Pedagogy Preparation for Teaching as Instructor-of-Record & the
Summer Graduate Teaching Scholar program

The Teaching & Learning Commons is here to support you in honing your teaching skills, designing your course, and documenting your pedagogy development along the way.

Pedagogy preparation to teach as Instructor-of-Record at UC San Diego and beyond

Build skills now that will serve you in teaching at UC San Diego, in talking about your teaching in job interviews, and teaching in your future career! There are two levels of preparation - one that you can complete at any point, focusing on foundational day-to-day teaching strategies, and then the recommended course for preparing to teach as an Instructor-of-Record/Associate-In. 

• Step 1: Foundational Training (complete at any point before Advanced College Teaching)
  This step offers day-to-day teaching skills and core concepts that will support you both as an Instructional Assistant and as you prepare to teach as course instructor. Gain this through: 

  • • Foundations of Teaching workshops (synchronous or asynchronous options available with the Teaching & Learning Commons), OR

    • Introduction to College Teaching (ICT) course with the Teaching & Learning Commons, OR 

    • a departmental pedagogy course (learn more here)
      
      

• Step 2: Advanced College Teaching course (when you have a course to prepare)
  Once you have a specific course to prepare to teach as Associate-In, lecturer, or for job applications, you are invited to join the quarter-long Advanced College Teaching (ACT) for guided support to design a student-centered course and syllabus, and discussions around your role as Instructor-of-Record. 

  • • Note: Step 1 Foundational Training is required to fulfill prerequisite learning outcomes for Advanced College Teaching.

You aren't alone: Support during and after teaching as Instructor-of-Record at UC San Diego

• Summer Peer-to-Peer Learning Communities:
  Connect with others teaching in summer as you prepare and teach your course through a Peer Review of Teaching program, chat platform, and weekly Summer Teacher's Lounge.

• Debrief on your course with a teaching consultant: 
  Request a teaching consultation to chat 1-1 with a teaching consultant about how your course is going and brainstorm ideas for engaging students, assessing learning, and more.

• Recognize and document your training for the job market:
  By opting to prepare your course in Advanced College Teaching, you will have earned a certificate of recognition at the Specialist level of Student-Centered College Teaching to share in job applications and demonstrate that you are ready to teach as Associate-In/ Instructor of Record. 

You can go a step further during your teaching experience to become an Engaged Teaching Scholar by intentionally implementing evidence-based teaching practices while teaching your course and then assessing those practices to advance shared knowledge of effective pedagogy.

Suggestions for documenting teaching effectiveness can be found in this resource and in conversation with a teaching consultant or through an end-of-summer workshop.

What is the Summer Graduate Teaching Scholar program?

This program gives advanced graduate students who have advanced to doctoral candidacy by the end of winter 2026 an opportunity to teach a course as the Instructor of Record in a supported environment during summer session 2026. Students who participate will receive a stipend for completing the professional development workshops and receive salary as an Associate Instructor for teaching a course in Summer 2026. It’s an excellent professional development opportunity for graduate students with an interest in teaching, while also expanding summer session course offerings for undergraduates.

Teach your own course in a mentored and supportive community + earn an extra stipend:  

Apply to the Summer Graduate Teaching Scholar program - applications are usually due in late November!

Here’s how:

1. Check your eligibility.

2. Contact your department to apply. 

Departments are responsible for submitting the student Associate Instructor applications. Students who are interested in the program should reach out to the graduate coordinator in their department or program (you can find your program’s graduate coordinator here - must be connected to vpn to access) to discuss the SGTS program, and application requirements.    

3. Register for pedagogy training (in the blue boxes) to complete your path of choice to achieve the Specialist level shown below:

• Ultimately you will need to complete Advanced College Teaching in Winter or Spring, which is where you will design your course to teach as Associate-In. To complete the Foundational Prerequisites for Advanced College Teaching, you will want to either:

  • • Register for Introduction to College Teaching for Fall quarter (path on the left in the diagram above), OR complete the Foundations of Teaching badge with synchronous and/or asynchronous options (path on the right in the diagram above) 

    • Trying to decide whether Introduction to College Teaching or Foundations of Teaching workshops are right for you? Read a comparison here.

    • Note: If you have prior pedagogy training that you feel meets the prerequisite learning outcomes for Advanced College Teaching, please contact Erilynn at engagedteaching@ucsd.edu to share more about that and discuss the best option for you. Please reach out at least a month prior to when you begin Advanced College Teaching.