Secondary Education

The Secondary Education program prepares candidates to work in the general education classroom at the middle and high school levels. All candidates are required to have an approved teaching major. These majors include Biology, English/Language Arts, Chemistry, American Government, Music, Physics, Physical Education, Mathematics, Sociology (as a second endorsement), Spanish, U.S. History, or World History. Please note students who pursue a teaching major in U.S. History, World History, or American Government can also attain an All Social Studies teaching endorsement with additional course work. The endorsement allows graduates to teach the following: U.S. History, World History, American Government, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, and Economics.

The secondary education program supports the position of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) that excellent teachers “know and demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to help all students learn.”
 

Highlights of the Education programs at Loras include: 
 

• Loras Education programs combine educational theory with practical ideas to prepare students to implement best practice, evidence-based, active learning strategies in their field experiences and future classrooms.
• Loras students increase their technology literacy and effectively use it by participating in projects where technology is heavily integrated into teacher education classes and field experiences. For example, they may have the opportunity to produce a digital video, create a webpage, or teach online reading comprehension to young children.
• Students complete extensive and varied field experiences at local schools beginning with their first Education course.
• Students learn how to differentiate instruction and apply what they are learning into the lessons they plan during their field experiences in elementary, middle and high school settings.
• January Term course opportunities include Teaching for Social Justice, Preschoolers on the Move, and Early Childhood Language and Literature - all with extensive experiential learning opportunities!
• Recent graduates of the Loras Education programs are teaching internationally - Bahrain, South Korea, and Mexico.

Instructors carefully structure and coordinate field experiences, giving students the opportunity to practice several teaching methods that will prepare them for a successful student teaching experience and career. A signature part of the elementary and secondary education programs at Loras is the Professional Development School.

According to NCATE, “Professional Development Schools embrace the concept that certain kinds of learning occur best in the context of real world practice. Candidates learn about teaching and what to teach in the university; they learn how to teach in schools. Similarly some aspects of student learning are best achieved by doing. Professional Development Schools are grounded in this concept and designed to support this kind of learning.” Each Loras student will have the opportunity to apply what they are learning from the course by participating in microteaching sessions with partner faculty at Wahlert Catholic High School.


Core Curriculum

Major requirements and course descriptions

Secondary Education Faculty:

Dr. Scott Scheuerell
Associate Professor of Education
scott.scheuerell@loras.edu
563.588.7201

Dr. Hilarie Welsh
Assistant Professor of Education
hilarie.welsh@loras.edu
563.588.7994