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Instructor Certification

 

Why is Certification Necessary?


In order to maintain the stringent guidelines of the University of Connecticut, instructors who apply to the program must meet a standard similar to an adjunct professor. This helps to assure that the same academic rigor that is found on the University campus is also found in the high school classroom. Although Connecticut teachers are already certified by the State, it is important that the University department has a full understanding of an instructor's qualifications, and that the high school instructor understands the current departmental criteria.

The University greatly values the efforts of its UConn ECE instructors. UConn ECE instructors regularly visit the UConn campuses for professional development opportunities and conferences. UConn ECE instructors also have access to the large and growing network of UConn ECE educators who share knowledge, strategies, and techniques.

Application Process

  1. The applicant should send all application materials to:

University of Connecticut
UConn Early College Experience, Attn: Jennifer Griffin
368 Fairfield Way Unit 2171
Storrs, CT 06269-2171

  1. The UConn ECE program office will then forward the application materials to the appropriate department at the University of CT. The UConn ECE program office does not make certification decisions.
  2. Once the application has been reviewed by the appropriate department and a decision has been made, the applicant will be contacted by mail, with a certification decision.

 

A Complete Application Consists of:

  1. UConn ECE Certification Application
  2. A detailed cover letter indicating the course(s) the applicant is applying to teach, professional qualifications and background.
  3. Résumé that includes teaching experience and any relevant training.
  4. Two letters of recommendation (preferably from the applicant's department head and school principal).
  5. Official graduate and undergraduate transcripts.
  6. Proposed course syllabus, detailing all assignments.

Deadline


A completed certification application must be received by the UConn ECE program office by March 30th in order to obtain certification for the following academic year.

Workshop Attendance


UConn ECE instructors must attend an ECE-sponsored professional development event in the appropriate discipline once every two years to remain certified to teach UConn ECC courses.

 

Discipline
Requirements
Art The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience art courses is usually a Master of Fine Arts, although a candidate with an Master's in Education and appropriate background may be approved in extremely rare situations. Upon reviewing the application materials, the faculty coordinator in art may wish to schedule an interview with the candidate or visit the teaching facilities. This time is a way to be introduced to the program and discuss possibilities for the course.
Biology The purpose of the UConn Early College Experience Biology is not for the teacher to exactly mimic what a UConn professor does at the Storrs campus, but to provide a comparable experience of an introductory college course with classroom and laboratory materials at the appropriate level

The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience biology courses is usually a Master's degree. An M.S. in the biological sciences would be ideal, but a Master's degree in Education will be acceptable as long as there is sufficient breadth of biology background between undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants will not be considered unless they provide a detailed Lecture and Lab syllabus for their proposed Bio 107/108 courses with their application. For an example, see the link (Biology 107/108 Descriptions for ECE Biology Instructors). Certification also requires an interview with the ECE Biology Coordinator at the Storrs Campus.

Other factors that contribute to certification include: prior teaching experience, work experiences in research or applied aspects of biology, and recommendations.

Chemistry

The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience chemistry courses is usually a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, although a candidate with an Master's in Education and a sufficiently strong and well balanced chemistry background may be considered. Interviews will be conducted before certification. Applicants should have taken Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry courses. NOTE: Chemistry cannot be taught at a high school that runs on a Block Schedule.

The University's Chemistry Department will provide examinations, laboratory assignments, and other resources to participating teachers.
Classics The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience classics courses is usually a Master of Science in Classics or a related field. A candidate with a Master's in Education is usually not considered for college-level teaching in classics.
Computer Science The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience computer science courses is usually a Master's Degree.
Economics The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience economics courses is usually a Bachelor's Degree. The candidate must have appropriately strong background in economics including intermediate economics theory plus several junior level or above economics courses.
English The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience English courses is usually a Master's of Arts degree in English; however, a candidate with a Master's in Education and sufficiently strong English background may be considered. Interviews will be conducted before certification is granted.
Environmental Science Instructors interested in applying should possess a Master’s Degree in one of the environmental science fields (e.g. environmental biology, chemistry, earth science, geography, economics) or an equivalent level of experience in education and study in environmental science.
French The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience French courses is usually a Master's of Arts degree in French; however, a candidate with a Master's in Education and sufficiently strong French background may be considered. The teacher should also regularly attend proficiency workshops (regional, national) or have experience (ongoing or at intervals) with a French-speaking country.
Family Studies The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience Family Studies class, HDFS 190: Individual and Family Development, is a Master's Degree in Education. It is suggested that the undergraduate Bachelors Degree be in the area of Family and Consumer Sciences Education (045, CT Home Economics) or Human Development and Family Studies with three to five years teaching experience at the secondary level.
History The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience History courses is a Bachelor of Arts in History; however, a Master's in History is preferred.

 

Teachers are asked to submit the following materials: 

  1. A detailed syllabus for the course being taught:  this should include a ‘statement of purpose’ for the course, a list of the texts being used, and a schedule of the lectures and readings for each class meeting.  Be sure to indicate the ‘title’ of the lecture (e.g., “Heresy and Dissent in the 13th Century”).  Discussion topics, films, etc. should also be noted in the schedule, as well as notice of any websites that students are required to use.
  2.  The syllabus must include a full listing of all primary source texts assigned for the course, along with an indication of how they will be used, e.g., as a basis for a careful in-class close reading, as a focus for class lecture and/or discussion, as material for written assignments, etc.  The single most important feature that distinguishes an ECE History course from regular high school courses in an emphasis on reading, discussing and interpreting primary sources.    
 
Italian The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience Italian courses is a Master's in Italian; however, a Master's in Education and appropriate Italian background may be considered.
Mathematics The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience mathematics courses is usually a Master's Degree in Mathematics. In exceptional cases, a strong Bachelor's Degree with evidence that the candidate is enrolled in a program to earn a Master's Degree may be considered. A candidate with a Master's in Education may also be considered if coupled with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. A course in Real Analysis with a grade of B or above is required for certification. Interviews will be conducted before certification is granted.
Music The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience Music courses is usually a Master's of Arts degree in Music; however, a candidate with a Master's in Education and sufficiently strong music background may be considered.
Physics The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience physics courses is a Bachelor's Degree in physics with at least 3.0 GPA in the basic calculus level physics course, an overall 2.5 GPA for all physics courses on the transcript, plus two years teaching experience at the high school level. Candidates with a Master's Degree or PhD in physics will be considered without the two-year teaching experience requirement.
Political Science The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience political science courses is a Master's of Arts degree in political science.
Sociology The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience sociology courses is a Master's in Sociology.
Spanish The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience Spanish courses is a Master's in Spanish; however, a candidate with a Master's in Education and appropriate Spanish background, including 2 graduate courses in the subject area, may be considered.
Statistics The minimum degree requirement for teachers wishing to teach Early College Experience statistics courses is a Master's of Science degree in Statistics or a Master's in a related area with appropriate level undergraduate statistics background and courses at least two levels above Statistics 110. A candidate with a Master's in Education and appropriate statistics background may be considered.
   

 

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