The Certificate in College Teaching (CCT) is a Graduate School certificate that provides formal preparation in college teaching, a documented record of teaching experience, and materials to support future academic job applications. It is designed for Duke postdocs who want to develop and document their college teaching while at Duke.
For Spring 2027, applications are due November 15, 2026. The CCT takes at least one year to complete and normally unfolds over two or three semesters. Apply only if your appointment gives you enough time to complete the coursework, teaching and observation, and teaching portfolio before you leave Duke.
Who can apply?
This application is for current Duke employees whose official appointment is Postdoctoral Associate. It is not for Duke graduate students, Postdoctoral Scholars, or people in other postdoctoral or visiting roles. Duke PhD and MFA students should use the CCT application for Duke graduate students.
What does the CCT involve?
The CCT has three requirements:
- Coursework. Complete two credit-bearing courses in college teaching. A common sequence is GS 750: Fundamentals of College Teaching followed by GS 760: The College Teaching Portfolio. Courses typically meet once a week during the semester for 75 minutes, with approximately two hours of preparation outside class.
- Teaching experience and peer observation. Complete a qualifying teaching role and peer observation (Teaching Triangles) in the same semester. The teaching role must take place after you enroll in CCT to count toward the certificate. After completing both, postdocs earn 0.5 credits for Teaching Triangles (GS 798).
- Teaching portfolio. Develop and submit a teaching portfolio in your final semester in the program.
Postdocs complete a minimum of 2.5 graduate credits: two one-credit teaching courses and the 0.5-credit Teaching Triangles practicum & observation. A typical sequence is coursework, followed by (or in parallel with) teaching and observation, and then the portfolio, which is due in the final term.
For Supervisors & PIs
CCT is an official Duke Graduate School academic certificate, completed over two or three semesters. For postdocs whose career plans include college teaching, it can be an IDP goal that strengthens preparation for future professional roles. Its teaching, observation, and feedback work also helps postdocs train and mentor others in the lab.
Requirements include a total of two one-credit courses that meet for 75 minutes weekly and a teaching experience with peer observation. Before applying, postdocs and supervisors agree on a feasible timeline that leaves room to explore teaching. CCT helps participants identify and pursue teaching opportunities and develop a plan compatible with research and appointment responsibilities. It requires no PI, lab, or department funding; participants pay tuition, with ETAP reimbursement available to eligible employees.
Teaching Experience
A qualifying teaching role is central to the CCT. The program can help you identify possibilities and think through your preparation, but you are responsible for securing your own teaching role. Common options include your department or unit at Duke, Duke University Courses, and the Durham Tech–Duke Teaching Partnership. See Graduate Instructor of Record support for additional guidance and opportunities. For international postdocs, paid teaching outside Duke is possible but may require separate authorization. Consult Duke Visa Services before pursuing an external teaching appointment.
Costs and Tuition Assistance
The CCT involves an application fee, a one-time Graduate School transcript fee when you matriculate, and tuition for graduate-credit coursework. The figures below reflect current costs.
CCT Costs at a Glance
| Expense | When it applies | Current cost |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate School application fee | When you submit your Slate application | $105 |
| Office of Postdoctoral Services support | Applied toward the application fee | −$50 |
| Your application cost | When you submit your application | $55 |
| Graduate School transcript fee | First term after matriculation | $120 |
| CCT coursework | $1,500 per credit; 2.5 credits minimum | $3,750 |
| Minimum direct cost before tuition assistance | Application, transcript fee, and required coursework | $3,925 |
The Office of Postdoctoral Services contributes $50 toward the application fee to encourage eligible Duke postdocs to participate in the CCT.
Employee Tuition Assistance Program
Eligible full-time employees with at least six months of continuous service may receive up to $5,250 per calendar year through Duke’s Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP). Because the CCT requires a minimum of 2.5 credits, ETAP may reimburse the full $3,750 cost of required coursework.
ETAP is tuition reimbursement, not a fee waiver. You are responsible for confirming your eligibility, obtaining the required approvals, paying tuition when billed, and submitting reimbursement materials after successfully completing each course. ETAP does not cover the application or transcript fee. If your CCT tuition is fully reimbursed through ETAP, your remaining direct cost would be $175.
Tuition and fees are subject to change.
How Do I Apply?
Complete the Slate application above. You will be asked to provide:
- A graduate transcript, official or unofficial
- A current CV
- A statement of purpose of no more than 1,000 words responding to the prompt in the application
- One letter of recommendation, normally from your postdoctoral supervisor, PI, or mentor. Slate will contact your recommender directly with instructions for uploading the letter.
After You Apply
If admitted, the CCT Director will contact you to arrange an advising and orientation meeting. Together, you will review the certificate requirements, discuss possible teaching and observation opportunities, and develop a realistic plan for completing the CCT during your Duke appointment.
CCT Listserv
After you apply, you should subscribe to the Duke CCT listserv, where CCT events, classes and other opportunities are announced:
- send an email to sympa@duke.edu
- leave the body blank
- in the subject line of your message: subscribe grad-cct@duke.edu yourfirstname yourlastname
- you will get an automated reply asking you to send another email with a code provided to confirm.
This is the primary means of communication about the program, and it is essential that you subscribe.