Urban Teaching Specialization

This program is intended for teachers who want to acquire or increase their knowledge, skills and attitudes to teach students in urban settings and increase the academic performance of all students. The program will provide a framework for teachers to address the increasing diversity of P-12 students which challenge schools to become more responsive to student diversity to ensure successful learning for all students regardless of their personal characteristics, learning styles, linguistic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The program will help to increase the retention rate of teachers by preparing them to work successfully in urban environments with culturally and linguistically diverse populations, their students’ families and communities. The program will focus on multiple perspectives that support Urban Education including culturally and linguistically responsive teaching and multicultural education. This specialization will address those candidates who choose not to pursue a Masters degree but need the credit hours to be applied toward their 18 professional hours required by the State of Michigan Department of Education.