;)
Education
Preparing justice-centered teachers for all students
Earn Your Education Degree from USJ
The Department of Education is a community of 20 full-time faculty and staff, several professional educators who are part-time instructors, and more than 50 undergraduate students and 450 graduate students. As a unit, we are guided by a commitment to preparing justice-centered teachers and supporting equitable educational opportunities in PK-12 schools for all students, families, and communities.
Programs in the department focus on the preparation of teachers for initial teacher licensure (pre-service teacher education) and providing continuing education opportunities, including cross-endorsements, for licensed practitioners (in-service teachers).
Undergraduate Teacher Licensure Programs
- Comprehensive Special Education, Grades K-12
- Secondary Education, Biology Grades 7-12
- Secondary Education, Chemistry Grades 7-12
- Secondary Education, English Grades 7-12
- Secondary Education, History and Social Studies, Grades 7-12
- Secondary Education, Mathematics, Grades 7-12
- Secondary Education, Spanish, Grades 7-12
- Elementary Education, B.S. with Teacher Licensure
- Special Education, B.S. with Teacher Licensure
Teacher Licensure – MAT Programs
Graduate – M.A. Programs
- Autism and Neurodiverse Learners Graduate Certificate
- Curriculum and Instruction, M.A.
- Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.
- Education – Arts Integration Concentration, M.A.
- Instructional Technology, M.A.
- Literacy, M.A.
- Special Education, M.A.
- *Special Education – Advanced Teaching, M.A.
- Special Education, M.A. with Graduate Certificate in Autism and Neurodiverse Learners
- Special Education, M.A. with Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities (Online)
- Special Education – Literacy, M.A.
- *Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), M.A. (Online)
- Education – Personalized Professional Pathways Concentration (MAPPP), M.A. (Online)
*Advanced program leading to eligibility for cross-endorsement for teachers already holding an initial CT teacher license. Advanced programs are accredited by CAEP.
Education Program Benefits
- One-on-one advisement
- Small classes
- Strong relationships between faculty and students
- Best practices in teaching
- Active engagement
- Collaborative strategies
- Technology-rich resources
- Outstanding hands-on field experiences
Accreditation
All initial licensure programs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Educator Preparation Providers (CAEP) 2018
The Department of Education at University of Saint Joseph is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on April 1-3, 2024. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party’s relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).
We invite you to submit written testimony to:
CAEP
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or by email to: [email protected]
Such comments must be submitted prior to February 19, 2024, and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:
- In CAEP’s performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom.
- A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
- Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent’s relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review.
Our Graduates
We are proud of our graduates — life-long learners and emerging leaders who are remarkable in their abilities as new teachers and impressive in their capacities as effective practitioners. As a result, they are sought out by school districts throughout Connecticut.
Diversity Mission Statement
The Department of Education wishes to attract, support and retain diverse faculty, students and staff in its undergraduate and graduate programs, on and off campus. In the spirit of the Mercy Mission and in its commitment to actively pursue social justice, the department of Education embraces its diverse community and helps each individual achieve his or her full potential.
Education Faculty
- Şebnem Atabaş, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Education
Department of Education - Joanne Cunard, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Education
- William “Scott” Detrick, M.S. Assistant Director, Academic Programs
- Kathryn Dooley, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Special Education, Department of Education
Program Director of SPEC - Randa Elbih, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Education
- Eileen González, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Program Director, Elementary Education
- Anthony Johnston, Ph.D. Associate Professor
Department of Education - Jennifer Kowitt, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Special Education, Department of Education
- Meredith McConnochie, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Education, Program Director, Early Childhood/Special Education
- Ashley Oldham, Ph.D. Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Education
- Haerin Park, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Education
- Don Siler, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Education
Program Director, Secondary Education - Andrea Penny Spencer, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Education, Director, Off-Campus Programs
- Sharon Ware, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Education
Program Director, Special Education-Literacy - Dianna Wentzell, Ed.D. Director of Clinical Practice, Department of Education
- Shuai Zhang, M.ED, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Department of Education
Questions?
Contact:
Ashley Oldham, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Education
Phone: 860.231.5356
Email: [email protected]
Additional program contacts are listed below:
Kate Dooley – Director, Special Education
Meredith McConnochie – Director, Early Childhood/Special Education
Eileen Gonzalez – Director, Elementary Education
Don Siler – Director, Secondary Education
Sharon Ware – Director, Special Education-Literacy Internship
