About the College of Education

“At Purdue’s College of Education, we share our founder’s passion. We prepare teachers who know their subject matter, understand the myriad ways students learn and have the skill to help them succeed.” We are thought leaders with a commitment to rigorous graduate programs and ground-breaking research. We are committed to social justice and the education of all of the children of all of the people– especially in the area of P-12 STEM education. Our programs and degrees prepare our graduates for rewarding professions including:

  • Teacher
  • Administrator
  • School counselor
  • Psychologist
  • Corporate trainer
  • Researcher
  • Professor

We launch the future through the discovery and development of human potential.

Majors:

Elementary Education
Social Studies Education
General Education: Educational Studies, BA
General Education: Curriculum and Instruction, BA

Majors in other Colleges:

  • Agricultural Education → College of Agriculture

 

  • Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs↘
  • Family and Consumer Science Education↗ College of Health and Human Sciences

 

  • English Education ↘
  • Visual Arts Education → College of Liberal Arts
  • Visual Arts Design Education ↖

 

  • Biology Education ↘
  • Chemistry Education ↘
  • Earth/Space Education → College of Science
  • Mathematics Education ↗
  • Physics Education ↗

 

  • Engineering/Technology Teacher Education → Polytechnic Institute
 

Licensure Programs:

  • Elementary Education and Social Studies Education
    • Clinical Practice
    • Can occur:
      • On or around Purdue’s campus
      • Partner with the Indianapolis Public School Urban Experience
      • Travel outside of Indiana to Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, or international
    • Students who complete these degrees are eligible to teach in all 50 states
Non-Licensure Programs:
  • General Education: Curriculum and Instruction
    • “Learn about collaboration, community, diversity, global perspectives, inquiry, and reflection. Research various aspects of educational practices and focus on theory- into-practice to lead to new discoveries in the teaching and learning process across a wide variety of educational contexts.”
    • Sample signature areas of discovery:
      • Challenges of acquiring academic language for English language learners
      • Study abroad and internationalization efforts by colleges and universities
      • Impact of technology on citizenship and citizenship education
      • Postsecondary learner’s development of mathematics content knowledge
  • General Education: Educational Studies
    • “This major is a non-teaching licensure program that provides a strong background in educational theory, practice and research. Research is conducted and disseminated on varied educational aspects of teaching, learning, and human development through discovery, teaching, and engagement activities.”
    • Sample signature areas of discovery:
      • Using assistive technology to support school-based and community-based instruction for students with special needs
      • Developing effective instructional strategies in mathematics problem solving for students with learning disabilities
      • Developing identification tools and pedagogical models for underserved gifted and talented populations including students with diverse cultural backgrounds and children who live in poverty
      • Supporting motivation for and learning of science in young children including children from diverse cultural backgrounds and those living in poverty
      • Supporting students’ psychological well-being (e.g., coping with death and dying, suicide prevention, multicultural issues, adult attachment)
    • Eligible to apply for the Accelerated Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis
 

Special Education Programs:

  • Inclusion: Dual Licensure in Special Education (Mild and Intense Intervention) and Elementary Education
    • Licensure program
    • Unifies Elementary Education and Special Education teacher preparation to meet the unique needs of elementary students with and without disabilities
    • Focuses on the knowledge, disposition, and skills necessary to effectively serve students with various educational needs in kindergarten through 6th grade
    • Undergrad program underscores critical thinking and data-driven decision making
    • Grounded in evidence-based practices that emphasize:
      • Deep knowledge in all content areas
      • Fostering the application of content knowledge in the classroom
      • Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students
      • Understanding the contextual aspects of teaching (e.g., the organizational and policy context)
    • Students are given opportunities to practice specialized skills to meet the individual needs of students with and without disabilities, develop IEPs, develop modifications to support access to general education curricula
    • Graduates are qualified to teach children in general education grades kindergarten-6th, with or without disabilities
  • Special Education: Mild & Intense Intervention K-6
    • Licensure program
    • Meeting the unique needs of individuals with disabilities by preparing professionals with the knowledge, disposition, and skills necessary to effectively serve individuals with diverse needs
    • Grounded in evidence-based practices:
      • Creating connections between subject matter knowledge and teaching
      • Valuing the diverse characteristics of students and the ability to address the needs of all students
      • Understanding the contextual aspects of teaching (e.g., the organizational and policy context)
    • Links courses with field experience
    • Attention given to specialized skills to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities
      • Serving students in various school and community settings
      • Developing IEPs
      • Engaging in data-driven decision making
      • Developing instructional, material, and environmental modifications
    • Graduates are qualified to teach children with or at risk for a disability who require mild to intense supports from kindergarten through 6th
  • Special Education: Mild & Intense Intervention 5-12
    • Licensure program
    • Meeting the unique needs of individuals with disabilities by preparing professionals with the knowledge, disposition, and skills necessary to effectively serve individuals with diverse needs
    • Grounded in evidence-based practices:
      • Creating connections between subject matter knowledge and teaching
      • Valuing the diverse characteristics of students and the ability to address the needs of all students
      • Understanding the contextual aspects of teaching (e.g., the organizational and policy context)
    • Links courses with field experience
    • Attention given to specialized skills to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities
      • Serving students in various school and community settings
      • Developing IEPs
      • Engaging in data-driven decision making
      • Developing instructional, material, and environmental modifications
    • Graduates are qualified to teach children with or at risk for a disability who require mild to intense supports from grades 5 through 12