CERG, University Teaching

Degree Program Summary:

To assist graduate students for future academic positions in higher education, the university offers an Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in University Teaching. This certificate is available to all graduate students within the university and is facilitated by the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Minimum requirements for the program include:

Four Sections of Instruction at UGA: Provide instruction in at least four sections of teaching at the University of Georgia as instructor of record, or as discussion or laboratory teaching assistant with significant responsibilities.

Coursework: Courses taken to satisfy the certificate requirements cannot count toward the degree requirements unless previously approved in writing by the student’s advisory committee, respective graduate coordinator, and the certificate director.

Launching Course: All candidates for the certificate would take the GRSC 7200 course, which will serve as the launching course for the certificate. Students will explore the science of teaching and learning in collegiate classrooms. Instructional foundations of teaching in the academy will be examined along with core tenets of creating quality learning environments and supporting diverse learning spaces. This course will also be the place in the program where the candidates are introduced to the development of the teaching portfolio. Course objectives for GRSC 7200 include: (1) describe teaching strategies that are consistent with how people learn; (2) implement backward course design, demonstrating alignment across learning objectives, assessments, and activities; (3) locate and adopt teaching-related institutional standards and policies; (4) identify strategies and resources for addressing challenging, teaching-related situations; and (5) adopt teaching practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Core topics to be explored in the course include: (1) learning theories; (2) Universal Design for Learning; (3) backward course design including writing learning objectives; assessment of and for learning; and learning activities; and (4) challenging situations & teaching-related institutional standards and policies including grade appeals, academic honesty, and mandatory reporting.

Capstone: All candidates for the certificate would take the GRSC 7950 course, which will serve as the capstone course for the certificate. The development of a teaching portfolio will be the primary artifact that will be completed during this course. A proposal for the members of the UGA Teaching Academy to serve as evaluators of the portfolios will be advanced to that body. Members of the faculty review committee constructed a topical outline for the teaching portfolio content.

All candidates for the certificate also would take 2-3 elective courses, which will serve to enhance the candidate’s preparation and assist with a deeper understanding of some of the components of the capstone course. At least one elective course must be a domain-specific course for the candidate’s discipline (e.g., life sciences, physical sciences, humanities, arts, social sciences, fine arts, etc.) and address an aspects of university teaching. At least one elective would enhance the candidate’s understanding of a specific aspects of university teaching and could include topics such as assessment, student/adult learning, inclusive excellence, special populations, specific instructional or cognitive strategies, instructional technology, teaching in unique spaces (e.g., service learning, study away).

Contact the Graduate Coordinator below for more information on the program requirements and to apply.

Applications for this program are submitted through an internal application that is available at this link.

Available through all colleges and schools (facilitated by the Mary Frances Early College of Education, G4 Aderhold Hall).