At the University of South Carolina Columbia and Palmetto College campuses, when documenting an instructor of record’s alternative teaching credentials, 18+ hours in the teaching discipline (for instructors of record without a degree in the teaching discipline), or qualifications to teach as a graduate teaching assistant, the course academic unit must explain and provide documentation showing the instructor’s credentials. Course academic units should utilize the forms on this webpage to assist with documenting credentials or making exception requests.
The alternate credentials form should be used when an instructor of record is being credentialed based on qualifications other than an academic degree in the teaching discipline, graduate coursework, or status as a graduate teaching assistant. Credentials will most likely include work experience, research, certifications, or licenses related to course subject matter, but may also include other experiences that make the instructor uniquely qualified to teach the course(s).
The graduate coursework form should be used when the instructor of record for an undergraduate course holds a graduate degree outside the teaching discipline, but has completed at least 18 hours of relevant graduate coursework in the teaching discipline.
The graduate teaching assistant form should be used when a Graduate Teaching Assistant is serving as the instructor of record for a course, and does not hold a graduate degree in the teaching discipline. The graduate teaching assistant form should be accompanied by a transcript showing at least 18 graduate credit hours in the teaching discipline.
Academic credential exception request forms should be used when a College or School would like the Provost Office to review and consider an instructor or course exception.