Who should specialize in Teacher Education?
The Interdepartmental Doctoral Specialization in Teacher Education is designed primarily for students wishing to focus professionally on teacher education, at any level and in any of a multitude of contexts, as practitioners and as scholars. The history, theory, practice, design, evaluation, governance, and prospects of teacher education, both as it is connected to professional licensure and independent of licensure, are all at issue in this focus, but prospective students should be mindful that the chief mission of the Specialization is the professional preparation of teacher education scholar-practitioners—and mindful, too, that transformation of the field is an over-arching aim of the Specialization.
The Specialization is suitable for doctoral students who have completed a year of doctoral study, who have had some Pk-12 teaching experience, and who intend to obtain (or already have) some experience mentoring, coaching, supervising, and teaching less experienced teachers. Students who want to make this focus on teacher education an integral part of their doctoral experience generally “declare” the Specialization (please see “What Next”).
Most of the courses in the Specialization are open (typically based on instructor approval) to students who do not declare; qualified Masters students are encouraged to explore the possibilities.
We welcome your interest. If you would like to discuss the Specialization, your interests and aspirations, and how they might fit together, the Specialization faculty and current students are very happy to consult.
To make an appointment, please send an email briefly describing your background, your program and year in the program, and any specific questions you may have, to Professor Felicia Mensah, fm2140@tc.columbia.edu