Program Overview

College Teaching Certificate Program

The College Teaching Certificate program is designed to provide graduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective college teachers. The program consists of three required components: coursework, practicum, and portfolio.

Coursework

The coursework component of the program includes a series of courses that focus on teaching and learning in the college setting. Students are required to select one foundational course from a list of options, which includes:

• HDFS 802: Teaching and Learning in the Human Sciences
• COMM 702: Introduction to College Teaching in the Humanities and Social Sciences
• ENGL 764: Teaching Workshop for Writing Instructors
• STEM 810: Teaching College Science

In addition to the foundational course, students are also required to select one elective course from a list of options, which includes:

• EDUC 753: Managing and Monitoring Learning
• EDUC 853: Instructional Methods for Adult Learners
• SOC 676: Sociology of Education
• H&CE 743: Experiential and Learner-Centered Instruction
• COMM 712: Emerging Trends in Teaching and Learning Online

Practicum

The practicum component of the program provides students with hands-on experience in teaching a college course. Students are required to sign up for a practicum course in their major field of study and work with a field experience supervisor to develop a teaching portfolio. The practicum includes:

• Planning: preparing a detailed syllabus and lesson plans
• Learner and Learning: writing reflective statements about how instructional practices promote student engagement and learning
• Content: describing the core ideas of the course and lesson
• Instructional Practices: describing and demonstrating evidence-based instructional practices
• Professionalism: demonstrating the responsibility and independence necessary to be a critical reflective practitioner
• Reflection: demonstrating the ability to honestly reflect on teaching accomplishments and opportunities for improvement

Portfolio

The portfolio component of the program requires students to create a teaching portfolio that showcases their skills and knowledge as a college teacher. The portfolio includes:

• Reflective Essay: writing a preview of the teaching portfolio elements and explaining how the components of the College Teaching Certificate program have influenced development as a teacher
• Teaching Philosophy: explaining how teaching objectives, methodologies, and assessments are evidence-based and appropriate to the discipline
• Teaching Materials: showing how teaching materials are grounded in evidence-based practices and promote student engagement
• Assessments: including a description of when and how diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments are used
• Application of Scholarship: including an annotated lesson plan based on a scholarship of teaching and learning journal article
• Evaluations of Teaching: including evaluations by the teaching supervisor, peers, and student evaluation responses

Evaluation Process and Timeline

The evaluation process for the College Teaching Certificate program includes:

• Field Experience Supervisor Review: asking the field experience supervisor to review the teaching portfolio using the CTC rubric
• Submitting a Copy of the Portfolio: submitting a copy of the portfolio to the CTC Board
• Filling Out the Graduate Application: filling out the graduation application and listing the Graduate Program Director

The timeline for the evaluation process includes:

• Submitting the portfolio two weeks before the end of the semester
• Receiving notification of any needed revisions by the final Friday of the semester
• Submitting all requested revisions by the end of the day on the Friday of finals week

Program Benefits

The College Teaching Certificate program provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective college teachers. The program benefits include:

• Mentorship: working with experienced faculty members to develop teaching skills
• Evidence-based practices: learning about and applying evidence-based practices in teaching and learning
• Portfolio development: creating a teaching portfolio that showcases skills and knowledge as a college teacher
• Career advancement: enhancing career prospects as a college teacher

Overall, the College Teaching Certificate program is designed to provide graduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective college teachers. The program includes coursework, practicum, and portfolio components, and provides students with the opportunity to develop a teaching portfolio and receive mentorship from experienced faculty members.