Collegiate Pathways
The USHJA Instructor Credential Collegiate Pathways provide an opportunity for college students to develop skills and work toward their Instructor Credential through or alongside their college or university’s equestrian studies program.
Participating Colleges
The first Pathway is via a Participating College, pairing the Instructor Credential with their existing Equine Studies undergraduate curriculum. Students complete the online learning modules throughout their college tenure and attend a Live Session hosted by the Participating College. Upon successful completion of their collegiate requirements and the Credential Program, graduates from these Participating Colleges enter the industry with the unique benefit of holding a degree and also being a USHJA Credentialed Instructor. To find out more, read the full press release here.
Lake Erie College, founded in 1856, provides an excellent, inclusive, and highly personalized education grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Guided by hope and care, students are empowered to lead lives of personal significance and professional success as global citizens. Lake Erie offers 35 undergraduate majors and master’s programs in business administration, professional studies, education, and physician assistant studies. Their students compete in 19 NCAA Division II varsity sports and on three intercollegiate equestrian teams.
Lake Erie combines a rigorous academic curriculum with experiential learning. Pairing the USHJA Instructor Credential with Lake Erie College curriculum ensures graduates hit the market with a substantial resume that stands out in a crowd.
The School of Equine Studies at Lake Erie College offers five majors and minors:
- Equine Business Administration
- Equine Facility Management
- Equine Pre-Veterinary Science
- Equine Therapeutic Horsemanship
- Equine Teacher/Trainer
Additional equine academic pathways include:
- Equine Fitness Management & Rehabilitation Concentration
- Equine Studies Minor
- Therapeutic Horsemanship Concentration
For more information about Lake Erie College, visit https://www.lec.edu/.
Independent Study
The second Pathway is through Independent Study. Students, with faculty oversight, enroll in the Instructor Credential and work towards online coursework completion for collegiate credit at their respective institutions. Once completed, students are eligible to attend a Live Session of their choosing. This option allows flexibility and an individualized approach to students’ goal of graduating with a degree and being a Credentialed Instructor.
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow.
At SCAD, students explore an array of career paths from a state-of-the-art equestrian center amid a climate perfectly suited for year-round riding and stable-side education. With a comprehensive academic program complemented by a national championship equestrian team and a faculty of accomplished riders and coaches, students are prepared for careers across the equine studies spectrum including as competitive riders, trainers, and barn managers. Graduates step into leadership and management roles at international equestrian nonprofit organizations and have published and exhibited work as in-demand equine photographers, journalists, and painters. Visit scad.edu for more information.
For more information on Collegiate Pathways, email ushjainstructor@ushja.org.
