Graduate Student Program

In partnership with CRTLE, CIRTL-UTA, and the Graduate School, the Graduate Student Program has been redesigned to support graduate students with multiple levels of teaching certificates.  The teaching certificates have a flexible completion schedule and is available to all levels of UTA graduate students.  For more information or details contact CIRTLUTA@uta.edu or Beth.Fleener@uta.edu

CIRTL UTA Teaching Certificates:  College Teaching, Associate, Practitioner, and Scholar.

College Teaching Certificate (Awareness and Understanding of Teaching):

• 2 Teaching and Learning workshops:
  • Unpacking the UTA Syllabus and Writing Effective Student Learning Outcomes
• Infographic about awareness and understanding of Teaching and Learning at the College Teaching level.
• Professional Portfolio:Teaching Philosophy, Syllabus Sample, a Lesson Plan and Activity

Associate Certificate (Describe and Recognize Value in Teaching):

• 6 workshops (5 about Teaching and Learning and 1 elective) AND attendance at the UTA Graduate Teaching Conference OR completion of the College Classroom course sponsored by the CIRTL network (12 weekly online sessions)
• Mini-Poster about describing and recognizing valuable experiences in Teaching and Learning at Associate level
• Professional Portfolio new item:Teaching Observation; Updated items if necessary: Teaching Philosophy, Syllabus Sample, Lesson Plan and Activity
• Completion of the College Teaching Certificate

Practitioner Certificate (Engage in Teaching - Coming Fall 2025):

• UTA Emerging Leaders Program for Graduate Students (6 sessions – 3 in Fall and 3 in Spring)
• 2 Teaching-As-Research: TAR project workshops (1 in the Fall, Spring, and Summer)
• 1 workshop about professional development
• Brief Reflection Statement about engaging in Teaching and Learning experiences at Practitioner level.
• Professional Portfolio new item: CV; Updated items if necessary: Teaching Philosophy, Teaching Observation, Syllabus Sample, Lesson Plan and Activity
• Completion of the Associate Certificate Requirements

Scholar Certificate (Advance and Disseminate Teaching - Coming Fall 2025):

• Participation as Learning Community Builder
• Present or publish Teaching-As-Research: TAR project.
• UTA Maverick NextGen Faculty Academy (6 sessions – 3 in Fall and 3 in Spring)
• Serve as Graduate Student Peer Mentor
• Brief Reflection Statement about advancement and disseminating experiences about Teaching and Learning at Scholar level.
• Professional Portfolio new items: Cover Letter, Teaching as Research Statement; Updated items if necessary: CV, Teaching Philosophy, Teaching Observation, Syllabus Sample, Lesson Plan and Activity
• Completion of the Practitioner Certificate Requirements

Upcoming Teaching Trainings and Workshops

One key element of the program is the multiple trainings and workshops for graduate students build their competence in teaching and learning, develop their teaching presence and presentation skills, and designing a teaching-as-research project.  As the program aligns with the CIRTL-network and Graduate School, it also provides multiple opportunities for graduate student to expand their professional development and career preparation through the creation of a professional portfolio, mentoring, and collaboration opportunities with an international recognized education network and community.