Certificate in College Teaching

The College Teaching Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary minor that attracts graduate students from all disciplines within the University. It is designed to enhance teaching competencies at the postsecondary level, and is particularly appropriate for doctoral and masters students interested in a career in college teaching. At the completion of the required twelve credit hours, the student receives a certificate and a notation on the college transcript that the certificate has been awarded.

Master's students whose professional objective is to teach in a two-year community college and doctoral students who plan to teach in the lower division of a college or university will find this specialty of benefit. Students may select from a variety of courses that emphasize the knowledge and practice of college teaching and the organizational culture of postsecondary education institutions. All graduate students considering this option must have completed a minimum of eighteen hours in their principal discipline and have the consent of their major advisor before beginning the four-course sequence.

Students in the certificate program are encouraged to take effective teaching courses offered within their discipline specialty as part of the certificate requirements. Many departments now offer seminars and practica which prepare the student to teach courses in the discipline and these courses may be substituted for recommended courses in meeting certificate requirements. In addition, students who have taught courses in their discipline at the graduate level or who have served as a graduate teaching assistant under the supervision of a Florida State University faculty member may substitute an elective for the internship requirement.

Students are required to take EDH 5305 College Teaching Instruction (3) as one of the four courses required for the certificate and may select between EDH 5051 Higher Education in America: Basic Understandings (3) and EDH 5054 Postsecondary Education: Survey and Overview (3) as a second required course. EDH 5946 Internship in College and Community College Teaching (3) is a required course for those students who have not had previous experience in college teaching. In addition to courses on effective teaching offered within the student's graduate discipline, the student may choose among several electives within the College of Education in completing the twelve hour certificate requirements (obtain the approval of the College Teaching Certificate Coordinator before taking a recommended course). Some representative courses include the following:

ADE 5385 Adult Learning (3)
EDF 5443 Measurement and Evaluation in the Classroom (3)
EDF 5548 Philosophy of Teaching and Learning (3)
EDH 5068 Outcomes of Undergraduate Education (3)
EME 5054 Technology for Teachers (3)
EME 5457 Introduction to Distance Learning (3)
EME 6603 Introduction to Systematic Instructional Design (3)

A three-hour internship at a community college or university is required of students who have not had previous teaching experience. Students must have completed eighteen graduate hours in their subject field and at least six hours in the certificate program before applying for an internship. The intern will be expected to arrange the internship experience by securing the approval of the supervising teacher at the institution where the internship takes place. While a specific internship may vary, all interns are expected to meet with one or more sections of the supervising teacher's classes for a period of six to eight weeks, to observe in the class for a minimum of twelve hours and to teach under supervision for a minimum of six hours.

EDH 5946 Internship in College Teaching Requirements:

Written Work:

Brief (2-3 pages) paper due after the first week of internship at the college describing the classroom learning environment and the student population.
Final synthesis paper describing the value of the internship experience to the intern. The paper provides an opportunity to reflect on teaching-learning theory as it relates to classroom experiences and link theories to observed classroom activities. A minimum of five typed pages of narrative and a reference page are required.

On-Site Activities:

Work with supervising teacher for a minimum of six to eight weeks.
Select at least one three-credit class and meet the class for a minimum of six to eight weeks.
Visit the community college library, media lab, instructional support centers, and technology facilities.
Attend campus meetings including division/department faculty meetings, college-wide faculty meetings, and staff and program development committee meetings.
Review college catalogue, and faculty handbook for institutional philosophy, academic policies, instructional support services, and extra-curricular activities for students.
Make an appointment with the division/department chairperson to discuss criteria used to recommend and select faculty for teaching positions.
Keep a journal of instructional activities, strategies, and reflections.

At the conclusion of the internship, interns earn a letter grade and the supervising teacher is awarded a certificate of participation redeemable for tuition waivers at any of the Florida public universities.

To begin enrolling in the courses leading to the certificate, or to obtain further information on the program, please contact:

Dr. Beverly Bower
Coordinator, College Teaching Certificate Program
Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
113 Stone Building
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4452
(850) 644-7084
E-mail: bower@coe.fsu.edu