College of Education - About the College
Message from the Interim Dean - Dr. Donna W. Jorgensen
Welcome to Rowan University College of Education, the founding and oldest College in the university. Every day is a new day filled with myriad opportunities to learn and grow. Here in the Rowan University College of Education, we are committed to providing you with the chance to pursue your educational goals in a caring and supportive learning environment. Whether you are embarking on the journey to becoming a teacher or you wish to extend your professional learning in advanced studies, Rowan University College of Education opens doors, permitting you to fulfill your potential.
Since its humble beginnings as Glassboro Normal School, the College of Education has continued to grow and prosper until today it is one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the State of New Jersey and in the nation. We are proud of our continuing commitment to quality in our comprehensive programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As we progress into the 21st century and face the challenges of public education, our programs grow and change accordingly. We now offer many online courses and some online degree and endorsement programs as well as the traditional face-to-face format. These are exciting times, and we are always moving forward, accepting the challenges of preparing teachers and school leaders for the ever-changing face of public education.
Our college includes the departments of Educational Services, Administration and Higher Education; Educational Leadership; Health and Exercise Science; Language, Literacy, and Special Education; and Teacher Education. Whatever your goals, Rowan University College of Education can help you to achieve them as you work with a dedicated faculty and a staff of professional advisors who will guide you along each step of your journey. In support of our educational programs and their goals, the College of Education also houses an Early Childhood Demonstration Center, a Reading Clinic, and the Special Education Assessment Clinic, offering candidates in the various programs many opportunities for hands-on, real world experiences as well as providing needed services to the larger community. The College provides programs that lead to initial teacher licensure, a variety of certification, endorsement, and master’s degree programs as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Rowan’s College of Education has been continuously accredited since NCATE was founded in 1954. NCATE is a coalition of over 30 national organizations committed to quality teaching and teacher preparation. Uniting teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, subject matter specialists, and members of the public, it sets rigorous standards for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel. Accreditation is granted only after ongoing cycles of self and external assessment and evaluation culminating in a campus visit by a Board of Examiners. Individual programs within the College are also accredited by appropriate national governing bodies.
As advocates of the Learning Community in Action, we promote the development of requisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions of our faculty and candidates. Our focus is on the achievement of academic, social responsibility, personal responsibility, and social justice goals. We believe that a learning community in action will truly make a difference in the lives of all learners. Our programs provide an intellectually rigorous and challenging environment for all candidates as they interact with our highly qualified and diverse faculty who facilitate collaborative, learning-centered environments.
The college works very closely with the public schools in Southern New Jersey and has developed strong partnerships at different levels with over 200 schools. Whether in urban, suburban, or rural schools, we recognize the contributions that practitioners make to our programs. Without them, we would be unable to offer the quality programs that are a hallmark of the Rowan educational experience. Field experiences are an integral aspect of our programs serving to unite the wisdom of practice with important teaching and learning theories. We continuously seek ways to work to build strong collaborative relationships with New Jersey public schools.
As Interim Dean, I have committed myself to having a positive impact in the lives of learners. This is my passion and my life’s work. When I began my career as a teacher of English, I did not even imagine that one day I would become the face of such a prestigious program. I believed then, and I believe now, that each of us has the power to change the world, and that we must embrace every opportunity to make a difference. Working together with the faculty and staff of the College of Education, I accept all challenges, charting a course that will take us into the future stronger and better than ever. Your educational future is important to us, and your success is our success. If you are ready to accept the challenge, please join us at Rowan University in the College of Education. We are waiting for YOU.
