The Department of Educational Studies achieves this vision by:

• Offering instruction that identifies and models evidence-based practices in diverse environments and in support of diverse learners;

• Leveraging the essential tools of an honors curriculum in the liberal arts at both the undergraduate and graduate levels;

• Creating and synthesizing knowledge that informs our curriculum and supports educational insights locally, nationally and globally; and

• Engaging in meaningful partnerships that allow for true P-20 collaboration and model for students how to be ethical practitioners.

As a community of scholars, individually and collectively, we are committed to:

• fostering an environment of inclusive diversity in the Department of Educational Studies and all our classes and endeavors;

• recruiting and supporting students who come from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education and the teaching corps;

• improving graduates’ capacity to advance student learning and meet diverse school and community needs;

• meeting the educational and developmental needs of our graduates and maximizing their individual growth and learning while in our department;

• applying, synthesizing, and creating knowledge about teaching diverse learners in diverse environments; 

• ensuring that discourse is informed, deliberate, and respectful; and

• producing teachers who will continue professional learning and seek opportunities for recognition.  

In our programs of study, we are committed, individually and collectively, to:

• modeling research-based practices that are effective in diverse learning environments;  

• ensuring that our students are proficient users of educational technology;

• keeping our teaching relevant, useful, reflective, and responsive to the realities of modern classrooms;

• demonstrating an ethic of care and justice;

• integrating ongoing assessment into decision-making; and

• preparing our graduates to use effective, research-based pedagogy.

In our partnerships, we are committed, individually and collectively, to: 

• demonstrating transparency and mutual support;

• creatively solving problems to the benefit of all partner members; 

• creating multiple pathways to the teaching profession; and

• collaborating to support the development of new educational professionals. 

In our partnerships and learning communities, we are committed, individually and collectively, to:

• framing inclusion as an issue of access, equity, and individual success.  

• establishing professional, ethical relationships with all,

• promoting acceptance and tolerance of all.  

• rejecting efforts to oppress or marginalize learners and community members who hold a minority status, and actively challenging any attempts to marginalize members of our community. 

• ensuring that the knowledge, skills, and dispositions our students bring into learning environments align with the goal of inclusion for all.

Program Learning Outcomes (MAT PLOs)

(The work of our students will be directly assessed against these 16 outcomes)

In order to become an ethical and highly effective professionals who positively respond to the needs of all learners, MAT graduates will:

• Be knowledgeable about the developmental, cognitive, linguistic, and social and emotional needs of learners (MAT PLO KS1) 

• Be knowledgeable of particular learner populations whose needs require specialized consideration in order to realize maximized learning (MAT PLO KS2). 

• Know how to develop and nurture inclusive, collaborative relationships in/in support of the learning environment (MAT PLO KS3).

• Be knowledgeable in the content/ subjects they teach (MAT PLO ET1)

• Be knowledgeable about key pedagogical principles that facilitate students’ learning and growth. (MAT PLO ET2)

• Know how to design and implement differentiated, culturally responsive teaching practice that meets content area goals. (MAT PLO ET3)

• Know how to assess student learning and adjust instruction. (MAT PLO ET 4)

• Know how to design, implement, and interpret research. (MAT PLO ET5)

• Know how to use technology to enhance student learning. (MAT PLO ET6)

• Be able to analyze the linguistic demands of content and of pedagogical materials and align them with students’ language skills. (MAT PLO ET 7)

• Effectively communicate in speech, including through technology-mediated means. (MAT PLO OPC 1)

• Effectively communicate in writing, including through technology-mediated means. (MAT PLO OPC 2)

• Know how to engage in reflective practice. (MAT PLO OPC 3)

• Value the principles of ethical practice. (MAT PLO OPC 4)

• Value the principles of inclusion. (MAT PLO OPC 5)

• Value the principles of professional growth/ continuous learning. (MAT PLO OPC 6)