Teacher Education Program

What Does It Look Like To Study Education at Concordia?

At Concordia University Texas, our goal is to develop dedicated, passionate educators and leaders. Our graduates are prepared to launch a successful teaching career with confidence and to make a difference in people’s lives.

Program Overview

The Teacher Education program prepares teacher candidates who wish to develop an expertise and focus their teaching in one subject area through the Education Content Curriculum concentration and students who want to develop their skills across multiple contents through the Education Interdisciplinary Studies concentration. Students will develop a clear understanding of the teaching and learning processes appropriate for their future students.

Those wishing to further specialize, may choose to add a second concentration in Special Education, Lutheran Teacher Diploma or Christian Teacher Diploma to further enhance their degree.

Throughout the program, students will have opportunities to learn in authentic settings. During fieldwork classes and clinical teaching, students will spend a great deal of time in actual classrooms, observing and participating in the educational process. This allows students to anchor what they are learning in their classes.

Curriculum Overview for Teacher Education Majors

Before they graduate, our students gain hands-on experience by applying their coursework during meaningful fieldwork courses and a clinical teaching semester serving in an elementary, middle school and/or high school setting. Our students benefit from participating in team discussions and one-on-one learning with faculty in a small classroom environment.

Students wishing to specialize may choose to add a second concentration of Special Education, Lutheran Teacher Diploma or Christian Teacher Diploma to further enhance their degree.

Here are some highlighted courses:

Introduction to Education: During their freshman year, students are encouraged to take Introduction to Education.This course allows students to explore the field of education from “the other side of the desk.” Students will have opportunities to visit a variety of schools including elementary, middle, and high schools as well as Lutheran, charter and public schools. This early opportunity in the field helps students decide where they might best serve upon graduation.

Intro to Exceptional Learners: This course helps students understand the unique qualities each learner brings to the classroom including characteristics, strengths and needs of the exceptional learner. It reviews the field of special education and examines the forces affecting treatment of exceptional persons throughout history, including federal and state legal requirements as well as current issues and terminology relative to education of exceptional learners.

Teaching Strategies & Assessment: Instructional techniques and strategies that emphasize practical application of the teaching/learning process to include writing of instructional objectives and lesson plans, delivery strategies and grouping practices based on learning theory and learning styles as well as multiple intelligences.

Program Benefits

• A small classroom environment allows for plenty of one-on-one attention
• Concordia University provides nearly four times as many fieldwork hours than required by the state of Texas; so, when they graduate, our students are able to enter their first teaching position well-prepared and confident

Success Stories

“Concordia University did a wonderful job of making sure I not only had an excellent foundation in courses that focused on current curriculum practices such as differentiation, classroom management and education technology; they also created multiple opportunities for field work. More than anything, when I entered my own classroom, I was grateful for the variety of real world experience I had been given while at Concordia. My training and field work make it possible for me to be an active member of my professional learning community and a source of support for other new teachers at my school who have not been as fortunate. The education I received at Concordia made it possible for me to be blessed with the school, classroom and students of my dreams.”
- Angelina Adams, Concordia Graduate 2016, Middle School Generalist Degree, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Canyon Ridge Middle School, Leander ISD

“Concordia taught me that the desire and need for Christ is what unites us in the classroom, not the teacher-student dynamic, not just effective classroom management skills. My belief and philosophy about education have grown.”
- Caitlin Copeland, College of Education, Elementary Education, 2018 Graduate

Career Outcomes for Education Content Curriculum

• After School Instructor
• Assistant/Associate Professor
• Child Life Specialist
• Computer Trainer Fitness Instructor
• Environment Education Officer
• ESL Instructor
• Health and Wellness Educator
• High School Teacher
• Middle School Teacher
  Overseas Teacher
• Prison Instructor/Instructional Officer
• Private Tutor (personal, online, distance learning)
• Riding Therapy Instructor

Career Outcomes Interdisciplinary Studies Education

• After School Instructor
• Assistant/Associate Professor
• Computer Trainer Fitness Instructor
• Elementary School Teacher
• Environment Education Officer
• ESL Instructor
• Health and Wellness Educator Child Life Specialist
• Middle School Teacher
• Overseas Teacher
• Prison Instructor/Instructional Officer
• Private Tutor (personal, online, distance learning)
• Riding Therapy Instructor

FAQ

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