Program Overview
With Lawrence’s liberal arts approach to teacher preparation, you will acquire a broad, rich education in the liberal arts and sciences. Achieve intellectual depth by majoring in the subject you intend to teach, and build teaching expertise through education courses and practicums in K-12 school classes.
Teachers are in demand—in urban, suburban, and rural schools; public and charter—and graduates of our Lawrence’s Teacher Education Program teach in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and in international schools.
Program Highlights
Earn Certification Without Limiting Your Options
Complete teacher certification in a program similar in scope to a minor, leaving room to study abroad and pursue other academic interests.
Bring Coursework into Real Classrooms
Complete school practicums within your education courses and choose settings, subjects, and grade levels that match your interests and prepare you for student teaching.
Build Lasting Faculty Relationships
Learn from education professors across multiple courses and receive student-teaching supervision from faculty who already know your strengths and goals.
Choose a Student-Teaching Path That Fits
Student teach during your senior year or after graduation at a reduced cost, with options that include Appleton-area schools and international placements for eligible secondary and K–12 students.
Types of Degrees
In the Conservatory of Music, students major in music education as part of the Bachelor of Music degree. In the College of Arts and Sciences, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree fulfill their teacher certification requirements while they major in the subject they intend to teach; for elementary, this can be any major in the College or Conservatory or a student-designed major in education studies. A minor in education studies is also available for those who want to pursue graduate study or education-related work outside of a regular classroom.
Advising
At Lawrence, academic advising helps you shape an educational experience that reflects your interests, goals, and aspirations. Your faculty advisor will support you as you plan your path, connect with campus resources and communities, and make informed decisions that prepare you for a meaningful and fulfilling future.
Faculty
Engage deeply and collaboratively with professors who are experts in their field and committed to supporting your education.
Program Director
Bob Williams
Professor of Education, Director of Teacher Education, Director of the Linguistics Program
robert.f.williams@lawrence.edu
I'm a cognitive scientist who studies how people construct meaning in interaction, with a focus on how we use our hands to express thoughts and guide the thinking of others. …
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Stephanie Burdick-Shepherd (she, her, hers)
Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Associate Professor of Education
stephanie.burdick-shepherd@lawrence.edu
Stephanie Burdick-Shepherd's work in applied philosophy of education is grounded in the belief that philosophical inquiry is something essential to human living, regardless of age or circumstance. As Plato tells…
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Cecile C. Despres-Berry (she/her)
Instructor in English as a Second Language and Director of the Waseda Program
cecile.c.despres-berry@lawrence.edu
As the Director of ESL and the Waseda and Pathway Programs I work with multilingual students who wish to develop any English skill. I teach University courses focused on the…
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Stewart C. Purkey
Bee Connell Mielke Professor of Education and Associate Professor of Education
View Full Profile Bob Williams
Professor of Education, Director of Teacher Education, Director of the Linguistics Program
robert.f.williams@lawrence.edu
I'm a cognitive scientist who studies how people construct meaning in interaction, with a focus on how we use our hands to express thoughts and guide the thinking of others. …
View Full Profile
Learning Spaces
The Mielke Family Department of Education at Lawrence is home to the Sager Education Library and to a seminar room outfitted with a touchscreen like those used in the local schools. We also have a half-time administrative assistant who can guide you through the steps of teacher certification and help you get licensed to teach in Wisconsin or other states.
