Dr. Ailing Kong with her students
The teacher education programs are built upon the strong liberal arts curriculum provided through the General Education Requirement (GER) at Saint Joseph’s University. The programs seek to increase students’ awareness of the function of schools in a modern, pluralist society as well as develop the concept of teaching as a career of vital service.
Saint Joseph’s University regards the preparation of teachers to be a function of the University as a whole. A faculty advisory committee works with the Department in coordinating this function.
The teacher education programs seek to develop and refine competencies in prospective teachers so that they will be able to meet the demands of teaching in a variety of school environments, public and private, urban and suburban. Provisions for professional competence include three components:
- thorough grounding in the liberal arts and—for secondary teachers—in an area of specialization;
- study of the foundations, principles, ethics, values, and methods of modern education; and
- field experience labs that are taken with specific courses prior to student teaching, enabling students to observe and teach in a designated school; and
- supervised student teaching during the senior year.
Each of the courses in the different programs, including elementary education, secondary education, and special education explores historical and current theories as well as problematic issues relevant to the varied areas of study in education. Courses in professional pedagogy focus on elementary or secondary students in the regular classroom, as well as on students with special education needs. Issues of inclusion and least restrictive environment, the effect of socioeconomic background, and the impact of gender and race on the learning of students are explored in a variety of course offerings.
Field experiences strike a balance between urban and suburban schools, with their differing situations, needs, problems, and opportunities. The capstone course, Student Teaching, provides students with a semester-long opportunity to relate theory to practice with the support of a cooperating teacher, a University supervisor and a faculty member who conducts the weekly seminar.
Arts & Sciences Programs (Undergraduate day school):
