Starting this fall, the Delta Program in the Graduate School offers a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning that will position the next generation of faculty to use equitable and evidence-based teaching practices within their classrooms, communities, and research spaces.
The 9-credit graduate/professional certificate builds upon the Delta Program’s longstanding mission to prepare graduate students to become inclusive, evidence-based educators. Earning the certificate will help prepare students to embark on faculty and other academic careers with confidence.
“Our alumni tell us about the positive impact participating in Delta courses has had on their skill development and career paths,” said Delta Program Associate Director Jessica Maher. “This certificate will further support graduate students’ career success by helping them be more competitive on the academic job market while also better preparing them to be innovative and equity-minded faculty members.”
Required courses for the certificate focus on evidence-based teaching and learning at the college level and preparing for the academic job market. Elective courses include many of Delta’s popular offerings focused on topics like inclusive teaching, using writing to engage students, technology in teaching, and effective research mentor practices. While some of the current courses are designed primarily for students in the biological, physical, and social sciences, additional future courses are planned for students in the arts and humanities.
Through participating in these courses, students will build foundational knowledge and join a community of peers and fellow educators who support one another in enhancing their teaching skills. By the time they complete the certificate, students will have also developed a reflective teaching and learning capstone project that they can use to demonstrate their commitment to teaching excellence when applying for faculty and other academic jobs.
“We know that UW–Madison is one of the top institutions for producing faculty members,” said Trina McMahon, faculty chair of the certificate and professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Bacteriology. “Preparing our students to become effective and inclusive educators and mentors in higher education will have a lasting impact for generations to come.”
Graduate students interested in the certificate must complete the requirements before reaching dissertator status. Doctoral students may use graduate/professional certificates to fulfill their breadth requirement for graduation, similar to completing a doctoral minor.
To get started, students should log in to MyGradPortal to add the Graduate/Professional Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning to their academic career. Students are also encouraged to contact Maher, the certificate coordinator, at info@delta.wisc.edu as soon as they are interested in the program.
Learn more about the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning.