Continuing Education & Graduate Courses

For more information on a course please select the title below.

Spring • Summer • Fall

Summer 2026

Artificial Intelligence

AI Tools for Teaching, Learning & Assessment, Clarena Renfrow, M.Ed., July 11 - August 29, 2026, Online.

Biodiversity University

The courses listed below are part of Biodiversity University (BioU) offered in partnership with North Branch Nature Center. These courses are retreat-style, field courses for naturalists, taught by lead instructor Sean Beckett, and co-taught with other content experts.

BioU: The Taxonomy and Identification of Moths, Sean Beckett, M.S. & Hugh McGuiness, July 06 - September 06, 2026, In-person & online.

Early Childhood Education

Leveling Up Nature Based Learning Through Play, Sean Beckett, M.S., July 20 - September 20, 2026, In-person & online. NEW!!

Engaging Classrooms

Designing Interactive Classrooms: Collaborative Learning and UDL Strategies for Grades 3–12, Ashley Bry, M.Ed., July 06 - August 12, 2026, Online.

Geology & Earth Science

Place-Based Geology & Earth Science, Sean Beckett, M.S., July 08 - September 08, 2026, In-person & online.

Health Education

Concepts in Personal and Community Health for Educators, Krystina Comforto, MST, July 06 – August 30, 2026, Online.

Literacy

Advanced Structured Literacy: Language Comprehension, Fluency, and Meaning-Making, Leigh Buettler, M.Ed., July 08 - August 21, 2026, Online.

Building the Foundation: Core Practices in Structured Literacy, Leigh Buettler, M.Ed., July 08 - August 21, 2026, Online.

Evidence-Based Writing Instruction: Developing Confident, Capable Writers, Leigh Buettler, M.Ed., July 13 - August 21, 2026, Online.

Math & Science

Laying the Foundation, Loree Silvis, M.Ed., Aug 03, 2026 - Sep 16, 2026, Online.

Teaching and Learning in Science and Mathematics, Gabriel Hamilton, M.Ed., July 10 - August 28, 2026, Online. NEW!!

Museums as Resources

Museums as Resources, Aimee Gates, M.Ed., August 03 - September 11, 2026, in-person & online.

Music Education

Composer Diversity in Your Music Classroom, Stefanie Weigand, M.M.Ed., July 13 – August 10, 2026, Online.

Jazz in the Mountains, Glendon Ingalls, July 10 - August 29, 2026, In-person & online.

Music Ed Methods Intensive, Stefanie Weigand, M.M.Ed., July 06 - August 03, 2026, In-person & online.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity: A Framework for Teaching and Learning, Hannah Markos, M.Ed., July 07 - August 25, 2026, Online.

Online Teaching

Teaching Online Methods 2: Augmenting Content and Assessments, Rebecca Lowe, M.S., July 06 - September 20, 2026, Online.

Outdoor Education

Wildlife Management and Outdoor Education Techniques for Educators, Ali Thomas, M.S., July 12 - August 24, 2026, In-person at Buck Lake Conservation Camp & online.

Post High School Planning

ESPP: Educators Supporting Post-High School Planning Through Student-Centered Career Exploration and Post-High School Planning, Ellen Bagnato, M.S., August 04 - October 26, 2026, Online.

Rural Education

Rural Education: Education at the Edge of the Map, Sean Robinson, Ed.D. July 06 - August 17, 2026, Online. NEW!!

Science

Place-based Science for Educators, Michael Blouin, M.S., July 06 - August 14, 2026, Online.

Social Research

Philosophy of Fascism, Eric Levi Jacobson, Ph.D., July 01 – September 02, 2026, Online.

Soil Systems, Food Systems, and Climate Resilience

Teaching Soil Science, Food Systems, and Climate Resilience, Taryn Colonnese, M.A.Ed., July 06 - December 11, 2026, In-person & online. NEW!!

Student Agency

Who’s Driving? Building Student Agency from Day 1, Gabrielle Lumbra, M.Ed., July 06 - August 16, 2026, Online. NEW!!

Sustainability

Project Seasons for the Young Learner- Cultivating Joy & Wonder, Jed Norris, M.Ed., July 13, 2026 - August 10, 2026, In-person at Shelburne Farms & online.

Teaching Vocabulary

Teaching Vocabulary in All Classrooms: UDL Strategies for Inclusive Instruction, Ashley Bry, M.Ed., July 06 - August 12, 2026, Online.

Technology

Enhancing Teacher and Student Creativity Using Cricut Technology, Patricia Aigner, M.S., August 01 - October 3, 2026, Online.

Spectacular Lesson Graphics, Design, Integration, and Engagement with New Canva for Education, Patricia Aigner, M.S., Section 1: July 18 - September 12, 2026, Section 2: July 25 - September 12, 2026, Online.

Trauma Informed Studies

Creating a Trauma Responsive Classroom, Ashley Short, M.Ed., July 12 - August 22, 2026, Online.

Stressed Out, Erin Mears, M.Ed., July 12 - August 23, 2026, Online.

The Brain and Trauma, Ashley Short, M.Ed., July 12 - August 22, 2026, Online.

Watershed Science

River & Watershed Science in the Wild, Sean Beckett, M.S., August 03 - October 03, 2026, In-person & online. NEW!!

Wellness

Rewriting Burnout: Systems, Self-Care, and Sustainable Change, Eddie Wilkin, Ed.D., August 02 - September 12, 2026, Online. NEW!! 

The H.E.A.R.T. Method of Self Care for Educators, Rebecca Day, M.Ed., Rolling enrollment until August, Online. 

Fall 2026

Wellness

Reflection Studio: Creativity, Identity, and Inquiry for Educators, Donna Barrow, Ed.D., Fall dates TBD, In-person & online. NEW!!

Don't hesitate to email us if you need a course in a specific content area. We can custom build courses to meet educators' needs. We can also support in-district professional development. We look forward to working with you!

NOTE: All VTSU Center for Schools (CFS) courses are contract courses offered under the sponsorship of the Education Department. Contract courses are primarily developed as extension courses and are instructed by non-faculty professionals and recognized experts. CFS courses address specific interests or needs in the field of education, for a school, or for general professional interest. These courses are not currently approved for use in any VTSU graduate program as an elective or substitution. Participants seeking to use the credits for a degree program within VTSU or another institution of higher education should consult the degree program Director or Office of Graduate Studies for information.