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Certification in College Teaching
MSU's Certification in College Teaching is an initiative of The Graduate School, in partnership with departments and colleges. It is designed to help graduate students organize and develop their teaching experience in a systematic and thoughtful way, with assistance from faculty and campus offices and programs, in a manner similar to that already in place for research experience.

As part of this program, participants will develop a teaching portfolio to highlight, organize and reflect upon their teaching experiences. Upon completion of the program, the student will receive an MSU Certificate in College Teaching from the appropriate department or college. A transcript notation will also be provided.

MSU Certification in College Teaching Guidebook (PDF, 737 KB)
MSU's Certification in College Teaching: Getting Started
Note: PDF files require Adobe Acrobat

A survey of two- and four-year colleges and universities in Michigan revealed a strong interest in certification such as we are offering for applicants for their faculty positions.

The MSU Certification in College Teaching Program includes teaching experience and faculty-mentored teaching experience in contexts appropriate to the discipline, participation in existing or new workshops, courses and other programs to demonstrate understanding and application of five main areas, as shown below. These five basic "core areas" must be used by any college or department in developing a specific program for their graduate students that will fall under the MSU Certification in College Teaching initiative. The five fundamental areas--Adult Students as Learners/Creating Learning Environments, Discipline-Related Teaching Strategies, Assessment of Learning, Technology in the Classroom, and Professional Development/Understanding the University--are the core of any MSU Certification Program.

MSU Certification in College Teaching
Competencies/Skills Outcomes
MSU Certification in College Teaching Competencies/Skills Outcomes

A pilot program in the College of Natural Science started in Spring 1998. The following colleges now also have approved programs:

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Arts and Letters
  • Communication Arts and Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Social Science
Interested? Other pilot programs can be developed across campus depending upon the level of interest in participation. Dean Karen Klomparens is willing to meet with students and/or faculty who are interested in developing Certification programs.

Please send any general comments to Kevin Johnston, Director of the Teaching Assistant Program at kmj@msu.edu.

Last Updated: 02/13/2008
Problems with website contact: Mikala Rioux