CAL Graduate Certification in College Teaching

Designed to provide background and training in teaching at the college level, the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching program includes coursework, workshops, and seminars that provide basic information on teaching and learning.

In addition, the program requires a mentored teaching experience and the development of a teaching portfolio. Part of the purpose of the program is to prepare graduate students to teach in a range of institutions such as community colleges, liberal arts colleges, research-intensive universities, etc.

The program is designed to supplement the studentʼs degree program, and it may be tailored to meet the needs and goals of individual participants. The program provides coherence for the varied teaching experiences individuals gain as part of their careers as graduate students.

This certification program offers students a way of documenting their developing expertise as teachers. The materials developed in the teaching portfolio, along with the certificate and possible designation on the studentʼs transcript, may assist graduates seeking employment in an increasingly competitive job market.

Program Outcomes:

- Intentionally develop your teaching practice
- Engage in a mentored experience to improve your teaching
- Explore state-of-the-art pedagogies in your own discipline
- Prepare for college and university teaching.
- Organize, develop, and document your teaching experiences.

In order to receive this credential participants needed to show competency by completing work in 5 core competency areas outlined by the College of Arts and Letters and the MSU Graduate School. The competency areas include Developing Discipline-Related Teaching Strategies, Creating Effective Learning Environments, Incorporating Technology in Your Teaching, Understanding the University Context, Assessing Student Learning.

Students participating in the program will track their progress and submit evidence of developing competency through this system. Feedback will be given and progress assessed by program administrators. There are nineteen sub-components of the program that need to be completed in order to achieve the credential. 

Upon completing this program students will receive a digital credential that can be used on LinkedIn or other professional networking sites as evidence of completing the College of Arts and Letters requirements for the program. If students wish to have the program on their University transcript they may choose to submit their work to the Graduate School for consideration for the Graduate School Certification in College Teaching program.