Columbia University’s Pre-College Programs for high school students is seeking qualified candidates to develop and teach courses during Summer ’26. Reporting to the Senior Director of Instruction and Curriculum for Pre-College Programs, Pre-College instructors develop and deliver immersive non-credit courses for high-achieving high school students. They guide and supervise students when classes are in session, and write a holistic evaluation of each course participant after classes conclude.For more information on the program–including course sessions and times–please see here.Course Description
The origin and evolution of the Universe is one of the greatest (and oldest) questions ever asked. In a little over a century, cosmology has matured as a discipline due to improvements in our understanding of fundamental physics and technological advances allowing us to map the Universe in unprecedented detail and perform complex calculations. This course is an introductory review of the field of cosmology for students with a background in physics and math, but not necessarily astronomy.  The course focuses on the field of cosmology, its early history, and its relationships to observational astronomy and particle physics.  We will discuss the observations that led scientists to believe that the Universe is expanding, explanations for the expansion, the origin of the Universe and the evolution of its constituent materials, including dark matter and dark energy.  We will also discuss general relativity and its implications for the structure of the Universe, its history, and predictions regarding astrophysical phenomena such as black holes.  In-class discussions and activities based on primary source research papers will complement in-class problem solving and supplemental readings.Course Schedule(s)
Session A: July 6 - July 17 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET (Classes are taught online)
Please note: Course(s) and course availability are subject to change. All times shown are Eastern Time (ET). Dates and class times are tentative and subject to change.Responsibilities:Develop course content, syllabus, lesson plans, and assigned work, in accordance with Pre-College templates and regulationsLead and attend all online class sessionsEstablish and maintain a dynamic in-class environment tailored for our high school populationEvaluate student work and write a holistic evaluation of each participant after the course endsMonitor and address student concerns and inquiries (typical class size is 20-24 students)Attend and complete all required online trainings
