College of Education

Mary Harmon Dean

Carolyn Wierda, Interim Associate Dean/Executive in Residence

NOTE: Candidates must meet all university general and academic requirements.

SVSU is fully approved as a teacher-training institution by action of the Michigan Board of Education and is fully accredited at the bachelor’s and master’s levels by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Also, the College is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) at the basic and graduate levels.

Teaching is an exciting and challenging profession. The College of Education provides students with the knowledge and skills to meet these challenges. Teaching is a multi-faceted process combining the knowledge of subject matter with a variety of teaching strategies. Knowledge of content and methods is only part of the process. As prospective teachers, students will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned. The methods courses in the College of Education provide opportunities to work with children or adolescents in a variety of ways. Through SVSU’s extensive field work program, students will observe master teachers, tutor students who are behind in their studies, gain experience in planning for instruction, and practice teaching methods in actual elementary or secondary classrooms. After these experiences, the opportunity for student teaching will serve as a culminating experience in which students can refine their knowledge and the skills that they have developed.

Statewide regulations govern the certification of teachers, which SVSU must enforce. There are additional requirements the college has added that can make you a better teacher. These requirements should improve students’ chances of finding an appropriate teaching position.

The goals of the program collectively prepare students to work intensely with individuals, become effective classroom teachers, and, as professional educators, make a broader contribution in the field of education. SVSU graduates can place in perspective their assumptions about children, the nature of learning, the process of education, and the role of the educator.

SVSU’s secondary education program prepares students for teaching in the 21st century. Students will work closely with innovative educators in school districts in the Saginaw Valley. Learning from them in their classrooms, as well as in the college setting, will be most beneficial to the student. Students will have contact with a variety of cultural and academic backgrounds. Students will have frequent opportunities to discuss their thoughts with practicing teachers and administrators, college personnel and fellow classmates.