Special Education
Develop minds
The educational studies department at the College has two main goals: to promote the study of educational processes, institutions and thought; and to prepare highly qualified teachers for elementary and secondary classrooms. Courses and programs examine education as an essential and complex social process that occurs in formal and informal teaching-learning situations. While the department is dedicated to the preparation of effective teachers, we invite and encourage other students to take courses to develop greater understanding of educational issues and concerns.
Faculty
Eastman, Nicholas
Associate Professor of Educational Studies, Pieper Family Chair in Servant Leadership
Knoester, Matthew
Professor of Educational Studies, Chair of Educational Studies Department
| Required for a minor in Special Eduation | |
|---|---|
| Students must complete the following courses: | EDU 270, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, and 471 |
Career Tracks
Ripon graduates have success finding teaching jobs, in part, because faculty work closely with them to plan programs and conduct job searches geared toward current employment trends. Some Ripon graduates with teacher certification have worked abroad in the Peace Corps or used their teaching skills in educational programs in service and business settings. Master’s degree-level programs enable students to add areas of certification such as special education, early childhood education and bilingual/bicultural education.
Unique Opportunities
Student-teaching options include area schools; student-teaching in another country; The Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture Teach Chicago! Program; and student-teaching at Navajo Reservation schools in Utah, New Mexico or Arizona.
The Liberal Arts InFocus: Arts Integration for Teachers is a weeklong exploration of how Chicago teachers and professional artists integrate theatre, music, art and dance into classroom teaching.
Be A Teacher
While it certainly is true that good teachers are always in demand, it also is true that changes in the economy, government funding for education, regional population shifts and family lifestyles affect employment trends for teachers. Ripon graduates have success finding teaching jobs, in part, because faculty work closely with students to help them plan programs and conduct job searches geared toward current employment trends.
Some Ripon graduates with teacher certification have elected to take advantage of opportunities for work abroad in the Peace Corps. Others are using their teaching skills in service and business settings. An increasing number of agencies and institutions seek teachers to staff their educational programs.
An additional career route for certified teachers is graduate school. Master’s degree-level programs enable students to add areas of certification such as special education, early childhood education and bilingual/bicultural education. Such specialized expertise often opens new opportunities for securing a teaching position.
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
Related Areas of Study that You may be interested in