This 15-credit hour program helps prepare graduate students for teaching at the college or university level. It draws on University-wide resources to provide knowledge and experience in pedagogy. Together, the program components develop students’ ability to design and teach their own courses while implementing effective instructional techniques. These include the alignment of learning outcomes, assessments and activities to meet the needs of all learners. The Certificate helps students stand out in the academic job market and demonstrate their commitment to professional growth and excellence in teaching.
Apply Now FAQs*Note: This certificate is not a state certification for K-12 teaching.
Learning Outcomes
The Certificate in University Teaching enables learners to:
- Apply principles and theories of learning to their teaching
- Explain diversity issues in higher education
- Assess the needs of diverse learners and develop strategies to meet them
- Design a course with appropriate learning outcomes, assessment methods, instructional strategies, and course materials
- Integrate learning technologies effectively to meet learning goals
- Develop and apply appropriate active-learning and assessment techniques to meet specific course objectives
- Document effective teaching through a professional teaching portfolio
Eligibility
You must be currently enrolled in a graduate program and in good standing (meeting the minimum GPA for your graduate program). Completion of the Certificate will appear on your transcript. You will need to apply to graduate from the Certificate program.
Overview
The Certificate in University Teaching is a 15-credit hour program for graduate students. It includes the following:
- A mentored teaching experience
- The development of course syllabi
- The design of instruction for a diverse set of students
- The implementation of instructional theory and techniques
- The development of a teaching portfolio
The certificate helps to prepare graduate students for teaching at the college or university level. In this program, students learn to design and teach courses in their discipline while implementing effective instructional techniques, assessment, and self-reflection.
Requirements
Your plan of study for the Certificate in University Teaching includes courses from the Pedagogy, Diversity, Instructional Excellence, Teaching Practicum, and Capstone requirements as outlined in the tables below. Potentially, a maximum of 6 credit hours from your Master’s or PhD coursework can be counted towards this Certificate.
For maximum benefit to you, we strongly recommend that you fulfill the Pedagogy course requirement first and the Capstone course requirement last in this sequence. However, the curriculum for the Certificate is flexible.
Pedagogy (Total of 3 Credit Hours)
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 710 Scholarly Teaching | 3 | Fall and Spring (in person) |
The following courses are options for the pedagogy requirement if you are working on your Master’s or Doctorate in one of these departments. This option would take the place of GRAD 710.
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ART 590 Teaching Practicum/Professional Practices | 3 | Spring |
| CHEM 651 Pedagogy for College Chemistry | 3 | |
| ENGL 609 College Composition Pedagogy | 3 | Fall |
| HIST 789 Teaching History Online | 1-3 (Repeatable) | Varies |
| MUSC 671 Music History Pedagogy | 3 | |
| MUSC 762 Pedagogy of Theory | 3 | Fall |
| NSG 735 Principles: Nursing Education | 3 | Fall |
| PET 583 Principles of Effective Teaching | 3 | Fall, Summer |
| PHAR 743 Teaching to Learn/Learning to Teach | 2 | Fall |
| PSIO 790 Physiology Teaching Practicum | 2 | Spring |
| PSYC 606 Seminar on Teaching Psychology | 1-3 | Fall |
| SOC 710 Teaching Sociology | 3 | Spring |
Diversity (Total of 3 Credit Hours)
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| C&I 689 Cultural Diversity in the Classroom | 3 | Final offering: Spring 2025 |
| HIED 750 Diversity Issues in Higher Education | 3 | Next offering: Fall 2025 |
| WGST 696 Graduate Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies | 3 | Next offering: Spring 2025 |
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The following courses are options for the diversity requirement if you are working on your Master’s or Doctorate in one of these departments. You may know of another course to potentially fulfill the diversity requirement. Check course schedules and consult with the Certificate Director.
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ART 612 Art Methods/Materials for Special Populations | 3 | Fall (online) |
| COUN 634 Cultural Issues | 3 | Fall, Summer |
Instructional Excellence (Total of 3 Credit Hours)
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 710 Scholarly Teaching | 3 | Fall and Spring (in person) |
| EDP 640 Instructional Design | 3 | Spring 2025 |
|
PET 575
Advanced Laboratory – Principles of Effective Teaching*
*This course is an option only for students who are enrolled in a CPASS program.
|
1-3 | Fall |
|
PET 745
Curriculum Development and Evaluation
*This course is an option only for students who are enrolled in a CPASS program.
|
3 | Fall |
Teaching Practicum (Total 3 Credit Hours)
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 690* Teaching Practicum | 1-3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| Department practicums 590/690/79 | 1-3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
*You must teach two lab courses OR teach one 3-credit course as the primary instructor to earn the required 3 credit hours of practicum.
**You will only earn credit for your teaching if you are enrolled in your departmental
teaching practicum course
OR Grad 690 Teaching Practicum during that semester
Capstone Course (Total 3 Credit Hours)
| Course | Credit Hours | Semester Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 685 Teaching Capstone | 3 |
Fall & Spring (in person) Summer (Online) |