Texas State University requires all faculty members who instruct online or hybrid courses to successfully complete online teaching certification before assuming their teaching duties.
The Distance and Extended Learning Steering Committee has approved the following teaching certification options designed to meet SACSCOC and THECB requirements, as described in PPS 02.03.01.
This facilitated asynchronous course is offered using Canvas, the university’s learning management system. Faculty have eight weeks to complete a series of short, effective learning modules.
In these modules, faculty will learn and apply the best practices of online instruction to enhance their teaching effectiveness and student engagement. The course offers practical strategies to maintain a consistent instructor presence, foster a sense of community among learners, and promote meaningful interactions. Emphasis is also placed on the importance of accessibility and diversity in course content. Moreover, faculty will also learn to model digital citizenship and uphold academic integrity in their online classes.
For more information about this course, or if you have questions about registration, contact the Instructional Design Services team at IDTeam@txstate.edu.
Instructors with prior online teaching training may submit an alternate certification for review with a minimum equivalency of eight hours of professional development focused on online learning. Eligible training alternatives include Quality Matters (QM), Online Learning Consortium (OLC), the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), or comparable professional development offerings from other higher education institutions.
All alternate certification requests can be submitted to IDTeam@txstate.edu with supporting evidence.
The following training offered by Quality Matters (QM), the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), and the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) are pre-approved options for faculty online teaching certification at Texas State University.
NOTE: Faculty completing alternate certification through QM, OLC, ACUE or another institution’s equivalency are expected to review the TXST Online Teaching Expectations guidelines. TXST does not cover training costs with the certification options below.
| Course | Prerequisite | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| QM Designing Your Online Course | None | 2 weeks |
| QM Designing Your Blended Course | None | 2 weeks |
| QM Improving Your Online Course | An online course to improve | 2 weeks |
| OLC Online Teaching Certificate | Online teaching experience | 10 weeks for foundation course plus 3 electives |
| OLC Advanced Teaching Certificate | 3+ years teaching experience or OLC teaching certificate and 1-yr experience | 3 week foundation course plus 4 live synchronous sessions |
| ACUE Creating a Productive Online Learning Environment | None | 6 weeks |
| ACUE Promoting Active Learning Online | None | 6 weeks |
| ACUE Inspiring Inquiry and Lifelong Learning in Your Online Course | None | 6 weeks |
| ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices | Four micro-credential courses | 24 weeks |
