In the GCCUT curriculum, we approach the concept of teaching broadly realizing that students have diverse career paths. The program prepares you to facilitate learning with adults in a variety of contexts, and much of the coursework and assignments can be tailored to the type of teaching you envision doing in the future.
When asked about his experience, this is what Dr. Jeremy Hoffman (GCCUT Class of 2015) had to say about his time in GCCUT.
The GCCUT program is offered site-based (at the OSU campus in Corvallis) and online (via OSU Ecampus). Both versions of the program are aligned in terms of content and coursework. Students must complete the program's 12 credits of core course work in the version (site-based or online) to which they applied and were admitted. The six credits of elective course work may be completed either on-site or online, regardless of program version.
If you are a current OSU graduate student at the Corvallis campus pursuing a concurrent degree or if you reside near the Corvallis campus and are able to complete all of your coursework/attend classes in Corvallis, you are encouraged to apply for the site-based version of the program. Applications for the site-based version of the program are typically made available in January. Admitted students begin with other members of their cohort in September each year.
If you reside in a location where completing all of your coursework/attending classes in Corvallis is impractical or not feasibleyou are encouraged to apply for the online version of the certificate. Applications for the online version of the certificate are accepted on a rolling basis and admitted students may begin their coursework during any term. For information specific to the online GCCUT, visit the Ecampus GCCUT website.
You can complete the GCCUT concurrently with another degree at OSU. However, you may not begin GCCUT and another OSU graduate degree in the same term. You can also complete the GCCUT as a standalone credential at OSU or concurrently enroll with another degree at a different institution.
GCCUT is designed to be completed in 1-2 years. The twelve credits of required coursework (GRAD 560, 561, 610, and 607) are offered at least once each calendar year and there are typically sufficient electives from which to choose.
Graduate tuition varies depending on the delivery format (site-based vs. online) and are updated annually. Please consult with the tuition information provided by the university to estimate costs. For those considering pursuing the online Ecampus version of the GCCUT consulting with these tuition comparison tables will be helpful.
If you are already an OSU graduate student on an assistantship or fellowship, you typically will not have to pay out of pocket for credits, although you will want to confirm this with the unit that funds you.
All students in the Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching, whether onsite or online, are required to complete 18 credits of coursework. This includes 12 credits of core coursework and 6 elective credits. For more information about the GCCUT coursework, visit the Learning Outcomes and Curriculum webpage.
GRAD 610: Internship in College and University Teaching supports students in their hands-on instructional experiences, where they are encouraged to
hone their skills and reflect upon their teaching in thoughtful, purposeful ways under the guidance of a university faculty member.
Students must be engaged in the teaching related to the internship while enrolled in GRAD 610. Previous teaching experiences will not satisfy this experiential component of this course. All internship experiences must involve (1) Significant involvement in the course curriculum (e.g. syllabus design, lesson plan design, authorship of lectures); (2) Planning and facilitation of at least three class sessions including the development of lesson plans and instructional materials for these sessions; (3) Evaluation of at least one major student assignment, preferably one that includes a written component; (4) Opportunity for others to observe your teaching.
Internship experiences may be located at Oregon State University, but may also occur at another college, university, community college, or approved higher education environment. Internships may include activities associated with a traditional paid GTA assignment on the OSU campus or with other paid employment opportunities and responsibilities. The GCCUT program is not responsible for identifying or placing students into appropriate internship experiences.
Given the varied duties of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at OSU and the four requirements listed above, a GTA appointment at OSU does not automatically satisfy the internship requirement of the course. Please refer to the course syllabus and communicate with the GRAD 610 instructor to confirm whether your GTA work can be used in fulfillment of the course requirements.
Students are permitted to transfer up to nine credits of coursework toward the GCCUT certificate. Transfer credits include any graduate-level coursework completed at another institution or OSU prior to admission to the GCCUT program. Any transfer course must satisfy Graduate School requirements (see policy here) and must satisfy the GCCUT learning outcomes. Petitions for transfer courses from other institutions will be considered only after a student has been admitted to the program.
The GCCUT is not a license or certification to teach in higher education, as no such licensure exists for post-secondary education. Rather, GCCUT is an 18-credit university credential. While not required to teach in higher education, earning this credential will provide transcript-visible evidence that you have invested in your teaching in an official academic capacity.