Assumption education student teaching in elementary classroom.
Department

Education

Students who seek a teaching degree at Assumption are provided the skills they will need to develop to excel in the classroom, and to inspire their students.

At Assumption University, we believe that teaching is more than just a job – it’s a way of life that requires commitment, devotion, and a specialized set of skills. When you study education at Assumption, you’ll not only acquire a deep understanding of the material you’ll be teaching, but you’ll also learn how to teach it effectively at the elementary, middle, or high school level. Grounded in the liberal arts, our state-approved program produces confident, professional teachers who, in keeping with the mission of Assumption, apply their knowledge in service to others.

Great teachers are always in demand. Teaching is a rewarding career and the Assumption faculty is dedicated to helping you chart your path to becoming an educator. When you major in education at Assumption, you will develop deep content knowledge and diverse pedagogical skills, as well gain valuable hands-on experience in the classroom. Graduates from our program earn a double major and a Massachusetts Initial Teaching License. Your coursework, fieldwork, and student teaching are designed to prepare you for success in your own classroom.

Education majors master two disciplines, teaching and their content area, helping them to stand out as a highly respected professional in the field of education, as well as an outstanding teacher in the classroom.

Benefits and Features of a Teaching Degree in Education

  • Benefit from dual-advising, with one advisor from the education faculty and another from your chosen area of study.
  • Gain 400 hours of practical experience in the classroom, starting in your first year that will culminate in full-time student teaching.
  • Study and live in an ideal location within easy reach of Worcester’s many public, private, urban and suburban schools.
  • Learn from faculty with extensive classroom and school leadership experience and strong networks among active teachers.
  • 85% of Assumption’s 2016 education majors were employed, pursuing additional education or participating in post-graduate service opportunities within six months of graduation.
  • Earn your BA and your Master of Arts in Special Education in just five years.

Department of Education Faculty

Jessica Audet de la Cruz, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Education Associate Professor, Education
Kelly Benestad
Visiting Instructor of Education/Field Placement Coordinator
Donald Briere, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Special Education Graduate Program
Lisa D'Souza, Ph.D.
Professor of Education
Christopher Dodge
Adjunct Faculty Education
Dr. Karyn Ferdella
Adjunct Faculty/Education
Samantha Goldman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Special Education, Education Department Chair
Eileen Harvey
Lecturer, Special Education Graduate Program
Doreen Parker
Adjunct Faculty
Brenda Plainte
Adjunct Faculty
Kathleen B. Scibelli
Assistant Professor of Practice, Education
Cathleen K. Stutz, Ed.D
Assistant Professor of Education
Jennifer Tellier
Adjunct Faculty
Nanho S. Vander Hart, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Education Director of Special Education Director of Transition Specialist Program
Elizabeth Walsh, Ed.S.
Assistant Professor of Practice, Education

Department of Education Staff

Karen Weilbrenner

Licensure Program Coordinator

508-767-7552

About the Department

  • The Department of Education at Assumption University prepares its students to teach effectively in a safe classroom environment.  The department also strives to educate its students to exemplify good character and integrity in their professional lives.

  • By the conclusion of their studies in the Education major, Assumption University students will demonstrate:

    • conceptually sound lesson planning derived from research-based methods
    • effective instructional strategies to meet the needs of all students
    • competent subject matter knowledge
    • the ability to improve practice based upon self-evaluation of teaching
    • a commitment to professional obligations and responsibilities.