Department of Kinesiology Procedures

Certificate in College Teaching

Approved by the Graduate Studies Committee on 12/3/12

Doctoral students have a unique opportunity to complete the competencies for the University’s Certificate in College Teaching. Once completed and approved, the Certificate is designated on astudent’s official transcript at the direction of the Graduate School.

Before beginning work on the Certificate, students should:

  1. Review the required competencies and guidebook at
  2. Speak with their adviser or another KIN faculty member to obtain agreement to be the discipline-related mentor.
  3. Develop a draft plan of activities and timeline to attain each competency.
  4. Complete the Application Materials: Note: if this link does not work for you, please copy and paste it into your web browser address bar).
  5. Send the materials to the Coordinator of Graduate Studiesin Kinesiology for review and approval. The KIN Graduate Coordinator will forward the approved application to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Education who makes the College’s recommendation to the Graduate School.
  6. Send a copy of the approved application to the Secretary of Graduate Studies and the KIN Department Chairperson for Departmental records.

While working on the Five Core Competencies, students should:

  1. Be diligent in recording their work (e.g., attending workshops, completing a class) related to each competency.
  2. Write the reflection required as soon as possible after each competency is completed.
  3. Be sure to complete steps required by the Graduate School for specific competencies (e.g., mentored teaching project worksheet, portfolio checklist).
  4. Work closely with KIN mentor regularly.
  5. Seek permission to enroll in KIN 981 Mentored Teaching, if appropriate, from the KIN mentor and meet with the Director of Scheduling to request an undergraduate section be added to the KIN Schedule of courses if needed. These steps must occur one full semester ahead of the intended mentored teaching experience.
  6. Maintain all work in an electronic portfolio. See the sample portfolio that received high praise from the Graduate School for organization and quality of content at: under the “Certificate in College Teaching” heading.

After completing all requirements, students should:

  1. Organize all their work in an electronic portfolio and review for clarity and accuracy.
  2. Use the Graduate School checklist to ensure that all competencies are documented in the portfolio.
  3. Submit to KIN mentor for review and approval.
  4. Send a finalPDF copy of the portfolio and mentor approval to the Secretary for Graduate Studies, with a copy to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in the Department of Kinesiology.
  5. Submit the completed and approved portfolio to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Education who forwards the complete E-portfolioto the Graduate School after review.
  6. Notify the mentor, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, and the Secretary of Graduate Programsin the department when the Graduate School approves transcript designation.