Objectives

The Adult and Higher Education Program offers a Certificate in College Teaching to develop and promote exemplary teaching among graduate students, aspiring faculty, and current faculty wanting to enhance their teaching skills.  The goal of the certificate is to make individuals more competitive in the job market as instructors and faculty members at colleges and universities. A total of 12 credits of coursework are required to earn the certificate. Participants may enroll in the program either Fall or Spring.

Program Flow

A total of 12 credits of course work are required to earn the College Teaching Certificate.  Taking three credits a semester, participants will be able to earn the certificate in two years.  Taking six credits a semester, participants will be able to earn the certificate in one year.  Participants may enroll in the program for Fall or Spring semesters.

Program of Study

Course Number
Course Title
Credits
Required Courses - 6 credits
6
College Teaching
 
Field Exper in Ed Ldrshp (Section-006, College Teaching Practicum)
 
Field Experience is the experiential component for the certificate program and is taken after the majority of the coursework is completed.
 
Electives - choose 6 credits
6
Issues and Trends in Higher Education
 
Organization and Administration of Higher Education
 
College Students
 
Post Secondary Distance Delivered Education
 
Student Development Theory
 
Student Services
 
Independent Study
 
Internship
 
* Other courses approved by committee
 
Total Credits
12

 

Application for Certificate in College Teaching 

The minimum requirement for admission to the certificate program is a master’s degree or current enrollment in a master’s or doctoral degree program as well as knowledge of a self-identified discipline or area of specialization. 

Click Here to access the online application

During the online application process you will be asked to submit the following materials.

  1. Completed Graduate School Application
  2. Current Curriculum Vitae
  3. Academic Transcripts - applicants must submit official transcripts verifying all Bachelors degree and Masters degree course work directly to the attention of Department of Education Graduate Programs Office. Applicants who are current/alumni of MSU-Bozeman do not need to submit their official transcripts; however, should upload unofficial transcripts during the application process. The preferred method of receiving Official transcripts is electronic. Electronic transcripts are acceptable if they arrive directly from the applicant’s certifying university. Please have electronic transcripts sent to edgrad@montana.edu. Official Transcripts may also be mailed directly to the Department of Education Graduate Programs Office, 215 Reid Hall, PO Box 172880, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717. Transcripts will be evaluated for rigor and academic fit.  

  4. Three (3) personal references - one of these must address the discipline/specialization qualifications of the applicant to teach at the college level. If applicant is a current graduate student at MSU then only one reference is required.

  5. Personal essay - statement of purpose addressing the following:

    1. Brief background
    2. Goal for completing the Certificate – What are the applicants teaching goals?
    3. Discipline/content knowledge – What qualifications does the applicant have to teach the content of the discipline or area of specialization at the college level?
    4. List of current teaching responsibilities or experiences
    5. Initial ideas on a possible course(s) the applicant would like to “teach” as part of the practicum experience. Also, include names of any mentors who might serve as a master teacher for the practicum experience.
    6. Has the applicant taken or are currently enrolled in any courses that might count towards the Certificate? If yes, list these and when taken.

Note: Additional information may be requested by the Admissions Committee upon receipt of application.

Application Deadlines

The following are the preferred application deadline dates by which all application materials must be submitted via the online application system.

Fall Semester:  April 1st
Spring Semester:  November 1st
Summer Semester:  April 1st

The following is the absolute deadline date for the fall semester. If an applicant is unable to submit all application materials via the online application system by the preferred dates listed above, he or she can submit the materials by the date listed below, as there will be a second review for the fall semester.

Fall Semester: August 1st

Grad Request Info

Contact Information

Dr. Carrie Myers, Professor and College Teaching Certificate Chair
Phone: 406-994-4203 Email: cbmyers@montana.edu

Dr. Bryce Hughes, Program Leader and Associate Professor
Phone: 406-994-6419 Email: bryce.hughes@montana.edu