Education
Mary O'Malley '11: "Because Augustana is a small liberal arts school I was fortunate enough to work with the same faculty throughout my four years here, so not only was I able to form relationships with them, but they were able to see me grow and help steer me on the path that I needed to be on."
Lauryn Dick '11: "When I was finished student teaching, I looked back and saw what I was capable of doing. The experience reassured my passion for the career path I chose and gave me the confidence I needed to step out into the real world."
Education majors at Augustana gain a thorough knowledge of teaching theory and are exposed to a wide range of practical experience. Annual workshops and panel discussions with local educators ensure that Augustana's program continues to teach skills needed for challenges faced in the modern classroom.
The best teachers come from academic backgrounds that develop the ability to connect ideas from different areas of thought - in other words, a liberal arts education. Augustana's broad curriculum ensures that students from all departments receive a balanced education in the liberal arts and sciences.
Augustana has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since that organization's inception in 1954. Only 37-percent of Illinois colleges and universities are NCATE accredited (22 out of 60 state institutions.)
Over 90-percent of Augustana students enrolled in the education programs complete their degree in four years, often including a term abroad. This is accomplished through careful advising by professors in the Education Department.
An average class in the education department has 15-24 students; this is one reason why education majors and their professors form a close group. There is plenty of support facing the challenge of becoming a first rate teacher.
The department has seven full-time faculty members serving as advisors. Each education major has an advisor who guides him or her through the entire process of becoming a teacher, from choosing supporting courses, to finding the best student teaching placement, to applying for a teaching certificate. The education faculty also shares a wide range of professional experiences with their students: teaching in public and private schools both in and out of state and teaching abroad, advanced study, field experience, and the transition from teaching to administration.
The Education Department at Augustana College is accredited by the National Councilfor Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), www.ncate.org. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs at Augustana College. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.
