Education

Associate Professors Buck and Tieken (co-chair); Senior Lecturer Charles (co-chair); Lecturer Sale (co-chair); Visiting Lecturers Clark Uchenna, Martínez-Cuenca, and Smith.

The Bates College Department of Education seeks to foster the democratic possibilities of schooling through the study of education in the United States and internationally. The aim of the department is to create an environment in which students and faculty together analyze the complex dynamics between the purposes and products of schooling and the social structures and cultural processes that constitute the broader context for education. In particular, the department aims to nurture in students the development of these qualities:

1. Critical action and civic responsibility: The department wants students to develop a sense of social responsibility and concern for the common good, and so encourages them to become involved in the local community and beyond through fieldwork, community-engaged learning projects, policy analysis, student teaching, and empirical research.
2. Reflection and engagement: In the department’s vision of education, reflection and engagement work together to deepen students’ understanding and foster their personal growth.
3. Imagination and a passion for learning: With imagination, a passion for learning, and the skills and knowledge they develop, students are well-prepared to pursue their interests in education.
4. Commitment to social justice: Throughout the program, students are encouraged to recognize and address the influence of social context on the democratic possibilities of schooling.

Because education itself is an interdisciplinary area of study, the Education department offers courses that attract students with a variety of interests. Some pursue educational studies as part of their exploration of liberal arts at Bates. Some want to teach immediately after they graduate from Bates or following graduate study. Others link their interest in social institutions, public policy, community, or families and children to a direct and deeper understanding of schools and schooling. Many students simply want to know more about education so that they can be better prepared to fulfill their future roles as citizens and/or parents. To encourage the integration of theory and practice, most education courses require a field placement in a local school or community setting. Students are expected to reflect systematically on the larger questions surrounding educational structures and practices raised through field experiences. 

The Bates Department of Education offers two minors in education: Teacher Education and Educational Studies. For both minors, students are required to take EDUC 231 Perspectives on Education. This course introduces students to the field through foundational perspectives that stimulate further interest in education; it is open to first-year students. Students interested in declaring a minor in Education are encouraged to come to information sessions offered twice during the academic year and to make appointments with education faculty for early planning and advising.

Teacher Education offers graduates the ability to complete certification as public school teachers (6 –12) in several disciplines including English, social studies, science, mathematics, modern languages (K–12), and visual art (K-12). The program is approved by the Maine State Board of Education, and students who are Teacher Ed program completers are eligible for Maine Licensure, which has reciprocity with approximately forty-five other states. Some students may choose to enroll in the Teacher Education program even if they are interested in teaching or working in non-public institutions where certification is not required, because they gain significant experience in the classroom and in school settings.

The minor in Educational Studies offers students the opportunity to pursue a set of interdisciplinary courses that are designed around students’ emerging interests in education policy, practice, theory, and research.

Students who wish to pursue a minor in either Teacher Education or Educational Studies should begin planning their course schedules no later than the sophomore year. With early planning, they will be able to meet all of the requirements for a major and minor and to spend some time in off-campus study as well. Those students interested in the Teacher Education minor need to think about how to balance the demands of student teaching in their senior year with their coursework and thesis.

More information is available on the Education department website.