Earn Graduate-Level Credit for Your Professional Development
The University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) partners with approved organizations to offer Graduate-Level Extension Credit (GLEC) for professional development activities. These in-person credit validation courses function the same as online courses offered through USD and formally recognize learning completed through trainings, conferences, and workshops.
Graduate-Level Extension Credit (GLEC) is equivalent to graduate-level university units and may be applied toward license renewal, professional development requirements, salary advancement, credentialing, or potential transfer toward advanced degree pathways (e.g., MA, EdD, PhD) at institutions that accept external graduate-level credit. Acceptance and applicability of credit are determined by the receiving institution or employer, and participants are responsible for verifying eligibility prior to enrollment or purchase.
Please note: GLECs earned through USD’s Credit Validation Program does not apply toward a master’s or doctoral degree at the University of San Diego.
On this page, educators can explore all currently available in-person credit validation courses offered through USD’s partnerships. Each course is designed to support teacher development, expand professional skill sets, and strengthen instructional practices.
Step 1: Browse Available CoursesExplore all eligible in-person courses on this page offered in partnership with USD.
Step 2: Select a CourseClick on the course title and View Course to view full details. In the course details section, you will find the partner organization’s website link or contact information to complete enrollment for the course.
Step 3: Register with the Partner OrganizationComplete your registration directly with the partner organization. Follow their instructions to begin the course and pay any required enrollment fees.
Step 4: Register for University CreditAfter confirming your registration with the partner organization, return to USD’s website.
Step 5: Complete the CourseParticipate fully in the online course through the partner organization and complete all required assignments, activities, and assessments.
Step 6: Partner Organization Submits GradesAfter you finish, the partner organization will submit your final grade to USD or you will be required to submit a certificate of completion to [email protected].
Step 7: Receive Your TranscriptOnce your grade has been processed, USD will issue an official transcript reflecting your earned credit. Transcripts are mailed to the address listed in your USD student account.
The National ESEA Conference offers educators in-depth learning on federal education programs that support disadvantaged students, featuring 100+ expert-led sessions. This course helps teachers apply insights from the conference to strengthen student success at the school, district, or state level.
Audience: Education professionals at the state, district, and local levels.
Location: Denver, CO & Online
Number of Units: 1.0 – 2.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours. Please select units at checkout.
Refund Policy: All Credit Validation enrollments are refundable, minus a $25 processing fee, if requested within 30 days of the enrollment date. No refunds will be issued after the 30-day period.
Enrollment Open: July 3, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
Join the California Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference and explore research-based strategies, key resources, and California initiatives that support high-quality History-Social Science instruction for PK–12 classrooms. Strengthen your understanding of standards and framework-aligned teaching practices through engaging sessions, workshops, and expert-led presentations.
Audience: PK-12 teachers/educators
Location: Orange County Hyatt Regency (Garden Grove, CA) 11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840
Refund Policy: All Credit Validation enrollments are refundable, minus a $25 processing fee, if the refund is requested within 30 days of the enrollment date. Refunds will not be issued once a grade has been assigned or after the 30-day period has passed.
Enrollment Open Through: April 1, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
mathematics professional development, math teaching strategies, K–12 math education, instructional best practices, teacher professional learning, math content knowledge, online PD for teachers, NCTM online course for teachers, online course for NCTM educators, classroom instructional improvement, teacher learning community, math educator training
Audience: K-12 classroom mathematics teachers and math coaches
Location: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel 500 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70130
Enrollment Open Through: March 20, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
Enhance your teaching practice with this NCTM-aligned online course designed to deepen mathematical understanding and strengthen instructional strategies. Educators will explore practical, research-based methods that improve student success and support effective classroom practice.
Location: JW Marriott 102 S West St Indianapolis, IN 46204
Enrollment Open Through: February 16, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
Deepen your AVID WICOR and 21st Century Skills instruction.
Audience: Middle and high school content area teachers with no prior AVID training
Location: 10/29-30: Murrieta Mesa High School and 2/11-12: SBCSS – Dorothy Inghram Learning Center, San Bernardino
Enrollment Open Through: February 26, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
This course will provide teachers with the tools needed to implement the Medal of Honor Character Development Program in their classroom.
Earn two units with this course from CEEN.
Educators can learn all of the AVID skills and implement them in their classrooms.
Audience: Secondary classroom teachers and AVID elective instructors in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, or Mono counties.
Location: Fontana High School 9453 Citrus Ave. Fontana, CA 92335-5510
Refund Policy: All Credit Validation enrollments are refundable, less a $25 fee, if requested within 30 days of enrollment date. There will be no refunds for Credit Validation after the allotted 30 days.
Enrollment Open Through: March 12, 2026 (11:59pm PT)
Enhance your teaching skills with the Slingerland online course for teachers, designed to provide intensive training in dyslexia, multisensory instruction, and the Slingerland Approach. Learn how to apply effective strategies for handwriting, decoding, reading comprehension, and language arts instruction in the classroom.
4 or 6 week intensive teacher training in the Slingerland Approach for Second Year Continuum participants.
USD’s Ahlers Center for International Business Marketing and Sales Program
The curriculum varies by course and partner organization but is united by a shared focus on professional growth and instructional excellence. Educators engage with high-quality in-person learning experiences that may include interactive modules, readings, projects, and collaborative discussions.
These courses are designed to build knowledge, strengthen skills, and promote the application of best practices in real educational contexts, giving educators flexible opportunities to advance their professional practice.
Participants in the Online Credit Validation Courses can expect the following benefits:
USD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Senior College and University Commission (WASC). Additionally, University of San Diego is ranked among the Top 100 U.S. colleges and universities by U.S. News and World Report.
The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.
High-quality, career-building courses to choose from
In-depth, innovative, and relevant topics
Career advancing certificates
Yes. Participants will receive an official transcript from USD’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education, mailed to the address on file in their USD student account.
For enrollment or technical support, contact our Enrollment and Student Services team at [email protected]. For course-specific questions, reach out to the instructor or program contact listed on the course page.
$79 per unit (transcript included). Tuition is based on the number of units assigned to the course. Fees are listed on the individual course pages.
This depends on the course. Some are fully self-paced, while others may include scheduled online sessions, peer collaboration, or assignment deadlines. Details are provided on each course page.
Each course page provides registration details and instructions. You’ll select your course, complete enrollment, and receive confirmation via email.
In most districts, yes, many educators use these courses to meet continuing education requirements or move up on the salary schedule. We recommend confirming with your district or state licensing agency before enrolling.
K–12 teachers, instructional leaders, administrators, and education professionals seeking professional growth, continuing education, or pay scale advancement.
These are professional development courses created by partner organizations and offered online through USD’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education. They allow educators to expand their knowledge and skills while earning graduate-level extension credit.
One common denominator among the most successful organizations is that they prioritize educational and professional development opportunities for their members, and one way to accomplish this is to support training programs and courses that will help them excel in their jobs and careers.
Such professional growth opportunities can occur through established third-party programs or, in some cases, organizations will create their own customized, in-house training programs to boost specific knowledge and skill sets. Many organizations also find it beneficial to partner with an academic institution or an industry advocacy organization to be able to offer official credit to successful participants.
1. Submit New Course or New Section Form(s) 2. Confirmation of form(s) receipt 3. Review / Modify enrollment page(s) from Credit Validation Coordinator 4. Upon course completion, request grade roster and return grades 5. Credit Validator enters grades 6. Complimentary transcripts are emailed to students
Some organizations may use the term “course accreditation” to mean providing accreditation (or “credit validation”) services for the types of training programs described above. Additionally, organizations seeking such services may use one or both terms interchangeably (“credit validation” and/or “course accreditation”) to search for an education partner/provider.
This can cause confusion because the term “accreditation” more commonly refers to the system of third-party quality control long used to ensure that institutions of higher education satisfy certain standards (for example, the University of San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges).
Sponsoring businesses and organizations that partner with USD for credit validation receive:
-Added value to your program, by offering credit options -Competitive and affordable fees -Flexibility to tailor and update your courses as required -Personalized white-glove service from your USD program coordinator -Support from a dedicated enrollment and student services team -Affiliation with an accredited, nationally recognized university -Over 25 years of credit validation expertise -In addition to earning credit while developing new knowledge and skills, each successful participant receives a free printed transcript from USD.
Organizations that partner with USD in these offerings include private companies, nonprofits, public agencies such as school districts or county education offices, and professional organizations. Some of the organizations that partner with USD for credit validation services include:
AVID Path to Schoolwide and AVID ElevateXP National Geographic Society Montessori Institute of San Diego Dyslexia Training Institute National Council of Teachers of English San Diego Zoo Mathematics Vision Project Great Books Foundation Museum of Tolerance
12.5 hours are required per 1.0 unit.
$79 per 1 unit.
Email [email protected]. Fill out the Course Approval Request form and the Instructor Approval Request form and return to your person of contact at USD.
Credit validation units can be classroom, online, or a combination of both. Assignments and readings can count towards the time requirement. Credit can also be earned for attending a conference.
DoDEA representative completes their own regional form and gets it approved by the school principal, area supervisor, subject specialist, or area superintendent. Then the form is emailed to [email protected] for approval.
15.0 hours are required per 1.0 unit.
Graduate Level Extension Credit.
It is the responsibility of the participant to confirm with their school district/organization if our units will be accepted before registering for credit.
Participants typically have 10 days from the start date of the course to register unless otherwise specified by the DoDEA POC. Registration can open any time before the course actually begins but registration typically closes 10 days after the start date (DoDEA policy).
Participants requesting an INC have 60 days from the end date of the course to complete it. If they do not complete the course within that time frame, they will be issued an NG. If the DoDEA POC would like more time for the student, this is acceptable.
No, they are not. They are instructors on a volunteer basis and are not USD PCE staff.
No, they do not. They usually use their own learning system such as Schoology. Since DoDEA courses are not USD developed courses, they do not have the option of using Canvas.