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Iowa State University

Preparing Future Faculty

Gr St 586 Course Syllabus

Graduate Studies 586:
Preparing Future Faculty Intermediate Seminar

Gr St 586 is a 3-credit course that meets one evening a week for three hours. Each week’s class will feature one or more speakers and class discussion. A list of topics and assignments is given below.

Course Topics:

Session One Introduction; Why I love being a professor
Session Two Preparing course materials I: Course goals and objectives, syllabi, course policies, assignments, text selection.
Session Three Job letters and vitae
Session Four Preparing course materials II: Tests, other assessments, grading rubrics.
Session Five Learning styles and their pedagogical strategies*
Session Six Teaching Portfolios
Session Seven Public speaking*
Session Eight Interactive classroom activities; Classroom management: Classroom challenges you will inevitably face*
Session Nine Lectures and their complements*
Session Ten Career management: from hiring to retiring*
Session Eleven Ethical issues in teaching and research*
Session Twelve Grant and proposal writing*The role of service*
Session Thirteen Diversity issues in higher education*
Session Fourteen Legal issues in teaching and research (intellectual property); Research integrity and ethics*
Session Fifteen Conclusion

Writing Assignments:

  • Update and revise vita and cover letter for a faculty position. Include job ad from web or print source. Highlight phrases in the job ad that will be key in your cover letter. Due week 5.
  • Create a teaching portfolio, including a teaching philosophy, syllabus, course policy sheet, and sample assignment with its grading rubric. If using a syllabus and policy sheet from one of your professors’ classes, include at least a full page explaining what you would keep and why as well as what you would change and why (you may use reasons mentioned in class). Teaching portfolios are due week 9.
  • Write one-page journal responses to seven of the nine marked (*) class topics. Journals are due by the following class session. For a suggested list of journal prompts, see page 14 of your student manual.
  • Write two one-page summaries of mentoring experiences. Due by midterm.
  • Write two one-page summaries of your 586 teaching experiences. Start each summary with a brief course description including the course name, department, number of students, and kind of teaching you are doing. First summary due by midterm and the second due by 5 p.m. Friday before dead week.
  • Write a summary (1-2 pages) of your 586 experiences. Due by 5 p.m. Friday before dead week.