Program Overview

Graduate Teaching Certification

The Graduate Teaching Certification (GTC) is a year-long professional development program designed to help graduate and professional students build a strong foundation in the core skills and knowledge needed for effective teaching in higher education. Students will engage in thoughtful exploration of effective teaching strategies and gain practical insight into promising practices by completing a graduate seminar on college teaching, attending cohort sessions, completing a teaching observation or demonstration experience, and crafting a teaching philosophy statement. The GTC is a collaborative effort between the Graduate College, Office of the Executive Vice Provost and Provost, UNLV Office of Online Education, GPSA, and a number of departments that offer teaching support.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate in this program, graduate students must:

• be currently enrolled and in good academic standing in their graduate or professional degree program.
• be interested in developing and enhancing skills to teach in post-secondary settings.
• have completed or plan to enroll in EDH 780 or an approved alternative teaching seminar during the current academic year.

Application Process

Applications for the cohort will open on May 1.

Program Requirements

To successfully complete the Graduate Teaching Certification (GTC) program, students must fulfill all program requirements. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate and the GTC achievement will be recorded on their official UNLV transcript.

• Attend 3 cohort meetings with curated learning opportunities.
• Register and complete EDH 780: Seminar: Teaching in Higher Education (or an equivalent, approved class: normal tuition and fees apply) for spring 2026.
• Complete a Teaching in Practice Activity, selecting one of the following and completing all components:
  • Chalk Talk Practice Presentation (Fall)
  • Teaching Observation (Spring)
• Draft and submit your teaching philosophy statement for faculty review.
• Complete all program surveys.

Cohort Meetings

Attendance at cohort meetings is expected unless an exception is approved in advance.

• Teaching Cohort Meeting 1: Monday, September 22, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
• Teaching Cohort Meeting 2: Monday, November 17, 2025, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Teaching Cohort Meeting 3: Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Workshop Summary Options

The below workshops will help fulfill the requirements for the Graduate Teaching Certification.

• The Importance of Gender Pronouns
• Paths after Graduation for F-1 and J-1 International Students
• Finding Grant Funding
• Gen AI: Getting Started, Benefits, Ethics, and Pitfalls
• Grounded Grad Rebel Series: Finding Your Work-Life Fit
• Grounded Grad Rebel Series: Cultivating Mindfulness
• Hack Your Syllabus: Planning & Time Management for Teachers
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Negotiating your Job Offer
• The Importance of Gender Pronouns
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing for a Multiple Day Interview
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Etiquette, Communicative Competence, and Professionalism
• Resume vs. CV Workshop
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing your Application Materials
• Assignments & Discussions: Using Multiple Methods to Provide Meaningful Feedback
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing your Job Talk
• Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing a Teaching Demonstration
• Course Organization: Creating an Inclusive and Interactive Online Course Syllabus
• Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
• Professionalism 101
• Pedagogy & Building Courses Online
• Managing Conflicts or Concerns in Mentor-Mentee Relationships
• Time Management: Strategies for Success
• Difficult Conversations & Conflict Resolution
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: How to Create Them and When to Use Them
• Inclusive Teaching Practices
• Academic Interviewing Strategies
• Facilitating Inclusive Online Discussions
• Public Speaking 101
• Tips & Tricks from Graduate Teaching Assistants
• Online Teaching Strategies
• Using Active Learning in Your Class & Assessing Student Learning
• Teaching Logistics: Planning and Managing a Class
• How to Run a Great Meeting
• Ethics & Professionalism
• Planning Lessons for Student Engagement & Retention
• Leadership During Crises
• Giving Great Virtual Presentations
• Service Learning
• Creating Short Lecture Videos
• Launching the Leader in You
• Mentoring Resource Panel

Resources for Graduate Teaching Assistants

• UNLV Graduate College YouTube Channel
• UNLV Teaching & Learning Commons
• UNLV Directory of Faculty Development Resources
• Chronicle of Higher Education Teaching
• Pedagogy Unbound (A place for college teachers to share practical strategies for today's classrooms)
• Syllabi Content
• Writing Your Teaching Philosophy