Science Education

Teaching-intensive careers are available in higher education (e.g., small liberal arts colleges, community colleges) as well as a variety of other contexts (college preparatory schools, specialized science-focused high-schools, and other educational institutions often have STEM-focused positions and/or lab science needs that a PhD-trained scientist could fulfill). Furthermore, another form of teaching-intensive careers (often combined with administration) is for science outreach positions, typically working with a variety of age and ability levels. Remember why YOU loved science? Your turn to pass on that passion for science to the next generation.

Get trained in principles of education and teaching

Begin building a base knowledge in pedagogy by attending workshops and classes.

TIBBS Summer Series: Certificate in College Teaching

Attend the TIBBS Summer Series: Certificate in College Teaching which covers topics including: Interactive Team Learning, Learning Assessment, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), Teaching Statement, Portfolio, and Application Material Development, Classroom Management, Syllabus Design, Challenges of First Time Teachers, and Active Learning.

Coursework

Take coursework in college education, such as College Science Teaching Seminar (BIOL 810) – an interactive seminar providing the knowledge and skills required to design and implement active learning in college science courses, which will ultimately be used to design and implement an active learning session in an undergraduate science class. In addition, this course provides the chance to explore the variety of college science teaching positions available and draft a teaching statement for future job searches.

Online courses such as the New TA Orientation are also available online through the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE).

Future Faculty Fellowship Program (FFFP) & Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) Workshops 

The UNC Center for Faculty Excellence offers a one-semester Preparing Future Faculty (FFFP) program for those interested in preparing for academic positions at the college or university level. Additionally, to supplement this, four workshops per semester area also offered in the following areas: “aligning learning goals, assessment and grading rubrics; creating an environment for learning; using formative and summative assessment; and writing a teaching statement,” and are geared specifically for TAs and graduate students.

Gain teaching experience

Here are some ways to gain teaching experience as a graduate student or trainee:

• Become a member of the Future Science Educators club (FuSE) and attend events with local professors and teachers in STEM
• Volunteer to create and edit new DNA Day Modules through FuSE
• Participate in science outreach evnts, for example become DNA Day Ambassador
• Join outreach programs, like BrainClub (teach brain-related science to high-schoolers) or DNA Day CONNECT
• Volunteer as a science communication ambassador for Morehead Planetarium
• Serve as a Lab Teaching Assistant (TA) or course TA through your home department

ImPACT Internship

Consider applying for a teaching internship as a capstone educational event in your fourth or fifth year of graduate training through ImPACT. Teach at a local community college or small liberal arts school to get the experience of a teaching-intensive career in a different environment from an R-1 institution, or co-teach with a UNC instructor to get the full experience of teaching at an R-1.

Graduate Certificate in College Science Teaching

Learn more about this newly approved Graduate Certificate in College Science Teaching to gain training to prepare students to be faculty members, instructors, or lecturers at the college level in the sciences.  This program provides a scaffolding-approach to training students to teach, incorporating hands-on mentored teaching experiences, from designing and co-teaching a UNC undergraduate course to a capstone teaching internship at an institution of the trainee’s choice – usual a local university or college.

Center for the Integration of Teaching Research and Learning (CIRTL) at UNC

As a member of CIRTL, UNC provides opportunities both locally through Learning Communities as well as through the CIRTL Network for trainees to participate in a variety of STEM Teaching workshops, seminars, and other activities. Students can gain skills needed to implement best practices in teaching at the college level, and simultaneously gain recognition at the Associate, Practitioner, or Scholar level through the UNC CIRTL Program.