Non-credit certificates in university teaching

When given the opportunity to instruct in a university or college setting, most of us start by teaching the way we have been taught in the past. Often this is not the best way.

Beginning late Fall 2025, UNB is proud to launch diverse programming in university teaching. Built to meet your context and your learning needs, our short courses and programs will help you build a foundation of knowledge, develop practical skills, and support you to investigate topics of special interest.

This programming replaces the diploma in university teaching, and leads to one of three non-credit certificates in university teaching designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced practitioners, respectively.

Certificate programs

  • Free pilot cohort for UNB graduate students beginning November 2025
  • 14h, asynchronous online delivery

This short course is suitable for individuals who are interested in providing teaching at the higher education level (university or college), but who have no or minimal prior experience in the area. The course will support participants to explore professional values, gain core knowledge, and build skills in the provision of teaching.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Articulate a personal philosophy of teaching and learning that incorporates respect for diversity;
  2. Discuss learning theory and at least two approaches to teaching generally and within a subject of interest;
  3. Plan and enact a learning activity that includes student assessment using backward design;
  4. Apply critical evaluation as a mechanism for enhancing personal practice;
  5. Generate ways to use scholarship of teaching and learning to inform practice.

  • Coming late Winter 2026
  • 39h, blend of both synchronous and asynchronous online delivery

This program is suitable for individuals who are providing teaching and learning in higher education. It is composed of two parts: 1) a taught course with synchronous and asynchronous components; and 2) experienced-based learning in which the student must teach a minimum of 30 hours at the higher education level. The course will support participants to translate professional values into action, enact evidenced-based practice, and proactively safeguard inclusion in their teaching practices at the course and lesson levels.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Translate subject/disciplinary-specific learning theory and/or literature into course and lesson design;
  2. Engage in evidence-informed self-reflection vis a vis supporting diverse learners in the provision of teaching and learning;
  3. Develop a strategically aligned course-to-lesson map including course-level and lesson-level learning outcomes, as well as recommended formative and summative tasks;
  4. Author and justify a summative assignment guide, including marking strategy;
  5. Apply introductory coaching skills to the provision of student feedback;
  6. Develop a quality experiential learning experience for your students;
  7. Design and build an online lesson using a variety of technological resources and learning assets.

  • Coming Fall 2026
  • 21h, blend of both synchronous and asynchronous online delivery + 39h self-directed study

Registration

Non-credit programming in university teaching from UNB is coming soon. Join the waitlist and be notified when registration opens.

Please note, our first pilot cohort of Foundations of University Teaching will composed of only UNB graduate students. Interested learners who are external to UNB can join the waitlist and be notified when open registration begins.

Join the waitlist