Teacher certification is available to Lawrence students, alumni, and graduates from other colleges and universities. Below is an overview of Lawrence's approach to teacher education. Details are on the subpages under "Teacher Certification" in the navigation menu. Graduate (non-degree) students should browse this website and then call the Education Department at (920) 832-6714 for more information.
Why Teach?
Why become a teacher? Maybe you want to pursue a passionate interest in history or biology or music. Perhaps you're seeking a lifestyle compatible with raising a family or with summer research or travel. Most importantly, you enjoy working with young people and want to contribute to the life of the community. Lawrentians who discover that teaching is their calling are committed to empowering their students with the academic skills and knowledge to participate fully in civic and cultural life--to dream a better world and act to bring that world into being.
Why Choose a Liberal Arts Approach to Teacher Education?
Teaching is an art, craft, and profession rolled into one. Our liberal arts approach to teacher education is more than teacher training. We prepare educators to ask "why" and not simply "what" or "how," to critically investigate the world they and their students inhabit, and to solve new problems and challenges as they arise. We believe the most effective teachers master their subject areas, understand how their subjects relate to other fields of knowledge, and commit themselves to a lifetime of learning. Effective teachers can also articulate a philosophy of education that guides their decision-making, use the best pedagogical knowledge and techniques available, and think critically about their own practice.
In Lawrence's teacher education program, students:
- acquire a broad education in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences (in the liberal arts);
- achieve intellectual depth by majoring in the subject they intend to teach;
- gain expertise in educational theory and practice through coursework and practical experience in classroom settings;
This prepares Lawrence graduates to teach in diverse settings, to connect their subject matter with broader human concerns, and to help their students find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Certification Areas
Early Adolescence to Adolescence (Grades 5-12)
Students who seek certification to teach middle or high school may choose from nearly all majors, including:
- English
- history, government, economics, psychology, or anthropology
- biology, chemistry, geology, physics, or environmental studies
- mathematics or computer science
- theatre arts
- English as a second language (minor)
Broad-field certification in social studies or natural sciences is available to those who supplement their major with additional courses.
Early Childhood to Adolescence (Grades K-12)
Students who seek special-field certification to teach all levels, kindergarten through 12th grade, can choose from:
- art
- choral, general, or instrumental music (as a music education major in the Conservatory)
- Spanish, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, or Latin
- English as a Second Language (minor)
Elementary or Special Education
Students who want to be certified in elementary or special education can complete the education studies minor to gain significant background and practicum experience before completing certification in a graduate program at another institution.