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updated: January 29, 2026
The 39th consecutive
College of Commissioner Science
The 39th consecutive
College of Commissioner Science
September or October of 2026
September or October of 2026
The location is likely to be in Medina OH.
Check back
The College will not be held in conjunction with the University of Scouting as last year.
Deans represent Great Trail, Lake Erie, and Buckeye Councils. Members of all councils are welcome.
About the 2026 Great Trail Council College of Commissioner Science
About the 2026 Great Trail Council College of Commissioner Science
The college is a live in-person training event for all commissioners hosted by the Great Trail Council. This page has your links to online registration, prices, directions, hotel accommodations, college and dean contacts, program reciprocity, course listings with abstracts and learning objectives. Courses offered in the years before this college are listed at the bottom.
The GTC Commissioner College in 2026 will be organized with an all-new national curriculum as recently revised for our Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, and Continuing Education programs. Our curriculum is organized by our deans in each college. If you have a question, please contact the appropriate Dean below.
What is the College of Commissioner Science?
What is the College of Commissioner Science?
It is a continuing education experience in a college environment designed to help commissioners keep up to date with the newest training materials and problem-solving techniques to help units deliver a quality Scouting program. All Commissioners should attend this nationally recognized program annually. This program has a four-year cycle; Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate Degrees can be earned. Those with a doctorate or taking a break in the process will benefit from the continuing education college's courses.
Why do Commissioners Need the College?
Why do Commissioners Need the College?
The mission of the Commissioner is to help the unit succeed and the way to accomplish this mission is through education and practical learning experiences. Just as every Scout deserves a trained leader, every unit deserves a trained commissioner!
A trained Commissioner is an effective Commissioner. Nationally-created training and resources are being updated on a routine basis. Therefore, to stay up to date, Commissioners should view continual learning as an important part of their entire scouting lives.
Even though updated training materials are available on the Scouting America Commissioner Training web page, holding a college gives commissioners the opportunity for interaction with other commissioners, and a better understanding of the material during a group discussion.
The college provides an in-depth knowledge of the essential aspects of the Commissioner’s duties and responsibilities. The final result is a stronger and more knowledgeable Commissioner corps serving units.
What opportunities does the College offer?
What opportunities does the College offer?
Learn the information essentials to provide the best service to scouting units
Enjoy fellowship amongst the commissioner corps
Reinforce and expand on the lessons learned during previous training
Receive updates on commissioner service and Scouting
Who may attend the college?
Who may attend the college?
Prerequisite: Commissioner Position Specific Training. You may access this training online at my.scouting.org or contact our trainer David Rice.
Anyone from any Council is welcome to attend this college.
Anyone from any Council is welcome to attend this college.
This year’s college curricula are the latest updated courses more aligned with current commissioner service functions. These courses include the integration of Commissioner Tools and place more emphasis on the five commissioner objectives. Course reciprocity will allow credits to transfer to your home council. Directions and nearby hotels will be listed below.
Every Commissioner is expected to attend at least the Continuing Education portion annually.
Every Commissioner is expected to attend at least the Continuing Education portion annually.
Commissioner Training Expectations:
Commissioner Training Expectations:
We expect that each active commissioner will attend the college each year. Position Specific Training is the minimum requirement for attendance.
Commissioner training is a continuous experience.
Commissioner training is a continuous experience.
(1) Each commissioner is to be trained in Position Specific Training for each role to which they are assigned. Training can be instructor-led or online at my.scouting.org and is available for the roles of Unit Commissioner, Roundtable/Asst Commissioner, District/Asst District Commissioner, and Council/Assistant Council Commissioner.
(2) Each commissioner is to be onboarded with the Commissioner Onboarding Guide for their role.
Unit Commissioner Onboarding Orientation Guide – NEW! 8/2025
Roundtable/Asst Roundtable Commissioner Onboarding Orientation Guide – NEW! 8/2025
District/Asst District Commissioner Onboarding Orientation Guide – NEW! 8/2025
Council/Asst Council Commissioner Onboarding Orientation Guide – NEW! 8/2025
(3) Continuing Education - including monthly training at district and council meetings and other occasional trainings.
(4) Annual Training - which can be a Commissioner Conference/retreat and/or The College of Commissioner Science. Every commissioner should attend the annual training, whether or not they are seeking a degree.
For our out-of-council friends.
For our out-of-council friends.
You may register for one of the following four college tracks: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate I and II, and Continuing Education. This document shows the prerequisites and requirements for each degree. and includes information on earning the Doctor of Commissioner Science Knot award. This is a national standard to which we adhere.
Click to reveal document detailsStatement of Course Work Reciprocity:
Statement of Course Work Reciprocity:
The College of Commissioner Science accepts a Commissioner's course work from any Scouting America College of Commissioner Science provided that an official transcript is made available.
The College of Commissioner Science will credit courses from another Council to be applied towards a College of Commissioner Science Degree if prior approval has been obtained from the current Dean of the College of Commissioner Science.
Classes taken at a University of Scouting that are not listed in the National Curriculum (http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/commissioners/training.aspx) will not be accepted for credit.
The college will also honor Commissioner courses taken at the Philmont Training Center. (Please submit a transcript to the College of Commissioner Science Registrar.)
Degree Recognition:
Degree Recognition:
The College of Commissioner Science will continue to recognize degrees earned from other Boy Scouts of America College of Commissioner Science and Philmont Training Center College of Commissioner Science degrees provided that an official transcript is made available.
Award Recognition:
Award Recognition:
The College of Commissioner Science will honor all Commissioner Arrowhead, Commissioner Key, Distinguished Commissioner, and the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service, and the Doctor of Commissioner Science Awards.
Track your College Program with
Your Personal Record Form
Track your College Program with
Your Personal Record Form
This is the worksheet for the Doctorate of Commissioner Science Knot and Your Personal Progress Record. Keep a copy of all of your progress to each degree and subsequent awards. To help you, all courses offered by this College since 2017 are listed at the bottom of this page. (form updated 7/2025)
2026 Course details for each college
2026 Course details for each college
Course listings when available.
The COCS Bachelor Program
The COCS Bachelor Program
Dean Mark Messerly, Great Trail Council (MarkMesserly@hotmail.com)
Dean Mark Messerly, Great Trail Council (MarkMesserly@hotmail.com)
The Bachelor Program consists of courses numbered between 100 and 299, that will augment your commissioner basic training. Basic training should be completed before beginning the bachelor program. The courses cover some of the same topics but they are all covered more in depth and with more student interaction.
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Completion of “Commissioner Basic Training.” You may access this training online at my.scouting.org.
Course Requirements: Completion of seven courses of instruction, at least five of the courses at the Bachelor's program level.
The COCS Master Program
The COCS Master Program
The Master Program offers more advanced courses, numbered from 300 to 499. These courses will be most beneficial to an experienced or an administrative commissioner. Again many of the topics are familiar but are explained in more detail with more student interaction.
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Earned Arrowhead Honor.
Completion of Bachelor's Degree or have been awarded the Commissioner's Key
Course Requirements: Completion of seven (7) additional courses of instruction (total of 14), at least seven of the courses at the Master's level.
The Doctorate Program
The Doctorate Program
The Doctorate Program consists of the courses, numbered from 500 to 699, that are required to write an approved thesis or complete an approved project. In addition, there are some advanced courses available for the very experienced commissioner.
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Completion of Master’s Degree
Have been awarded the Commissioner’s Key
Course Requirements: Completion of 10 additional courses of instruction (total of 24) at least five of the courses at the Doctorate or Continuing Education program level. Courses may not have previously been counted toward other college degrees.
Thesis or Project: It is recommended that the topic of a project or thesis be directly related to unit service. There may be specific circumstances under which a topic related to another area of Scouting would be appropriate. Local councils have the authority to approve topics related to another area of Scouting when selecting one directly related to unit service isn't appropriate or practical. The council commissioner or designee may authorize an alternate topic. This can be on any topic related to Commissioner Service.
The topic must be pre-approved by the college of commissioner science committee.
Complete the thesis/project using the approved format as determined by the college.
The topic and final paper must be approved by the doctoral review committee.
All segments (proposal, proposal acceptance, thesis/project completion, thesis acceptance ) of the degree must be approved by the college of commissioner science
Commissioner Performance: Serve for at least one year on the college of commissioner science staff (instructor or support staff), or work with training support for commissioners for at least one year.
The COCS Continuing Education Program and All-Council In-Service Day
The COCS Continuing Education Program and All-Council In-Service Day
The Continuing Education curriculum exists apart from the degrees offered by the college. Commissioners who do not actively pursue the training provided by degrees attend continuing education annually to catch up on the latest changes and to renew their commitment to service. Students in the Doctoral Track typically attend the Continuing Education Courses. Courses are numbered from 700 to 899. Courses from the Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate levels may be utilized.
Historical archives of past college courses offered 2017 to 2025
Historical archives of past college courses offered 2017 to 2025
Take a look at all of the courses offered in the past 7 years and use this to help you recall what courses you may have taken. The schedules shown are each one page, but there is a link to each past college page as well.
2019 final course schedule.pdf2019
2019
2018 course schedule.pdf2018
2018
2017 College Courses.pdf2017
2017
These pages are maintained for the Council Commissioner's Service Team by ACC and Webmaster Steve Myers. Please report errors and corrections to him at commissioners@gtcscouting.org.
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