The Graduate Certificate in Post-Secondary Teaching at the University of Kansas is designed for current KU graduate students from any discipline who wish to learn more about effective teaching and learning in post-secondary educational settings, with a foundation in the psychology of teaching and learning. Students will learn about how to implement effective, inclusive, research-based practices to promote learning and engagement in both face-to-face and online instruction. The certificate draws on basic and applied interdisciplinary research from the disciplines of education, psychology, and cognitive science to explore human learning and development and to understand how research in these fields informs innovative approaches to post-secondary teaching and learning.
Completion of the Certificate in Post-Secondary Teaching represents an additional credential for graduate students from a variety of academic fields who are preparing for careers involving the teaching of adult learners, such as university faculty positions.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University and departmental admission requirements to be considered for the program.
University of Kansas Graduate Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Graduate Certificate in Post-Secondary Teaching at KU Application Requirements:
Applicants must be a current KU graduate student from any discipline.
This is a 12 credit hour certificate, consisting of 4 courses (3 CR each): A course in fundamentals of college teaching, a course in college student development, a course in instructional technology/digital pedagogy, and an elective course (options here would include various discipline-specific pedagogy courses that are currently offered across campus and graduate level courses in human learning or cognition with a primary focus on adults.).
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| EPSY 820 | Research and Practice in College Teaching | 3 |
| or C&T 996 | Teaching and Learning in the College Classroom |
| ELPS 883 | The College Student | 3 |
| or ELPS 884 | College Student Access, Persistence, and Success |
| or ELPS 973 | Research on College Students |
| C&T 977 | Teaching with Technology in Higher Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 |
In addition to the 9 hours listed above, students take one of the following courses in consultation with their faculty advisor:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Professional Development Colloquium in Pedagogy | |
| Teaching Spanish in Institutions of Higher Learning | |
| College Teaching | |
| Teaching Social Work: Philosophy and Methods | |
| Theories and Research in Human Learning | |
| Advanced Cognitive Psychology | |
Total credit hours required = 12 hrs.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Use research on teaching, learning, and student development in post-secondary education to inform course design.
- Apply a broad base of knowledge to recognize and use effective, high-impact, engaging, ethical, and inclusive teaching and assessment practices.
- Evaluate research on teaching, learning, and student development in post-secondary education.
- Develop a critical and reflective awareness of the characteristics of college students and the implications of research on college students for effective instructional practices.
- Use instructional technology tools in a manner consistent with theory and research on digital pedagogy.
- Develop and articulate a personal philosophy of teaching.
