Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification

The Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification program provides professional learning opportunities in the fundamentals of engineering education, promoting student success and other aspects of fulfilling their responsibilities as educators and mentors. Certification is required for all new Cockrell School TAs during the first semester in which they are appointed. TAs who aspire to have a career in academia have additional opportunities to participate in a community of practice and attain an Advanced Engineering TA Certification.

 The certification process consists of four elements, all of which must be completed to attain certification:

•  Eight-hour TA certification workshop

• In-class observation or participation in a teaching practicum session

• Early-semester survey of teaching effectiveness

• Official UT Austin course-instructor survey (CIS or eCIS) — TA version

Pre-Certification: Training in Engineering Teaching Methods

All graduate students who have not been appointed as TAs are encouraged to participate in the Engineering TA Certification Workshop at any time. When a pre-certified graduate student is later appointed as a TA, he/she can complete the remaining certification requirements during the first semester of appointment to attain full Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification.

Advanced Engineering Teaching Assistant Certification

Certified Engineering Teaching Assistants can attain advanced-level certification by fulfilling the following requirements:

• Participate in two continuing-education workshops, one of which can be outside the Cockrell School

• Successfully complete an additional in-class observation and follow-up coaching

• Develop a teaching statement and teaching portfolio

Preparing Future Faculty Workshops

All graduate students and post-docs, particularly those who aspire to have an academic career involving teaching and/or research, are welcome to participate in workshops that range from the following topics:

• Developing your Curriculum Vitae (CV), Research Statement and Teaching Statement

• Active learning strategies to increase student engagement and learning

• Preparing to apply and interview for an engineering faculty position

• Developing a research proposal

Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

The CTL offers multiple different professional development programs for graduate students, including a Teaching Preparation Series that can result in a “Teaching Preparation Certificate” or an “Advanced Teaching Preparation Certificate.”

Engineering Career Assistance Center (ECAC)

The ECAC offers career counseling, workshops, and networking opportunities. They have career counselors that can help you improve your job search, in both academia and industry. Through their ENGR Direct page, they also offer tips on resumes, job applications, and other job documents.

Office of Career and Life Design

Part of the Graduate School, the newly created Office of Career and Life Design offers professional development and career counseling for graduate students and post docs. They offer career advising for those looking to go on the job market, courses on career design or skill development, practice interviews and interview rooms, and networking events. Located at the Flawn Academic Center (FAC), on the 2^nd floor (2.236), they will be holding events throughout the year for graduate students interested in professional development and future career plans.