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Scientific Teaching in Higher Education Certificate, Certificate

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  1. Degree Programs
  2. Graduate Degrees
  3. Scientific Teaching in Higher Education (certificate)

At a Glance: program details

  • Location:
    Tempe campus
  • Second Language Requirement: No

Student Handbook

Do you want to become a better science teacher? You can gain a sophisticated understanding of teaching and education research that will help you build your career. Learn how to become a change agent who can contribute to positive reform in science education.

Program Description

Certificate Awarded: Scientific Teaching in Higher Education (certificate)

The graduate certificate program in scientific teaching in higher education provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge needed for implementing and evaluating evidence-based teaching at the college level.

As part of the program, students gain experience teaching science in a higher education setting, take teaching-related coursework and complete a culminating experience under the guidance of a scientific teaching faculty mentor. This culminating experience can be either a significant teaching experience, including the use of evidence-based teaching, or discipline-based education research focused on undergraduate science education.

Many higher education faculty and instructors in STEM disciplines have not had formal training in teaching science, even though high quality teaching is often cited in university and college mission statements.

This certificate provides you with a more sophisticated understanding of teaching and education research in the context of college-level science classrooms. We believe this will empower you to become a “change agent” as we strive toward positive reform in undergraduate science education.

This program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to implement and evaluate evidence-based teaching at the college level.

Graduate students currently enrolled in a program at ASU are eligible to apply to this certificate program.

Career opportunities

Professionals with expertise in scientific teaching are in high demand in academia and educational institutions from community colleges to research universities. The skills and knowledge obtained in this program are also valuable for careers in federal and state agencies responsible for educational policy, in industry, and in nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

  • educators in nonprofit organizations and government agencies
  • professors or instructors in universities and colleges
  • science teachers in elementary and high schools
Program components

The program has three major components:

  • course work in teaching and education
  • teaching experience, including use of evidence-based teaching
  • capstone experience (choose one of the following experiences and see drop-down menus below for more details)
    • significant teaching experience
    • curriculum development
    • discipline-based education research
Director
J. Bryan Henderson

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Plan Options

  • 15 credit hours including the required applied project course (BIO 593)

Required Core (2 credit hours)
BIO 530 Scientific Teaching (2)

Electives (10 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
BIO 593 Applied Project (3)

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants must submit the following:

  1. graduate admissions application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

International students who need an F1 or J1 visa first need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program prior to being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the USA on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program.


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Career Opportunities

Professionals with expertise in scientific teaching are in high demand in academia and educational institutions, and the skills and knowledge they obtain in this program are also valuable for careers in federal and state agencies that are responsible for educational policy, in industry and in nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

  • educators in nonprofit organizations and government agencies
  • professors or instructors in universities and colleges
  • science teachers in elementary and high schools

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

  • sols.grad@asu.edu
  • 480/965-1768


Concurrent degree programs are specially designed academic programs which provide high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to complete two distinct but complementary bachelor degrees at the same time. Students must meet minimum admissions standards for both programs and be accepted individually by both colleges offering the concurrent program.
Students pursuing concurrent degrees earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. ASU offers students two ways to earn concurrent degrees: by choosing a predetermined combination or creating their own combination. Predetermined combinations have a single admissions application and one easy to follow major map. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor. Either way, concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests.
Accelerated bachelor's and master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to combine undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
ASU students may accelerate their studies by earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years (for some programs) or by earning a bachelor's degree in 2.5 or 3 years.

Accelerated bachelor's and master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to combine undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs, featuring the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty, allow students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years.

Accelerated bachelor's degree programs allow students to choose either a 2.5- or a 3-year path while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students can opt to fast-track their studies after acceptance into a participating program by connecting with their academic advisor.
This is only the first required math course. This program may contain additional math courses; See Major Map for details.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the General level: MAT 142
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the Moderate level: MAT 117, MAT 119, MAT 170, MAT 210, SOS 101, CPI 200
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the Substantial level: MAT 251, MAT 265. MAT 266, MAT 267, MAT 270, MAT 271, MAT 272, MAT 274, MAT 275
A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Graduate Admissions.
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