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Kate ReynoldsAdministrative Assistant Casey 4E(206) 296-5470 reynoldk@seattleu.edu
Philip L. BarcliftProgram DirectorCasey 204(206) 296-5470barclift@seattleu.edu
The breadth of study offered by the Liberal Studies program makes it the preferred degree program for any student wishing to teach at the elementary level. Since specific courses are recommended by the College of Education for this profession, students planning to become teachers should inform the College of Education as soon as possible.
See the typical schedule for pre-ed interested Liberal Studies majors.
Check out the official Washington State website for teacher certification rules. For a complete list of colleges and universities in Washington State that offer teacher certification through Masters in Teaching programs, click on the link: Teacher Certification Programs with contact information.
The Liberal Studies program allows students to attain a broad intellectual experience and satisfy many specific course selections needed to prepare for application to a Master in Teaching (MIT) program in K-8 education. But students should keep in mind that such programs are highly competitive. To be a viable candidate you should have experience working with children in the classroom, you must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better, and you must write superbly.
There are other expectations as well, and Seattle University’s College of Education (CoE) has offered some general guidelines to help you prepare for admission into their MIT program – or any MIT program, for that matter – and for a career in education.
Get Experience. The single most important preparation you can make beyond your Liberal Studies degree is to get experience in the classroom. Students who have prior experience working with children get priority standing. The CoE encourages students to work with such organizations as the Children’s Literacy Project or to volunteer at local schools. Keep in mind that public schools begin several weeks before we start classes at Seattle University. Use that time to volunteer full-time at one of the local elementary schools near your home. Or you can volunteer for after-school tutoring options at these schools. The key? Get as much experience with children as you can. Write Superbly. Use your Seattle University courses to hone your writing skills. Since effective writing is such an important part of the teaching profession, most Schools or Colleges of Education use your writing samples to screen out people who can’t write well. Make certain that your application materials to the College of Education are free of errors in spelling, grammar, and content analysis. Contact the College of Education Now. As soon as you decide that you want to teach, contact the CoE to make an appointment with the pre-education MIT advisor, John Green (206-296-5796 or greenjo@seattleu.edu). Students who make last-minute decisions to apply tend not to be accepted into the CoE’s MIT program. The CoE sees these students as indecisive, and it rarely gives their files much attention. The CoE does not want to become the “dumping ground” for students who can’t make up their minds. The College of Education has offered this advisor to all Liberal Studies majors who want to become teachers. As your advisor, John Green does not decide on admission to the program, he helps you think about how best to be prepared to apply. Your adviser in the College of Education will supplement the advice you get from your Liberal Studies Director and the College of Arts and Sciences Director of Advising (Suki Kwon) to help you walk through the shifting minefields of Washington State’s educational requirements and through the admissions process into the CoE’s MIT program.GPA of 3.0 or better. The CoE will not consider students whose cumulative GPA is under 3.0. If your GPA has dropped below 3.0, you will need to work especially hard to improve it to that minimum level before you apply for admission into the MIT program. Choose References Carefully. Many students ask for reference forms from the wrong people. The CoE is really looking for letters of reference from at least two people who have seen you work with children. References from professors are much less important.
Get Experience. The single most important preparation you can make beyond your Liberal Studies degree is to get experience in the classroom. Students who have prior experience working with children get priority standing. The CoE encourages students to work with such organizations as the Children’s Literacy Project or to volunteer at local schools. Keep in mind that public schools begin several weeks before we start classes at Seattle University. Use that time to volunteer full-time at one of the local elementary schools near your home. Or you can volunteer for after-school tutoring options at these schools. The key? Get as much experience with children as you can.
Write Superbly. Use your Seattle University courses to hone your writing skills. Since effective writing is such an important part of the teaching profession, most Schools or Colleges of Education use your writing samples to screen out people who can’t write well. Make certain that your application materials to the College of Education are free of errors in spelling, grammar, and content analysis.
Contact the College of Education Now. As soon as you decide that you want to teach, contact the CoE to make an appointment with the pre-education MIT advisor, John Green (206-296-5796 or greenjo@seattleu.edu). Students who make last-minute decisions to apply tend not to be accepted into the CoE’s MIT program. The CoE sees these students as indecisive, and it rarely gives their files much attention. The CoE does not want to become the “dumping ground” for students who can’t make up their minds.
The College of Education has offered this advisor to all Liberal Studies majors who want to become teachers. As your advisor, John Green does not decide on admission to the program, he helps you think about how best to be prepared to apply. Your adviser in the College of Education will supplement the advice you get from your Liberal Studies Director and the College of Arts and Sciences Director of Advising (Suki Kwon) to help you walk through the shifting minefields of Washington State’s educational requirements and through the admissions process into the CoE’s MIT program.
GPA of 3.0 or better. The CoE will not consider students whose cumulative GPA is under 3.0. If your GPA has dropped below 3.0, you will need to work especially hard to improve it to that minimum level before you apply for admission into the MIT program.
Choose References Carefully. Many students ask for reference forms from the wrong people. The CoE is really looking for letters of reference from at least two people who have seen you work with children. References from professors are much less important.
Liberal studies graduates find employment in the following areas:
The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest undergraduate and graduate college affiliated with Seattle University, the Northwest's largest independent university. The College offers 33 undergraduate majors, 33 undergraduate minors, 7 graduate degrees, and 1 post-graduate certificate. The College of Arts and Sciences provides a solid grounding in liberal arts education along with a host of majors and minors to best fit the needs of individual students in the 21st century.
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