Department of Education - Kendall College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Education

The Department of Education offers bachelor’s degree programs that lead to careers in K-12 teaching, as well as master’s degree programs for those interested in pursuing or advancing their careers as teachers, policymakers and researchers. The department offers a curriculum that is founded in the arts and sciences and integrated with education courses, field and clinical experiences and content specialization programs that draw upon the expertise of faculty from other disciplines such as exercise and sports science, instrumental and vocal music education and foreign languages. The education curriculum is designed to prepare teaching professionals.

The University of Tulsa Department of Education is committed to cultivating effective teachers who are critical thinkers, skillful learners, caring community partners, and engaged democratic citizens. The department fulfills this mission through its program learning outcomes, ensuring that students who complete a program in education will be able to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of the central concepts and tools of inquiry of their discipline(s)
  • Plan research-based instruction that advances the learning of each student
  • Utilize research-based pedagogy that advances the learning of each student
  • Design curriculum based on state and national standards
  • Demonstrate mastery of the assessment cycle as a component of teaching
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the processes of human development and learning
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Promote the success of each student based on a demonstrated understanding of the socio-cultural, historical and institutional contexts of education.

Educator preparatory programs at the University of Tulsa are accredited by the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability.

  • Cooperating Teachers

    Maria CoppThe TU Department of Education school partners include approximately 10 districts and 25 urban, suburban, and rural schools that provide candidates with opportunities to receive continuous exposure to diverse school environments and potential employers. Cooperating Teachers are essential partners in preparing our candidates to teach. Cooperating Teachers are selected through a collaborative process between TU and school partners. There are three basic requirements for serving as a Cooperating Teacher: at least three years of teaching experience, status of highly qualified and certified in the area in which they teach, and good standing in their school and district. Principals recommend Cooperating Teachers based on their knowledge of teachers’ positive impact on P-12 student learning and development as well as their potential to serve as positive mentors for candidates.

    Cooperating Teachers attend both an orientation training session at the beginning of each semester and a celebration at the conclusion of the semester. At the orientation, teachers learn about the student teaching model, their responsibilities, and expectations for student teachers. Additionally, Cooperating Teachers are trained in using the CPAST, the student teaching evaluation tool. Please see below for resources to prepare Cooperating Teachers for their role.

    Research on the CPAST

    The PPAT Cooperating Teacher Handbook

    10 Tips on How to Effectively Mentor New Teachers

     

  • Partnerships

    Education students benefit from the school’s collaboration and partnerships with other components of TU’s academic and service community:

    • University School for academically gifted children
    • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Summer programs for students and teachers
    • Continuing Education/Lifelong Learning
    • True Blue Neighbors
    • Kendall-Whittier Elementary School
    • Communication Sciences & Disorders (Speech Language Pathology)
    • TU’s Center for Community Development and Research (CCRD)
    • Gilcrease Museum
    • Henry Zarrow Center for Arts and Education
    • Global Alliance Center
    • English Programs for International Studies
  • Title II Reports

    For information on the Title II Reports, click here.

  • Program Completer Outcome and Impact Measures

    State and national accreditors require that all educator preparation programs publicly report eight outcome and impact measures.  To learn more.

  • Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure

    U.S. Federal Regulations, 34 CFR § 668.50 (2016 Rules), in preparation for the adoption of 34 C.F.R. §668.43 (2019 Rules), and in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Manual version 19.2, The University of Tulsa provides the following disclosure related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification. To learn more.