"Education without social action is a one-sided value because it has no true power potential. Social action without education is a weak expression of pure energy." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"If who we are tells something about where we have been, then how we teach tells something about where we want to go." -- Ushma Shah
The Ithaca College Education Department offers courses, programs, and experiences that explore and support a wide range of interests and professional pursuits in the field of education. We run undergraduate and graduate programs for students desiring teacher certification, and we teach courses and coordinate exciting programs open to all students.
We believe that true excellence in education requires a commitment to equity and social justice. Thus, we strive to prepare creative, culturally competent, critically reflective graduates who possess deep knowledge in their fields of study and work collaboratively to achieve high quality education for all.
We hope you will explore our website, programs, and courses and that you will reach out to us as you investigate your interests and options. We think teaching and the study and improvement of schools and society are vital, rewarding pursuits, and we welcome you into this important and exciting work!
Maybe you've thought about teaching as a career. Maybe you enjoy working with youth and helping to make learning come alive for them. Maybe you would like to improve schools and society through the development of more effective education policy or the pursuit of legal cases to achieve greater equity and fairness in our educational system. If you want to make a difference in the world, you may find a home in our department.
Even though not all of our courses require it, our students typically spend time in area public schools in a variety of hands-on learning situations, assisting area teachers with classroom teaching and engaging in individual tutoring and small group work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. You might help run an afterschool homework club, or support students for success in math or science, or work with new immigrant students and their families to help them thrive, or assist with the AVID program at a local high school. Our students also have exciting opportunities to work and learn in our partner schools in Harlem/New York City.
In addition, our faculty often develop close mentoring relationships with students. Classes are small, so there is plenty of time for discussion, and when you work in classrooms, schools and community agencies, our faculty will be there to provide guidance and support.
After graduation, our students work, teach, and pursue additional education near and far. Some of our certification program graduates are hired to teach here in the region. Some move on to more urban areas and/or other parts of the country, and others teach abroad or go on to specialized graduate degree programs. Our graduates have entered a variety of professions including law, social work, school psychology, business, special education, documentary filmmaking, journalism, textbook publishing, and more. The world of education is an exciting and rewarding one, and we invite you to join us as you explore it!