Why This Program?

Making a difference through education.

K-12 education majors will specialize in art, music, or physical education. With small class sizes, careful student advising, and personalized attention, Briar Cliff University's Teacher Preparation Program* is known for producing caring, distinguished teachers. Here, you'll learn research-based teaching strategies and go into the classroom to practice what you learn.

Teach Your Passion: As a K-12 education major, you'll complete requirements for both an elementary and secondary license that will qualify you to teach your subject in a variety of settings from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Get Hands-on Experience: Before you begin student teaching, you will have already gained approximately 120 hours of classroom experience through a variety of on-site practicum placements tied to education courses. This exceeds the Iowa Department of Education's requirement of 80 practicum hours. Briar Cliff student teachers spend 40 hours per week in supervised student teaching for 15 weeks. All student teachers are supervised by full-time faculty of the education department.

An education degree from Briar Cliff means that you can graduate with more classroom experiences supervised by Briar Cliff University faculty.

More About the Program

The following learning outcomes for the Teacher Education Program were adopted and adapted from the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).

Learner Development: The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Learning Differences: The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
Learning Environments: The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.
Content Knowledge: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Application of Content: The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Assessment: The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, monitor learner progress and guide the teachers and learners decision making.
Planning for Instruction: The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Instructional Strategies: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Professional Learning and Ethical Practice: The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Leadership and Collaboration: The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals and community members to ensure learner growth, and advance the profession.

*The teacher preparation program complies with and is accredited by the Iowa State Board of Education and Iowa Department of Education. Students successfully completing the professional program for teacher preparation are eligible to apply for teacher licensure.