College of Education - About the College
Message from the Dean - Dr. Carol A. Sharp
Welcome to the Rowan University College of Education Home Page. The College of Education is one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the State of New Jersey and in the United States. The College of Education offers comprehensive programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the following departments: Educational Leadership, Foundations of Education, Health & Exercise Science, Reading, Special Educational Services/Instruction, and Teacher Education.
The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE is the teaching profession’s quality assurance mechanism, setting and implementing standards for teacher preparation and for the preparation of candidates in other professional school roles. NCATE is a partnership of over 30 organizations of Americans committed to quality teaching. This partnership unites teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, subject matter specialists, and members of the public in setting rigorous standards for teacher preparation.
The theme of our education programs is “A Learning Community in Action. ” The College of Education’s primary mission is to help our faculty and undergraduate and graduate students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to foster academic, social and personal responsibilities, and social justice in themselves so that they can, in turn, facilitate high achievement in P-16 learners.
Our advanced programs prepare professionals to serve as educational leaders, scholars, and reflective practitioners. The doctoral program in Educational Leadership is the first to be offered by any of New Jersey’s state colleges and universities. The program is distinctive both in its focus on transforming schools and colleges to meet the changing needs of our rapidly evolving society and provides a unique learning community characterized by close student/faculty interaction and support systems.
The College of Education works very closely with the public schools in its southern region and has established the Rowan Professional Development School Network. This network consists of schools in the Camden, Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Monroe Township, and Vineland districts. They are designed to improve student achievement by providing real-world learning opportunities for teachers-in-training and enhanced professional development for veteran teachers. In these schools, teachers mentor Rowan students as they apply their coursework knowledge to practice in real classrooms. At the same time, veteran teachers learn the latest educational theories and methods from Rowan professors, and Rowan professors learn the practical issues impacting the daily work of teachers. While praised by local teachers, the importance of the PDS program is also recognized on a national level. The College of Education was invited to join the Holmes Partnership, a national organization of more than 80 universities, schools, community agencies and national professional organizations. Goals of the Holmes Partnership include creating high-quality professional development and fostering significant school renewal, resulting in improved teaching and learning for children.
We live in exciting and challenging times. The faculty and staff of the College of Education are actively responding to the many challenges facing public education through its various preservice, inservice, and continuing professional education efforts. We continue to work very closely with professionals in all aspects of educational practice. Please consider Rowan University as your first choice in "Educational Excellence."
