As competition for faculty positions increases, graduate students who are well prepared as researchers will also need to demonstrate careful preparation as teachers and colleagues.
The University Graduate Certification in College Teaching (CCT), an initiative of the Michigan State University Graduate School in partnership with MSU colleges, is the only formal program in the state of Michigan (and one of only a handful in the United States) that provides graduate students a comprehensive preparation for teaching at the college level.
Through professional development activities (workshops or seminars, coursework in disciplinary teaching methods, a mentored teaching project), participants will build and consolidate their preparation for college and university teaching.
The program culminates in an e-portfolio that will help participants prepare for academic job interviews and plan for their professional development as early career faculty.
For graduate students, completion of the Certification in College Teaching will be recognized by a Certification notation on the MSU transcript. For postdocs, earned Certifications will be recognized by a formal letter of completion from Michigan State University.
The CCT is designed to:
- Improve teaching skills for those who are teaching now or will be teaching in the future.
- Highlight the opportunities and challenges of teaching adult learners in a university or college setting.
- Enhance graduate student professional development by preparing them for the transition to faculty positions.
- Develop an active dialogue about teaching and learning and the culture of higher education both within and outside individual disciplines.
- Provide structured support for students' reflections about teaching.