Subject Matter Preparation Program
The Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) Program is a multidisciplinary major for candidates who wish to prepare themselves to teach in elementary schools. The Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) Program integrates a variety of perspectives from humanities, science, mathematics, social science, and pedagogy. As a result, the Program equips candidates to make a difference–not just as teachers, but also as members of society.
The Program, taught by faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education, provides prospective elementary teachers with a deep understanding of the subject matter they will teach, appropriate methods for conveying it, and opportunities to draw connections between the academic content and sound pedagogy. Courses in the Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) Program are drawn from throughout the curriculum, reflecting the Program’s commitment to multidisciplinary and multicultural education. With this approach to knowledge, the curriculum strives to provide intellectual tools and insights that enable candidates to live in and teach about a world of diversity.
Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) candidates observe and participate in local elementary schools from their earliest days in the program, and engage in weekly seminars, which blend theory and practice, knowledge and application. Early advisement and continuous field experiences ensure that prospective candidates are prepared to transition into the Teacher Education portion of the program in their senior year.
The culminating work of the Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) Program is the Capstone Project. This project focuses on one curriculum area. The Capstone Project is incorporated into the Program Portfolio, allowing for the synthesis of theory with practical application in the field of education.
Candidates who enter the Program as first-year students and successfully follow the prescribed course sequence may complete the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education (Blended) and the Multiple Subject Credential Program in four years.
