UNH Online Graduate Certificate in College Teaching
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I register for one or more of the courses in this program?
Look on this page for an announcement of scheduling and registration information for our next set of course offerings.
How do the courses work?
Each course meets electronically using the web-based Blackboard © system. This system allows participation in a course from anywhere in the world. Registered students enter this system and follow the specific instructions for each course. Courses begin and end on specific dates and have specific modules, each with their own time schedules. Courses generally meet asynchronously over a five or six week period of time followed by time to complete and submit a course project.
These courses are not independent study courses in which students work at their own pace. Each requires students to begin a course on a particular date, engage in required activities during a given time period, and submit required work by a specific date.
What does asynchronous mean?
It means that these courses do not use chat-rooms in which everyone is required to be on line at the same time. Instead, these courses require students to independently consider assigned readings and case problems, post their responses to specific questions by a given date, respond to the answers posted by other students, and complete end-of-module and end-of-course assignments by a specific date.
What about books and other materials?
Except for two textbooks required for GRAD 965, and one for GRAD 941, all required readings are available to registered students for download through the Blackboard © system, or via access to Internet websites. A high speed Internet connection is strongly recommended.
Who takes these courses and earns this certificate?
Since 1995, the University of New Hampshire has offered a graduate program in college teaching designed for our own doctoral students and faculty. Since the earliest days of the program, faculty and doctoral students from elsewhere have come to UNH to complete these summer courses. In 2000, under the auspices of a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education, we formed PACT--the Partnership for Academic Programs in College Teaching--with other universities and colleges to deliver these types of programs to larger audiences throughout higher education.
Faculty from virtually every field and discipline have completed UNH graduate courses in college teaching. Some are full-time faculty, others part-time or adjunct faculty. Some have many years of experience; others are relatively new to the profession. Some are affiliated with research universities, others with liberal arts colleges and other academic institutions with specific missions to serve specific students, such as returning adult students. The common denominator is their interest in using the research and scholarship related to effective teaching practice as a basis for their own teaching.
Can I just take one or more of these courses without earning the Certificate?
Yes. All courses except the capstone (GRAD 945) and praxis (GRAD 990) courses, are available to you without matriculating for the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching. We recognize that some faculty, post-doctoral and doctoral students may be very interested in just specific courses. For this reason all of the courses have been designed without prerequisites. Formal admission into the Certificate Program is required after you have earned six (6) credits in these courses.
Is this program unique?
Yes. When we began our Graduate Program in College Teaching, we were one of the few universities that offered an array of graduate courses in the area. Today, many more universities offer one or more specific courses. Some universities offer a graduate certificate able to be earned in residence by doctoral students looking ahead to an academic career. We remain one of the few universities that actually offer a graduate degree in college teaching.
In 1998, we were selected to participate in the national Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program and have continued to contribute to national conversations involving the teaching abilities of current and future faculty. Since 2000, UNH has participated in a national PFF effort in association with the American Psychological Association.
What about post-doctoral students?
Post-doctoral students at any university or other institution are eligible to participate. Unlike current faculty who enter this program, post-doctoral students are required to teach one or more courses and to present a teaching portfolio to a committee composed of faculty from their field or discipline and from the UNH Graduate Program in College Teaching. This teaching may be at any accredited institution of higher education. Post-doctoral students use College Teaching Praxis (GRAD 990 ) as their capstone experience.
What about doctoral students preparing for an academic career?
Doctoral students at any university can use this non-residential certificate program and these courses as they prepare for an academic career. Doctoral and post-doctoral students use College Teaching Praxis (GRAD 990) as their capstone experience. A special track is available for doctoral students in psychology.
What about doctoral students in psychology?
The University of New Hampshire has led national efforts in the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) initiative sponsored by the American Psychological Association. We have developed and field-tested a specific introductory course--Preparing to Teach a Course in Psychology (GRAD 980). This course can be substituted for Foundations in College Teaching (GRAD 940). Psychology doctoral students interested in obtaining the UNH Graduate Certificate in College Teaching complete GRAD 980, GRAD 941, GRAD 942, GRAD 961, and GRAD 965. They then complete GRAD 990 as their capstone.
What about faculty at two-year colleges?
We offer faculty who work at two-year colleges two options. Option 1 is to earn this graduate certificate. Option 2 is to use the 10 credit core in this certificate program to partially fulfill the 32 credit requirements in the Master of Science for Teachers with major in College Teaching (non-thesis) which we also offer. For this degree, we would accept up to eight graduate credits via transfer from other universities and require the completion of an 8-credit college teaching praxis experience. The remaining 6 credits could be done either in residence at UNH for six weeks in a summer or by independent study. An individual cannot earn both the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and the MST. By University regulation, once the credits have been used in one program, they cannot be subsequently or simultaneously used in the other. For faculty interested in the MST, we will develop a specific plan of study based upon their intended goals.
Why totally electronic courses?
First, these types of courses allow us to enroll participants from a wide geographic area so that each course--capped at approximately 25 students--includes students with multiple perspectives and insights. Also, using systems such as Blackboard © to augment more traditional courses is a common feature throughout higher education today. As such, participants acquire direct experience in using a standard electronic system that may help them better use these types of systems in their own teaching.
How long should a program like this take to complete?
The certificate program can be completed in two summers, but we strongly advise a program of study over three or more summers. After being admitted you have seven years to complete all requirements. Each 2-credit core course typically requires between 5-8 hours per week, with additional time needed to complete projects and papers. Capstone courses require more time.
Can these courses be transferred?
Each of these courses is a regular graduate course offered by the University of New Hampshire. While transferability is always a decision of the accepting institution, there should be no reason why these courses could not be transferred.
Can courses taken elsewhere be used to partially satisfy the requirements for the UNH Graduate Certificate in College Teaching?
Up to 6 credits in equivalent courses completed with a B or better at a PACT-affiliated institution can be used to satisfy requirements associated with this graduate certificate. Graduate credits completed at non-PACT affiliated academic institutions are generally not accepted.
When should I seek admission?
To earn a Certificate, you must first apply for formal admission to the program. No more than 3 courses (6 credits) can be completed prior to admission. Admission requires a simple application, a modest fee, and the submission of academic transcripts. To download an application form, click here.
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