DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

TEACHING PROGRAM FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The teaching program at Case Western is one of the many ways in which Case offers unique training opportunities for graduate students. This program introduces students to the many skills that are required to be an excellent instructor and provides opportunities for students to design and teach their own courses under the mentorship of a faculty member. Students who graduate from Case are consistently recognized as having extraordinary teaching skills and experiences.

The teaching program has three tiers. All students are required to complete the first and second tiers (usually during their second and third years). Participation in the third tier of the program depends on the student's career goals.

Tier 1: Teaching Assistantship (year two)

Prerequisite:

Successful completion of PSCL 453, Seminars in Psychology (taken in the first year of graduate school)

Purpose:

To expose graduate students to a teaching mentor. The mentor is expected to discuss all aspects of course development including topic selection, syllabus construction, and grading philosophy
To provide experience in developing and effectively delivering lectures
To give experience in tutoring students and grading exams

Duties (defined by course instructor but including the following):

Attend all class meetings
Hold weekly office hours
Hold review sessions before each exam
Grade exams under supervision of course instructor
Lecture one topic, not to exceed one week of class meetings

Tier 2: Seminar Teaching - PSCL390, 1 credit course (third year)

Compensation is $1100 in stipend
Student will be supervised by faculty member who has expertise in the area of the course

Prerequisites:

Completion of Tier 1
MA Degree
Positive recommendation of instructor of course in which student was a Teaching Assistant

Purpose:

To give students experience in developing a special topic seminar where class size is limited to 20 students
To provide experience in developing and effectively delivering lectures in a small seminar format
To give experience in tutoring students and grading exams

Duties:

Hold weekly office hours
Perform all duties of a course instructor
Attend monthly meetings of graduate teachers

Tier 3:Teaching in a Larger Course - 3 credit course (optional)

Compensation is $3300 in stipend
Student will be supervised by faculty member who has expertise in the area of the course

Students who wish to pursue a career in academia must have demonstrable experience in teaching larger classes. The course will be a regularly scheduled course which represents a major area of expertise in each training program, such as Abnormal Psychology, Child Development, Cognition, Social Psychology, and Statistics

Prerequisites:

Completion of Tier 2
Positive recommendation of faculty member who supervised the Tier 2 course
Approval of faculty member who is expert in the substantive area of the Tier 3 course

Purpose:

To give students experience in developing a course where class size is limited to 40 students
To provide experience in developing and effectively delivering lectures in a larger class format
To give experience in tutoring students and grading exams

Duties:

Hold weekly office hours
Perform all duties of a course instructor
Attend monthly meetings of graduate teachers