University’s program to launch in fall 2010 on community college campus
City University of Seattle has formed a partnership with Lower Columbia College (LCC) in Longview, Wash. that will allow students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree to take classes on the community college campus. Students who have earned or are finishing an associate degree may apply to the two-year program immediately. They will form the college’s first CityU of Seattle cohort and begin classes in the fall quarter of 2010.
“I’m delighted to announce this new option for Longview area students who have dreams of becoming teachers, and making meaningful contributions to young lives. Together, CityU and Lower Columbia College offer a flexible program with variety that gives future teachers the opportunity to develop their skills in specialty areas,” said Judy Hinrichs, CityU’s dean of the Albright School of Education (ASOE).
Detailed information on CityU Bachelor of Arts in Education program at LCC is available at lowercolumbia.edu/cityu. Along with this degree, LCC students also have the unique opportunity to qualify for a teacher certification with an emphasis in Special Education, Elementary Education, Math, English Language Learners (ELL) or Reading and Literacy. Both single and dual endorsements are available in these emphasis areas, which are listed on CityU’s Bachelor of Arts in Education Web page.
“This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students and the community,” said Laura Brener, LCC vice president of instruction. “The CityU of Seattle partnership allows us to grow our own future educators by offering classes and student teaching experiences right here in local district schools.”
The ASOE was the state’s fourth largest provider of teacher certificates during the 2008-09 academic year, according to the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The university also was the largest and top provider of graduates with principal and program administrator certification and school counselor certification. For more information on CityU’s education programs, please visit www.cityu.edu/teacher.
“Students who enroll in our Bachelor of Arts in Education program should expect a rigorous program as we prepare them for the real world, or in their case, the classroom,” said Craig Schieber, associate dean for the ASOE, who oversees the teacher certification program. “That said, we find many of our teachers remember our program model and look to us when they’re ready to start a graduate degree or certificate in education.”
The dual endorsement options offered with the CityU Bachelor of Arts in Education program at LCC will meet the needs of local schools in Cowlitz County.
“Even in light of recent budget cuts, the two areas in which local school districts have had difficulty finding sufficient highly qualified candidates are math and special education,” according to Ann Williamson, LCC education instructor. “About 15 special education teachers in the Longview district are eligible to retire within the next two years and Kelso School District has another seven special education positions open at this time.”
An information session on CityU’s Bachelor of Arts in Education program at LCC will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2 at the LCC Student Center in Conference Room A. For additional details, please contact Paul Dehnert, CityU program coordinator at LCC, at 360-442-2945 or pdehnert@cityu.edu or contact Williamson at 360-442-2892 or awilliamson@lowercolumbia.edu.
