility Planning and Management. Problems involved in planning new technology education facilities or remodeling of existing laboratories; concepts in relationship of objectives to facilities; space allocation, area development, and organization; service requirement; criteria for selection and placement of equipment; analyzing available equipment and writing specifications; critique of an existing technology education laboratory.

Interesting in Applying?

All of the required courses are offered as undergraduate and graduate courses. Some school districts require that you complete the program at the graduate level, so please check with your district for their requirements. After confirming with your district, fill out the appropriate application below.

Application Information

  1. Open the Undergraduate Application for Non-Degree Students
  2. Enter your personal information
  3. If you have previously attended Buffalo State and know your Banner ID, please enter it. If you do not know it, you may leave this blank.
  4. Under “Are you planning to enter into one of our certificate programs?", please select No
  5. Under “Are you planning to enter into one of our microcredentials programs?", please select Yes
  6. In the drop-down menu that appears, please select "Foundations of Career & Technical Education"
  7. Fill out the rest of the application, then click the grey Submit button at the bottom
If you have questions about the undergraduate application, please contact Admissions at 716-878-4017 or admissions@buffalostate.edu.
  1. Open the Graduate Non-Degree and Microcredential Application
  2. Enter your personal information
  3. Under “Are you an applicant for the International Graduate Program for Educators?”, please select No
  4. Under “Are you part of the Work Based Learning program run out of the Continuing Professional Studies Office?", please select No
  5. Under "Are you taking Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to apply for CTE certification through Individual Evaluation?." please select No
  6. Under "Are you applying to pursue a microcredential?," please select yet
  7. In the drop-down menu that appears, please select "Foundations of Career & Technical Education"
  8. Fill out the rest of the application
  9. The $65.00 application fee is payable online by credit card, Google Pay, or ACH.  If you cannot use any of these methods, select "Pay Later." Click the grey Submit button at the bottom.
  10. Send official transcripts from previous bachelor’s or master’s degrees to the Graduate Admissions Office.  Paper transcripts should be mailed directly from the previously attended institutions in unopened, sealed envelopes. Transcripts should be addressed to Buffalo State Graduate Admissions, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Moot Hall 110, Buffalo, NY 14222. Electronic transcripts must be sent directly to graduateadmissions@buffalostate.edu. Electronic copies sent from the applicant will not be accepted. ranscripts and Application Fee must be received within one week of online application submission.   

If you have questions about the graduate application, please contact Graduate Admissions at 716-878-4017 or graduateadmissions@buffalostate.edu.