Program Goals

To develop teacher candidates as life-long learners who reflect on their own practice; conduct ongoing research for the classroom and school improvement; and model continuing learning, problem solving and critical thinking for their own students.
To develop teacher candidates as emerging professionals who demonstrate sensitivity to diverse students’ need and situation; collaborate with peers, family, administrators and the public to create the best learning environment for students; recognize the contexts for schooling in a pluralistic society; demonstrate knowledge of adolescents and of managing classrooms as learning communities; and identify means for ongoing professional development.
To develop teacher candidates as subject matter specialists who acknowledge the connections among disciplines; promote literacy as across the curriculum; design and organize appropriate curriculum and lesson plans based on knowledge of student learning; and design meaningful, subject matter specific assessments to gain insight into student understanding and achievement.