Angel Alexander, a candidate for a master's degree in science education, is also volunteering at a homeless shelter teaching science to children in after-school science time. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in biology and African-American studies, Angela moved from medicine into teaching after being appalled by the sorry state of high school education she experienced as a volunteer in Philadelphia. Beyond their practical experiences, Teachers College students can also take advantage of courses offered at one of the world's most prestigious universities by signing up for courses in other divisions of Columbia University. They can also take courses at other institutions in the area, including Union Theological Seminary and Jewish Theological Seminary. New York City also offers a wealth of informal educational opportunities.
Students can take advantage of the theaters, museums, concerts, lectures and discussion groups.
The College is located in Morningside Heights, a section of Manhattan that has a long tradition of intellectual excellence. The neighborhood is also one of the safest in New York City, and the streets are usually filled with residents and tourists, browsing through the bookstores and visiting historic and architectural wonders such as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church and Grant's Tomb. Its location in the heart of the major urban center in America and its close contact with the institutions of New York City give the College vibrancy.