The College Teaching Certificate program prepares NDSU graduate students, and individuals who already have a graduate degree and work on campus, to teach in a way that involves students in all aspects of learning – this is what we mean by “active learning.” Students study contemporary education research focused on higher education issues, as well as gain experience in the teaching and learning process through coursework, field experience, peer observations, and a structured practicum.
Students in the program learn how to design a curriculum that is rich in assessment and involvement, and is based on educational research that confirms the effectiveness of the approach.
What the 9-Credit Certificate requires:
- A foundational course that focuses on the philosophy and basic practice of teaching in one of several broad areas.
- A more advanced course to probe theory and practice more deeply.
- A mentored teaching experience in which you and a qualified faculty mentor take a close look at your teaching over the course of a semester, exploring educational questions of interest.
- Produce a teaching portfolio that describes who you are as a teacher – your philosophy, goals, and samples of your practice. This will be ready to send to prospective employers, and used as a model for other prospective faculty.
We encourage current NDSU faculty and teaching staff to discuss the benefits of this program with graduate students. Students interested in the College Teaching Certificate must be concurrently enrolled in a graduate program leading to a degree or have a graduate degree and be employed at NDSU. For more information, contact Melissa.Vosen@ndsu.edu.