Inclusive Excellence is proud to present one of two in-house certificate programs. The Critical Pedagogy Certificate will be facilitated by Dr. Chris Babits, the Director of Education and Professional Learning.
About the Program
The Critical Pedagogy Teaching Certificate program has been developed to help faculty and graduate students re-examine and re-construct their teaching to promote democracy, the empowerment of students, and active citizenship. Participants will think about pedagogy as a moral and political practice for the public good. Readings, along with discussions, workshops, and the creation of pedagogical materials, will interrogate how issues related to language and power shape what happens in and outside of formal educational spaces.
Over the course of the semester, participants will meet weekly as a cohort to discuss common readings and to workshop pedagogical materials (e.g., course modules, class assignments, teaching statements, works-in-progress on teaching).
These meetings will take place over Zoom to ensure participation is possible throughout USU’s Statewide system.
Each participant will create and workshop two pedagogical items that highlight core features of critical pedagogy. The creation of these items, which should explicitly improve a participant’s teaching, will be a key feature of the Critical Pedagogy Certificate.
Cohorts of up to eight participants will be selected each semester.
After a committee review of applications, you will receive additional information about the certificate program by 5 pm on Friday, May 3.
Program Benefits
Participants will receive the following from the Critical Pedagogy Certificate program:
- Books and other materials purchased and supplied by Inclusive Excellence.
- Access to a Critical Pedagogy Certificate Canvas course, which will host additional resources.
- Support and encouragement from a cohort of educators interested in critical pedagogy.
- Individualized mentorship from the Director of Education and Professional Learning.
- A framed Critical Pedagogy Certificate at the conclusion of the program, to be awarded at the annual Inclusive Excellence Symposium in September.
Who Can Apply?
Since the Critical Pedagogy Certificate program focuses on re-examining and re-constructing participants’ teaching, faculty and graduate students who have completed either the Inclusive Excellence Teaching Certificate or the Teaching Scholar Certificate from Empowering Teaching Excellence (ETE) can apply.
Since we can only accept up to eight participants each semester, the application process involves answering questions about you and your affiliation to USU as well as the following two questions:
- How do you anticipate benefitting from participating in the Critical Pedagogy Certificate program?
- What is the most important piece of advice you would give to anyone beginning a career in teaching? Why is this the piece of advice you'd provide?
You can provide written responses of up to 250 words for each of these questions.
About Dr. Babits
Dr. Chris Babits (he/him/his) is the Director of Education and Professional Learning for Inclusive Excellence. Chris is a trained historian whose research examines the historical development of conversion therapy in the United States. He has taught courses in teacher education, history, intersectional gender studies, psychology, and participatory action research. Chris brings more than 20 years of experience working to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in secondary schools and higher education.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Critical Pedagogy Certificate program, please contact Dr. Chris Babits at chris.babits@usu.edu.