Graduate Teacher Certificate
The mission of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is to
advance human knowledge through teaching, research, and public engagement.
Teaching assistants serve a vital role in realizing this mission as current
instructors, future faculty, and global citizens.
The Graduate Teacher Certificate is a program of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and is supported by campus academic units and the Graduate College. It is designed to encourage TAs to develop their teaching skills and reflective practice. It provides opportunities to document teaching experience, professional development, and the constructive use of student feedback.
When you decide to work on the Graduate Teacher Certificate, contact CTE to be matched with a Specialist in Education who will be your consultant for the process. You are encouraged to start working on the certificate as soon as you begin teaching. However, there is no time limit for completion of the requirements.
Certificate Requirements
- Attend a pre-semester teaching development program.
- Teach two semesters at the University of Illinois.
- Discuss and reflect on an observation of your teaching.
- Analyze and reflect on informal and formal student feedback.
- Participate in six hours of teaching development workshops or similar activities.
Participate in either the Graduate Academy for College Teaching or a pre-semester departmental teaching orientation which includes such topics as active learning, grading, leading discussions, lesson planning, and relevant campus policies.
2. Teaching Experience
Document formal teaching experience for a minimum of two semesters at the University of Illinois. Teaching is defined as having regularly scheduled teaching duties with students in a classroom, studio, lab, or online, where you are responsible for leading learning activities over an extended period of time.
3. Observation of Your Teaching
Arrange to have a faculty member or CTE consultant observe your teaching and discuss the observation with you. Write a reflective essay on what you learned from the process.
4. Use of Student Feedback
For two semesters, collect Informal Early Feedback (IEF) from your students at mid-semester and formal feedback (ICES) at the end of the semester. Meet at least twice with a faculty member or CTE consultant to discuss the student feedback. Write an essay reflecting on the use of student feedback in your teaching.
5. Teaching Development Workshops
Attend a minimum of six hours of teaching development workshops or activities beyond the pre-semester training. Teaching workshops, classes, and seminars offered by CTE, as well as other campus groups, may apply.
Certificate Application
To begin the Graduate Teacher Certificate, or to learn more about it, please contact us.
Center for Teaching Excellence
249 Armory Building, MC-528
(217) 333-3370
To receive announcements, register for CTE’s email list.
All certificate requirements must be documented in the Graduate Teacher Certificate Application in consultation with a faculty member and/or your CTE consultant. The application contains more details for completing the certificate.
The completed application must be submitted to CTE for review by your CTE consultant. The submission deadline is April 15.
CTE Celebration of College Teaching
Through CTE’s certificate program, participants develop teaching skills,
reflect on teaching and learning, and are motivated to strive for excellence
in teaching. To celebrate these achievements, CTE hosts an annual event
in the spring to recognize individuals who successfully complete the
Graduate Teacher Certificate and other CTE certificates.