Certificate Programs

The NCSA offers multiple opportunities for professional development–for graduate students looking to get a start on their teaching skills and early career faculty wanting to improve their classroom teaching.  In addition to presenting your research to a broad audience, you can participate in the NCSA Certificate Program which offers up to three certificate opportunities each annual meeting.  Our two permanent certificate programs are the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) and Professional Development (PD) Certificate Programs.

By simply doing what you normally would be doing at a conference (attending sessions and special events), and a follow-up reflection assignment, you can earn a certificate. Which makes a great addition to your CV!

Attend a minimum of five teaching or career development focused sessions during the NCSA annual meeting and then completing a reflection essay is all it takes.  It is possible that by attending as few as eight targeted sessions (with overlapping focal points) you can earn both certificates!

Pursuing the certificates is also a great way to plan your conference attendance and network with highly motivated colleagues who are committed your success and the continued vibrancy of the organization and discipline as a whole.  Come and participate in making the future of Sociology!

NEW! Beginning in 2019, we may offer a third certificate at the annual meeting. The focus topic of this certificate will change each year and will be based on the year’s annual theme. This option may not be available at every conference.  For example, in 2019 the ‘rotating’ topic certificate was Social Justice.

For more information about the PFF and PD program, contact:

Greg Kordsmeier
NCSA Teaching Section Chair
Indiana University, Southeast
gkordsme@ius.edu

• Preparing Students for Teaching
• The Students Speak: Perceptions of Excellent Teaching
• Teaching About Stereotypes
• Using Technology in the Classroom
• Assessment of Student Learning: Sharing Resources
• Books that Help Us Teach
• Teaching Controversial Topics in Sociology

updated March 10, 2024