Goals and Curriculum

Pedagogical & Professional Content Areas

The program focuses on teaching as scholarly work and is based on the following elements:

• Research (on learning and teaching in higher education),
• Application (of learning theory on concrete learning contexts), and
• Reflection (on the effectiveness of teaching and assessment approaches to support student learning).

The program consists of two tracks: (1) pedagogy track including seminars on learning and pedagogy, and (2) academic career preparation track including seminars on faculty roles andacademic job search. The pedagogy track has been designed to be taken concurrently with teaching appointments, typically early in the graduate program; the academic career preparation track has been designed to be taken one year prior to going on the job market. It is not recommended to enroll in the seminars during the final year of doctoral study when candidates are completing their dissertations.

You may access UDSIS for seminar offerings and dates. Please note that the information about content area offerings is subject to change.

Learning (UNIV-600) - [10 weeks during spring semester] - Syllabus (tentative)
This content area explores the cognitive, affective, and social aspects of the learning process. The coursework seeks to help participants develop skills to facilitate student learning in their respective disciplines. Please keep in mind that you need to be teaching at the time you're taking UNIV-600 since the course is applied in nature; i.e., you will have opportunities to apply the learning theory to concrete learning contexts in your discipline.

Pedagogy (UNIV-601) - [10 weeks during fall semester] - Syllabus (tentative)
This content area familiarizes participants with sound teaching principles and innovative teaching methodologies that pertain to their academic fields. The coursework has a practical orientation, and seeks to help participants enhance their classroom performance and teach effectively in their respective disciplines. Please keep in mind that you need to be teaching at the time you're taking UNIV-601 since the course is applied in nature; i.e., you will have opportunities to apply research on effective teaching and pedagogical practices to concrete instructional contexts in your discipline.

Faculty Roles (UNIV-602) - [5 weeks during summer session] - Syllabus (tentative)
This content area introduces participants to the range of faculty roles and responsibilities at different types of academic institutions. The coursework seeks to help graduate students identify their ideal academic setting, and understand the possibilities and responsibilities concomitant to such appointments.  The content area is designed to enhance participants' awareness of academic career options.

Academic Job Search (UNIV-603) - [5 weeks during winter session] - Syllabus (tentative)
This content area helps graduate students prepare for their insertion into the academic work place by focusing on Curriculum Vitae (CV) construction, teaching portfolio preparation, and refining of interviewing skills. This course is co-designed and co-taught by staff from the Career Services Center and CTL.

Program Schedule (Tentative)

During each semester/session several content areas will be offered as indicated in the chart below. Faculty will be invited to co-design and co-facilitate content areas. The first content areas were piloted during the 2003-2004 academic year.  For suggested sequencing, refer to the table below as well as the outlined possible sample program trajectories.

Seminar Offering Fall 2011
UNIV-601 010 - Pedagogy in Higher Education
This ten-week course is offered in an online format with several half-day interactive seminars. 
Faculty:  Gabriele Bauer, CTL
You need to be teaching at the time you're taking UNIV-601 since the course is applied in nature; i.e., you will have opportunities to apply the learning theory to concrete learning contexts in your discipline.

Program Requirement Offerings Fall 2011
Portfolio Orientation Session
Portfolio Progress Session
Teaching Observation and Feedback by Faculty

Seminar Offerings Winter 2012
UNIV-603 010 - Academic Job Search
This five-week course is offered in an online format with several half-day interactive on-campus seminars.
Faculty:  Marianne Green, Career Services Center and Gabriele Bauer, CTL

Program Requirement Offerings Winter 2012
Portfolio Orientation Session
Portfolio Progress Session
Teaching Observation and Feedback by Faculty

Seminar Offering Spring 2011
UNIV-600 010 - Learning in the College Classroom
This ten-week course is offered in an online format with several half-day interactive on-campus seminars. 
Faculty:  Gabriele Bauer, CTL
You need to be teaching at the time you're taking UNIV-600 since the course is applied in nature; i.e., you will have opportunities to apply the learning theory to concrete learning contexts in your discipline.

Program Requirement Offering Spring 2011
Portfolio Orientation Session
Portfolio Progress Session
Teaching Observation and Feedback by Faculty

Seminar Offering First Summer Session 2011
UNIV-602 010 - Faculty Roles in Institutions of Higher Education
This five-week course is offered in an online format with several half-day, on-campus, interactive seminars.
Faculty:  Gabriele Bauer, CTL

Program Requirement Offerings Summer 2011
Portfolio Orientation Session
Portfolio Progress Session
Teaching Observation and Feedback by Faculty

Sample Program Trajectories Case A: Program completed in 2 semesters plus two sessions

Case B: Program completed in 2 semesters plus 2 sessions