Education
The Education Department is characterized by a highly nurturing and personalized environment, intellectual rigor, and a performance milieu within a liberal arts context.
The Education Department offers an interdisciplinary major in Human Development and two minors, Education Studies or Museum, Field, and Community Education, in addition to two teacher certification programs.
Learning Goals:
At the end of their course of study, our students will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of social, cultural, psychological, philosophical, and historical foundations of education (and their applications to practice)
- integrate and apply knowledge of human development across the fields of anthropology, education, psychology, and sociology
- use content knowledge to design, evaluate, and interpret field experiences
- communicate effectively in a variety of formats and media
- display global consciousness and cultural sensitivity as emerging leaders
Program Features:
- Field work—early and often—in diverse locations
- Multidisciplinary liberal arts foundation culminating in field-based, independent research study
- Can lead to teacher certification (by program application) and includes a full-year teaching internship
Join the Community
Whether you are completing a certification internship at a local school, teaching at a community arts center, or planting flowers in one of the many community gardens; you are learning while making a contribution to the community.
Travel to Belize
Manage summer educational programming at Crooked Tree Museum and Cultural Heritage Center in Belize.
Internships
Observe, practice, and be mentored by professionals in the field of education.
What Distinguishes Our Department
100%
Job Success
Every teacher certification candidate from the Class of 2018 has a full-time job in the field of education.
Classroom Experience
Students have lots of opportunities for hands-on experiences in K-12 classrooms and informal learning spaces.
Environmental Education
Washington College is the only college in Maryland where students can become certified Environmental Science teachers.Elementary Teacher Certification
The Elementary Education Certification Program is made up of three required components: 1) completion of selected core courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences; 2) an academic major, usually in Human Development; 3) a required sequence of Education courses and field experiences. The program leads to teaching certification in grades 1-6.
Secondary Teacher Certification
The Secondary Education Certification Program is for students interested in completing a teaching internship in a middle school or high school classroom and in pursuing teacher certification in one of the following areas: biology, business education, chemistry, computer science, English, environmental science, French, German, mathematics, physics, social studies, Spanish, theater, and art.
Non-Certification Major and Minors
The Education Department accommodates students who are interested in the theory and practice of human development through interdisciplinary studies in anthropology, education, psychology, and sociology; but not necessarily interested in seeking teacher certification during the four-year undergraduate experience. Options include the Human Development Major (without certification option), the Education Studies Minor (without certification option). and the NEW Museum, Field, and Community Education Minor.
Student Opportunities
Apply to our Elementary or Secondary Teacher Certification Programs.
Interested in working with children or young adults, but not in a public school setting? Alternative internships are available in private schools, museums, and outdoor education programs to name a few.
PLT is an education honor society that recognizes outstanding students who plan to pursue careers in education.
Anna Hague, Class of 1905, was one of the first women to graduate from Washington College. Anna taught in the Kent County Public Schools and became a principal before World War II. She retired in 1955. The scholarship fund was established in 1992 by Anna’s son and daughter-in-law, Charles ’38 and Virginia Hague ’40, of Millington, Maryland. This award is presented each year to “the junior student whose demonstrated qualities of scholarship, character, and dedication, in the judgment of the Washington College Department of Education, will make the most effective contribution to the field of public education.”
- Rachel Scholz Leadership Award: Awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Education Department, has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of an outstanding teacher-leader.
- Seán O'Connor Teaching Award: Awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Education Department, has consistently displayed outstanding performance in teaching and authentic student engagement.
- The Education Department Award: Awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the department, has shown the promise of meaningful contributions to diversified pedagogy, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness within the fields of education and the liberal arts.