College of

E D U C A T I O N

Towson University has a distinguished history in the preparation of classroom teachers and education specialists. As the first and largest teacher education institution in Maryland, Towson has been preparing men and women as professional educators for more than 140 years.

The College of Education’s mission is to inspire, educate and prepare facilitators of active learning for diverse and inclusive communities of learners in technologically advanced environments. In 2008, 976 educators earned degrees.

C O l l E g E O f E D U C A T I O N inspire, educate and prepare

COECollege Highlights

The College of Education at Towson University is the largest preparer of teachers in the state of Maryland.

The Department of Elementary Education is the oldest department on campus, dating back to 1866 when the university first opened.

All professional education programs eligible for accreditation are approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Maryland State Department of Education.

inspire, educate and prepare

At the undergraduate level, the College of Education offers bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, special education, integrated elementary/special education (EESE), integrated early childhood/special education (ECSE) and secondary education. Undergraduate programs lead to teacher certification in the state of Maryland. Programs for teaching kindergarten through grade 12 in art, dance, music and physical education are offered by those academic departments.

The College of Education also offers undergraduate programs at regional higher education centers around the state through its Towson Learning Network. In cooperation with community colleges, 2 + 2 programs offer students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a degree at an area community college and then complete the final two years and earn a bachelor’s degree from Towson University. Currently, the college offers the following off-campus undergraduate programs:

OPTIONSPROVIDINg

College of Southern Maryland—Waldorf Center/Charles County

B.S. in Elementary Education

Universities at Shady Grove/Montgomery County

B.S. in Elementary Education/ Special Education (dual major)

Harford Community College/ HEAT Center B.S. in Integrated Elementary/ Special Education (EESE)

A T A g l A N C EArt Education (K-12 Certification)*

Dance with K-12 Certification* (audition required)

Early Childhood Education Major*

Elementary Education Major*

Minor

• Mathematics, other select minors

Integrated Early Childhood – Special Education Major*

Integrated Elementary Education – Special Education Major*

Library Media Certification (K-12)

Music Education (K-12 Certification)* (audition required)

Concentrations

• Instrumental

• Vocal/General

Physical Education (K-12 Certification)*

Secondary Education Major*

Certification Areas

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Earth-Space Science

• English

• French

• Geography

• German

• History

• Mathematics

• Physics

• School Health

• Social Science

• Spanish

Special Education Major*

Tracks

• Elementary

• Infant/Primary

• Secondary/Adult

* Screened or competitive major. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the major program.

For more information, visit www.towson.edu/coe.

M A J O R S

The Classes

As reflective practitioners, teachers engage students in the learning process by using research findings and experience-based strategies and practices to make sound educational decisions. These decisions are based upon an articulated educational philosophy, a thorough knowledge of students’ strengths and needs, and an analysis of various learning environments. The College of Education fulfills the goal of preparing teachers through a program based on a broad liberal arts background and professional preparation, including a planned sequence of courses and field experiences primarily in the Baltimore-Washington area.

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Innovative Courses

• Learn about emerging issues of interactive technology and early childhood education in ECED 407 Interactive Technology and the Young Child and ISTC 301 Integrating Instructional Technology.

• Conduct a six-hour observation of the instructional and assistive technologies being utilized with students in the public school systems as part of SPED 413 Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities K-12.

• Complete a Positive Behavior Support Plan in SPED 429 Curriculum Methods of Classroom Management for Students with Disabilities, and implement it during your final internship experience.

• Design and complete an Action Research Project in SCED 461. Collect Maryland School Assessment reading data on a targeted population of students, determine specific reading deficiencies evidenced by those students, and develop a series of lesson plans which incorporate the reading strategies selected to address the reading deficiencies.

PREPARATION

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PROfESSIONAl

Our Faculty

Faculty members in the College of Education facilitate the developing teacher’s respect for, pride in, and commitment to the teaching profession. Our instructors help teacher candidates develop their ability to increase children’s academic skills and enthusiasm for learning. Faculty members assist developing teachers in becoming reflective practitioners who value the power and richness that human diversity offers to classrooms and other places where learning takes place.

All faculty members hold role-appropriate terminal degrees, and their range of experience includes extensive and successful teaching, curriculum work, supervision, administration and consultancies. Many are involved in research projects in their fields.

COMMITMENT

Faculty Highlights

• Gloria A. Neubert received the 2009 President’s Award for Distinguished Service.

• Lynn Cole created College for Kids, a summer program that provides enrichment for children of exceptional intellectual ability.

• Janese Daniels, Edyth Wheeler, Patsy Washington and Ocie Watson-Thompson, with technical assistance from Barbara Steele, received a Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Grant to fund the development of Project BRIDGE – Building Blocks for Reading: Inspiring Daily Growth and Excellence. The project is designed to create a self-sustaining vehicle for family literacy among St. Veronica’s Head Start families in the Cherry Hill area of Baltimore City.

• Elizabeth Dicembre and the Towson University Reading Clinic received the Maryland Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Excellence Award. The Reading clinic serves more than 80 clients in the Baltimore metropolitan area each year.

• Todd Kenreich received a U.S. Fulbright Scholar Lecturing Award to spend the fall 2008 semester as a visiting professor of American Studies at Kansai University of International Studies in Miki City, Japan. In his role as a “cultural ambassador” to Japan, Kenreich taught courses on American education, public policy and human geography.

• Faculty and staff dedication resulted in the Towson University Professional Development School Network receiving two national awards in 2008, the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education.

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Internships and Post-Graduation Opportunities

Towson University has a national reputation for preparing future teachers in Professional Development Schools (PDS). Through collaboration with public schools, the university links the best of practice with the best of theory and research to prepare and sustain teachers to teach well and positively influence student achievement.

As juniors and seniors, teacher candidates within the College of Education obtain firsthand experience in teaching. Education interns work with a mentor teacher and a university supervisor to put their knowledge into action and to improve their teaching skills during their Professional Year in a PDS. Students say this authentic experience prepares them well for a future teaching career. Towson students learn about other aspects of teaching as they complete a Service Learning Experience and an Action Research Project, and attend professional development activities.

Where Are COE Students Now?

The majority of graduates from the College of Education enter America’s schools as teachers and specialists. Ongoing research documents that College of Education graduates prepared in its professional development school model have a much higher retention rate compared to Maryland and national teacher retention rates.

ECED majors are prepared to teach children pre-kindergarten through grade 3. They are employed in public and non-public schools, day-care centers, nursery schools, after-school programs, infant centers, parent education programs, hospital programs and early intervention programs.

ELED majors are certified to teach grades 1 through 6 and find job opportunities in both public and non-public schools.

SCED graduates are certified to teach in middle and high schools in both public and non-public schools.

Graduates of the special education program find employment as special educators in both public and private settings along all stages of the continuum of least restrictive environment placements. These settings range from inclusive environments for students with high-incidence disabilities to settings for students with disabilities, both high-incidence and low-incidence, in resource rooms, self-contained classrooms and separate facilities.

In addition to classroom teaching, many teacher education graduates broaden their career choices by taking positions as principals and assistant principals, department chairs, team leaders, guidance counselors, reading specialists, subject area supervisors and curriculum specialists, and a wide variety of central office administrative and service positions..

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Exciting opportunities exist outside of the classroom. Student organizations include:

• The Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international education honor society

• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the leading voice for special and gifted education

• Student Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Chapter

The Center for Professional Practice (CPP) is a central administrative office in the College of Education at Towson University. CPP directors work closely with department chairs, faculty and school district personnel to provide field experiences that will help Towson University teacher candidates become facilitators of active learning for diverse and inclusive populations.

The Educational Technology Center is an open computer lab, a resource center and a workspace for faculty, students and staff who wish to collaborate and refine their ideas about using technology in their classrooms. The lab includes computers loaded with the current version of Microsoft Office, a variety of specialized educational software as well as multimedia stations for digital video editing, and other advanced project work. The Center provides hardware, software and support for classroom instruction in the College of Education.

The College of Education is currently expanding into new classroom spaces and enhancing them with the latest interactive technologies. These technologies will make it easier than ever to collaborate and achieve in digital learning environments, preparing students to become technology change agents in their future careers.

Assistive Technology Laboratory

In the summer of 2010, the College will unveil a state-of-the-art assistive technology laboratory in support of both its Special Education program and its initiative to enrich all of its students’ curricula with competencies in assistive technologies, preparing students for the classroom of tomorrow.

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BEYONDt h e

Student Success Stories

• Dana Roffe, an elementary education/ special education (EESE) major, is the president of SEA, a student organization focused on promoting environmental awareness on campus.

• James Dress, a history/secondary education student received the 2008 Binko Award for Outstanding Social Studies Student Teaching. This award is given each year to the history/social science education major who exemplifies the attributes of Dr. James Binko, Towson University Professor and Dean Emeritus.

• Erin Williams, an Infant/primary special education major, received the 2009 Frances T. Bond Distinguished Service Award for her work with the Children’s Craniofacial Association and her dedication to children with disabilities. She has mentored young children in theater and dance as part of the Generations Theater and the Back River Acting Troupe.

• Lauren Ambrose, an English/secondary education student, received the Maryland Association of Teacher Educators Distinguished Teacher Candidate Award for 2009.

C l A S S R O O M

TOWSON UNIVERSITYFounded in 1866, Towson University is the second-largest school in the University System of Maryland, enrolling more than 21,000 students in more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. Towson is known for its excellent academic programs in business, computer science, health professions, education, fine arts, communications, and the arts and sciences. As a metropolitan university, Towson combines research-based learning with practical application. Our many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs. The university is located in suburban Towson, eight miles north of Baltimore. Our beautifully landscaped, 328-acre setting offers a pleasant environment for study and a diverse campus life, as well as easy access to a wealth of university and community resources.

Visiting Towson University

The best way to experience Towson University is to visit campus. Towson hosts several Open Houses for high school juniors and seniors that allow you to meet students and faculty, tour the campus, and learn more about campus life and academic programs. For the dates and times of Open Houses, as well as to schedule a campus tour, visit www.towson.edu/visitus.

Applying to Towson University

Applying to Towson University is easy. Visit www.towson.edu/discover and click on “Apply Now.” The online admissions application takes less than 30 minutes to complete. You will need to have your standardized test scores sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing service and have your high school send official transcripts. For more information about the application process, visit www.towson.edu/visitus.

For more information on COE, visit www.towson.edu/coe.

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