Certificate in University Teaching | Centre for Teaching Excellence

Since its launch in the Fall of 1998, the Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) program has been open to PhD students interested in pursuing an academic career, and has been completed by 628 students as of the start of Fall 2024!

How it works

The Certificate in University Teaching program is of no cost and is open to currently enrolled PhD students from all faculties at Waterloo. The prerequisite for participation in the CUT program is completion of the Fundamentals of University Teaching program. Enrolment in the program is limited to approximately 15 new participants per term and has a competitive application process.

The CUT program can be completed at participants' own pace and typically takes between six to nine terms to complete, but can be completed as quickly as five terms.

The CUT program comprises three courses in Graduate Studies (GS): GS 901, GS 902, and GS 903 - which provide a comprehensive teacher-development experience. Each individual course must be completed within three consecutive terms, and these courses are included on participants' official transcripts.

Upon completion of the program, the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) issues a Graduate Certificate to participants in University Teaching. This Graduate Certificate is cited in the "degrees" section of participants' university transcripts.

Requirements

To apply,you must:

be a PhD student officially registered at the University of Waterloo (students in joint programs are ineligible)
have completed the Fundamentals of University Teaching certificate program
have a minimum of five terms left in your PhD studies
express interest by contacting cte-cut@uwaterloo.ca by the third month of a term (for an application deadline of April 1, August, 1 and December 1) for the admission cycle in the next term
submit an application form

Program goals and outcomes

The overall goal of the CUT program is for participants to be self-aware, critically-reflective teachers who have gained both theoretical knowledge and skills that contribute to success in an academic career.

By the end of the program, participants will:

Begin to apply theoretical knowledge about teaching and learning in higher education
Adopt a reflective approach to teaching through collecting feedback and continually modifying instructional approaches
Develop and implement active-learning teaching methods
Locate, summarize and use research on teaching and learning as it applies to their field
Prepare a teaching dossier that articulates their approach to undergraduate teaching and documents their teaching effectiveness
Feel more confident and knowledgeable as an instructor in higher education

How to apply

To apply for the CUT program, please contact cte-cut@uwaterloo.ca.

We will e-mail you once the application form is available. The application deadlines are April 1, August, 1 and December 1, for the admission cycle in the next term.

Admission considerations

Applications are reviewed based on participants’ interest in applying teaching strategies to their own practice, their understanding of Fundamentals program concepts, and the feasibility of their CUT program completion based on time to graduation and teaching observation opportunities.

Overview of the program

The CUT program is comprised of three Graduate Studies courses.

Course	Course Requirements
GS 901: Preparing for University Teaching	Completion of four workshops & four response papers
GS 902: Preparing for an Academic Career	Completion of a Research Project followed by a Teaching Dossier
GS 903: Teaching Practicum	Completion of two teaching observations

Program courses in detail

Graduate Studies 901 - Preparing for University Teaching

In GS 901, participants begin building reflection skills, theoretical knowledge, and applications to try out in their teaching. Participants attend workshops about teaching and learning in higher education and write reflective, application-based response papers.

Course requirements (must be completed within three consecutive terms, though you are encouraged to complete these in one term along with your CUT cohort):

Complete four required CUT workshops on teaching and learning:
- Understanding the Learner (CTE4068)
- Interactive Teaching Activities (CTE4165)
- Assessing Student Learning (CTE4020)
- Course Design (CTE4073)
Write four workshop response papers (one for each of the above CUT workshops), that are evaluated and accepted by Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) staff

The objectives of the workshop attendance are to have you:

Experience, discuss, interpret, and reflect on workshop materials and activities that stem from the higher education research literature

The objectives of the workshop response papers are to have you:

Reflect on the workshop material
Describe how to apply the material to your own teaching

Graduate Studies 902 - Preparing for an Academic Career

In GS 902, participants investigate higher education theory themselves, further develop applications to communicate to a general university audience, and articulate their self-awareness as a teacher. This course is the most time-intensive component of the CUT program.

Course prerequisite: Successful completion of GS 901

Course requirements (must be completed in the following order within three consecutive terms):

Complete the CUT workshop on Research Projects (CTE4146)
Complete the CUT Research Project Consultation Session (CTE4194)
Complete and have accepted one research project about a teaching and/or learning issue in higher education
Complete the CUT workshop on Teaching Dossiers (CTE4113)
Complete the Teaching Dossiers Consultation Session (CTE4193)
Complete and have accepted one teaching dossier

Graduate Studies 903 - Teaching Practicum

In GS 903, participants practice and receive feedback on their individual teaching skills and become more self-aware and critically reflective. Participants:

have their teaching observed at least two times
receive feedback from a trained observer
write a reflective response paper on the feedback received for each observation

Course requirements (must be completed within three consecutive terms):

Complete and have accepted a minimum of two observation cycles
Complete and have accepted two response papers (one per each teaching observation)

The outcomes of the teaching observations and response reports are to have participants:

Teach at least two times so they have an opportunity to test changes
Receive feedback identifying and situating their strengths and their targets for change
Reflect on their teaching

If you are currently enrolled in GS 903, and have a teaching opportunity, request a teaching observation

Questions?

Contact our Program Coordinator at cte-cut@uwaterloo.ca