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More than a century ago, when UMass Lowell was known as a State Normal School, the University offered nothing but undergraduate coursework in education. But it’s been almost 30 years since the school has carried a bachelor’s degree program; instead, the focus has been on the robust Graduate School of Education and its myriad advanced degrees.
That changed this fall, when UMass Lowell also began offering an undergraduate minor in education.
“There was a lot of interest over the past few years from students asking about undergraduate work and our fifth year [Fast Track to Teaching] master’s program,” says Vera Ossen, director of educator preparation programs at the Graduate School of Education.
Although the 18-credit minor will not lead to licensure, it will enable students to explore education as a possible career path. Should a student decide to become a teacher, he or she can apply to the fifth-year master’s degree program, either as a Fast Track candidate in the senior year or upon completion of the undergraduate degree.
“Exposing undergraduates to the joys and demands of teaching before they embark on their graduate degree will help them to make an informed career choice,” says Anita Greenwood, interim dean of the Graduate School of Education.
That’s exactly why sophomore Peter Steele declared a minor in education in September.
“It gives me a chance to explore education without having to be fully committed to any one program,” says Steele, adding that the class he’s currently taking, Understanding Education, has already helped him discover that he’s more interested in becoming a school principal than a teacher.
Other courses in the program — which is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors — include Education and Cultural Diversity, Educational Psychology, Exploring Teaching and an elective.
During the enrollment period, classes filled up immediately, Ossen says, predicting that interest will continue to grow.
“Right now, we draw 50 percent of our graduate students from UMass Lowell, and 50 percent from outside,” she says, predicting that the new undergraduate minor will “definitely” increase the number of current students who apply to the graduate program.