In today’s competitive academic job market, academic institutions increasingly desire faculty members who not only possess the appropriate academic credentials, but can demonstrate that they are prepared to be excellent teachers and well-rounded colleagues.  The 12 credit hour graduate certificate in College Teaching and Career Preparation is intended primarily for doctoral students who are preparing for college-level teaching careers, regardless of the discipline(s) in which they plan to teach; however, individuals who possess a master's degree and who are recommended by a UMKC faculty member in their discipline area may also be considered for admission.  The structure of this graduate certificate program balances the emphases on both career exploration and teaching excellence.

The certificate complements the discipline knowledge of existing doctoral and masters programs at UMKC by (1) focusing on strategies for successful teaching, including incorporating technology into the college classroom, and (2)  familiarizing students with the demands of college teaching and the nature of the academic environment in a variety of institutions of higher education.  Courses that satisfy program requirements are taken for graduate credit; and, upon completion, the certificate is officially noted on the student’s transcript.  All courses in the certificate program are taken in addition to those required for the student’s program of study.  A nine-member faculty steering committee, with representation from multiple schools and chaired by the Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies, administers the program. 

Minimum requirements for admission:

Students apply for admission to this Graduate Certificate Program through the School of Graduate Studies. Interdisciplinary Ph.D. students must be recommended by the discipline coordinator in their coordinating discipline. Non-Interdisciplinary doctoral students (Ph.D., DMA, and Ed.D) must be recommended by the primary graduate adviser or program director in their degree programs. Although space in the program is limited and doctoral students will be given first preference, individuals who possess a master's degree, and who are recommended by a UMKC faculty member in their discipline area, may also be considered for admission to the program.

Curriculum requirements:

The Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Career Preparation requires a minimum of 12 credit hours. A six-course series of Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) seminars is the core of this 12 credit hour graduate certificate curriculum.  The seminars are graded on a credit/no credit basis and are offered year-round for five terms. The first four are worth one credit hour each and the final two capstone courses are taken simultaneously in the second spring term for two credits.  Students in the PFF Seminar courses not only refine their teaching skills, but also explore the opportunities at, and differences among, a variety of institutions of higher education --  public, private, 2-year and 4-year.  For the remaining six credits of the certificate program, students may select a 3-hour teaching practicum course in their field approved by the program director, plus one of the following 3 credit hour on-line courses:  EDUC-RP 5639 Educational Psychology: Focus on College Teaching OR EDUC-C&I 5570 Curriculum and Instruction in Technology.

Required Core Courses (at least 4 hrs)

     EDUC-R&P 5639      Educational Psychology: Focus On College Teaching (3 hrs.) or
     EDUC-C&I 5570      Curriculum and Instruction in Technology
And 
       SGS 5651A and SGS 5651B Preparing Future Faculty Seminar I and II (2 hrs)
     SGS 5652A and SGS 5652B Preparing Future Faculty Seminar III and IV (2 hrs)
     SGS 5653A and SGS 5653B Preparing Future Faculty Seminar V and VI (2 hrs)

Requirements for Retention: Students must maintain 3.0 graduate gpa while enrolled and receive no grade below a B- in courses applied to the certificate program.

Time limit for completion of certificate program:  3 years maximum.