Graduate engineering students at Wichita State can now work toward teaching through a new Certificate of Engineering Education program, a joint effort by the colleges of education and engineering.

The new Certificate of Engineering Education at Wichita State University has been established to better equip graduate students with the skills necessary to teach engineering courses at the collegiate level.

Larry Whitman

"Gone are the days when simply being an 'expert' makes you qualified to teach engineering," said Larry Whitman, director of engineering education at Wichita State University. "Universities are looking for Ph.D. engineers who not only excel in research but also know how to teach and communicate effectively. This certificate will demonstrate to future employers that you have these abilities."

The certificate requires 12 credits, with courses offered in both the spring and fall terms, and is complementary to graduate study in engineering and education.

It's another innovative teacher education program from Wichita State, melding content knowledge from engineering coursework with teaching theory courses on learning, pedagogy and measurement. It also includes an internship, with relevant courses and authentic classroom situations.

For more information about the program and related coursework, go to www.wichita.edu/teachengineering.