Provides innovative and inclusive programmatic approaches for our graduate students and postdoctoral scholars so that they become ethical, transformative and contributing citizens. The professional development training our scholars receive will equip them with the skills and knowledge to be proactive and impactful leaders.
Programs and Certificates
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to pursue one or more of the certificates we offer to enhance their professional development. Please see the requirements below for each of the certificates. If you wish to pursue one or more of our non-credit professional development certificates, please sign up here. Please note: You will need to sign up for each certificate (Leadership, Teaching, and/or Communication Skills) separately.
“Our professional development programs help you develop the competencies that employers seek in their new hires.”
Rhonda Sutton
Assistant Dean for Professsional Development
For those who wish to pursue our offerings in our professional development focus areas, we encourage you to explore more information about our career readiness, leadership, teaching and communication skills programs. Maintaining one’s well-being is an important component of being a thriving professional, so we also offer a series on wellness.
Teaching Certificate
Foundational Workshops (REQUIRED) Four (4) workshops are required for the Teaching Certificate or attendance at the all-day New TA Workshop held each August:
Teaching College
Engaging Diverse Learners
Using Learning Outcomes
Mentoring 101
Electives (REQUIRED) Four (4) electives are to be chosen for the Teaching Certificate from these options:
Active Learning Strategies
How to Survive Your First Day of Class
Facilitating Collaborative Learning with Social Technologies
Designing for Accessible & Equitable Learning
Teaching in an AI Environment
Using Game Elements to Support Learning
Immersive Learning with Augmented & Virtual Reality
Assessments & Rubrics
Processing Course Evaluations
Writing a Teaching Philosophy
Managing Conflict in the Classroom
TA Toolkit Workshops (offered offered through DELTA and/or the Library; no more than two can be taken as electives and must focus teaching to count as an elective)
Experience (REQUIRED) One (1) of the following is required for the Teaching Certificate:
Mentoring an undergraduate student through one of the Graduate School’s partnerships with Office of Undergraduate Research or the College of Engineering (and a reflection paper)
Deliverable (REQUIRED)
Find a job posting that interests you which involves teaching
Submit all required materials to apply for that position such as CV/resume, cover letter, teaching philosophy statement, and the job position description. Below are rubrics to guide you in the process
The Leadership Learning Institute (LLI) provides graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with training and development on various skills they need to compete for and be successful in various careers. More specifically, LLI participants will:
Define their leadership styles through self-assessments.
Realize how their leadership and communication styles impact their interactions with others.
Read and discuss a leadership book.
Build an understanding of other leadership styles
Obtain tools for how to better manage their time and work/life balance.
Ascertain their communication style and learn the strengths and weaknesses regarding this style.
Identify how they approach conflict and learn how to use the strengths from their preferred conflict management style to address challenges with others.
Establish strategies for effectively building and managing a team.
Understand how to make decisions and employ strategic planning strategies.
Incorporate skills for how to effectively engage with others.
Realize their professional and leadership skills and how these will aid them in future employment.
Work through case studies that assist with an understanding of how to apply the concepts taught.
Reflect on what they are learning and how it works when applied with an accountability partner.
Engage in a leadership experience of their choosing and provide a reflection paper on this.
The Leadership Learning Institute is divided into four short courses that consist of three sessions each with a focus on self-awareness, communication, influence and purpose. These leadership development workshops will take place over the course of the spring semester or during the summer months. LLI participants will be required to have a career coaching session, create a LinkedIn profile, engage in a leadership experience of their choosing, and write a reflection paper regarding that experience. Information on how to apply can be found here.
Communication Skills Certificate
Foundation Workshops (REQUIRED)
Four (4) workshops are required for the Communication Skills Certificate:
Writer’s Toolkit
User-Friendly Writing
Concise Communication (formerly Concise Writing)
Professional Emails
Electives (REQUIRED)
Four (4) electives are to be chosen from these options:
Writing Abstracts & Introductions
Lit Reviews (non-engineering)
Lit Reviews (engineering)
Results & Discussion Sections
How to Plan a Journal Article
How to Respond to Reviewer Feedback
How to Write a Cover Letter
How to Write CV
How to Write Resume
Any Summer Grants & Fellowships Writing Workshops
Check our workshops page to see what workshops are offered this semester
Experience (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Communication Skills Certificate:
One (1) of the following is required for the Communication Skills Certificate:
Published Journal Article, Review Paper, or Book Review
White paper or report
Thesis, dissertation, or capstone project
Statements for teaching, research, and inclusivity
Professional Portfolio
Professional Development Dashboard
We encourage you to use the Professional Development Dashboard to plan your professional growth and chart your progress toward building the skills employers want.
Students, faculty and staff enjoy a spring day by participating in a Pause for Tiny Hooves event at the Corner on Centennial campus. Therapy miniature horses from Stampede of Love, as well as therapy dogs, provide a wellness break from the end of semester rush. Photo by Becky Kirkland.
