Education

Although there is no undergraduate department of education at Oberlin, undergraduate students have various opportunities to assess their interest in teaching and other careers in education. The Curricular Committee on Education has identified courses, listed below, that are related to the study of education. Included are courses concerning the role of education in society, education as a profession, and educational pedagogy. The Committee encourages students to consider these courses, along with a wide variety of other liberal arts and sciences courses, to prepare for teaching in independent or public elementary and secondary schools, and in order to assess their interest in undertaking professional programs in education at the graduate level.

It is also possible for students to gain supervised experience in tutoring and classroom teaching. In addition to standard courses, opportunities exist in many departments for private readings and winter term projects related to education. The Office of Career Services may be consulted about graduate education programs (including programs that begin during the summer before graduation from Oberlin) and employment opportunities (and see their web site: www.oberlin.edu/career). The Center for Service and Learning also has information about internship opportunities.

A new graduate degree program in teacher education will be offered beginning in June 2008. This is a one-year, 12-month Master in Education degree program that leads to initial teaching licensure in Early Childhood or Middle Childhood. It meets all required national, state, and professional standards for excellence in teaching. Student teachers will work with teacher-mentors in the Oberlin Public Schools and attend graduate courses.

Please consult the Graduate Teacher Education website for more information about this program: www.oberlin.edu/teachereducation/