Phase I: Freshman - Sophomore Year

Students complete their general education requirements, explore various careers in education, and become immersed in the discipline and culture of teaching and learning.

Coursework examines the teacher's roles in facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical and economic factors on students, teachers and schools. Work with students of varying ages through field experiences.

Phase II: Junior Year - First Semester Senior Year

In this phase, focus shifts to the field of middle school Social Studies education. Through coursework and corresponding field experiences, students consider ways to support the development and learning of social studies in adolescents from grades 5 through 9. Each semester during Phase II, students spend at least 20 hours working in middle grades Communication Arts classrooms, helping foster the learning of the social sciences in carefully designed field experiences.

Phase III: Second Semester Senior Year

This phase includes a semester-long, full-time student teaching internship. Candidates are assigned to a middle school social studies classroom for a 10-week period under the mentorship of an experienced master social studies teacher. Candidates spend an additional 5-week period in middle school classrooms related to their secondary endorsement area (e.g., Art, Language Arts, Science, Math).

Phase IV: Induction

Faculty continue to support graduates into their first two years of teaching.