While stressing exploration of ethical and moral issues in a diverse world, the education department also encourages students to understand intercultural and international relationships. Teacher Education faculty teach several courses for undergraduates who wish to explore teaching as a career or who wish to tutor in public school classrooms and participate in college-based seminars. Experience in a public school classroom is required for admission to the M.A.T. Intern Program in Teacher Education. Prospective elementary teachers should take courses in many disciplines, including mathematics and science. With a sound liberal education and an academic major, students can usually complete licensure requirements in 14 months of study.
Graduates typically have no difficulty obtaining teacher licensure in other states.
Summer session and continuing education classes offer additional flexibility. Courses to prepare teachers to work with bilingual students and students of limited English proficiency are also available. The Office of Educational Career and Licensing Services works closely with students to help them locate positions in the teaching profession. Alternatively, some students from the program choose to attend graduate school in special education, reading, counseling, educational administration, and other fields, or to enter educational careers in business, industry, and government. Their strong background in the liberal arts, combined with high-quality work in educational theory and practice, has served them well.