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Teacher Education Program
Top 10 Reasons to Apply to UCSB
1. Train in a Program Nationally Recognized for Excellence
Research on UCSB's Teacher Education Program appears in numerous scholarly journals, books, and conferences. It employs best practices in teacher education as espoused by national reports (Levine, 2006). The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing stated, "This is an exemplary program that operates with high standards. The team compliments the administrative leadership for its vision and for its effectiveness in creating a professional culture which exudes collegiality and love of learning." Furthermore, a national, independent research project reports:
In surveys and follow-up studies of graduates derived from the National Commission on Teaching's Exemplary Teacher Education Study, UCSB graduates rated their preparation as significantly superior to those of a national random sample of beginning teachers on 32 of 37 measures of teaching knowledge and skill items. The graduates scored comparably with those of a national sample of exemplary teacher education programs on 33 of 37 measures and ranked higher on measures evaluating their preparation to teach the concepts, knowledge, and skills of their disciplines in ways that enable students to learn, to use a variety of assessment techniques, to teach in ways that support new English language learners, and maintain an orderly, purposeful classroom environment. In-depth follow-up studies of graduates by researchers who observed them in the classroom reported that they perform at the top levels of performance measures of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. -- Linda Darling-Hammond, Educating Teachers for California's Future, in Teacher Education Quarterly, Winter 2001.
2. Earn a Master's Degree and California Teaching Credential in 13 months
UCSB is one of the few institutions to offer both a teaching credential and an M.Ed. in a combined program that integrates the rigor of learning to teach with the theoretical foundation of research in the classroom. The process teaches you to inquire into your teaching practice for life so that you can continue to grow as an effective teacher and teacher leader.
3. Learn from Caring, Outstanding Faculty
Collectively our faculty boasts an impressive background in reserach, K-12 teaching, teacher education. Our faculty members are highly collaborative, work as teams, articulate their work across courses and fieldwork, and engage in quarterly professional development. Supervisors know what is happening in courses, and course instructors know what is happening in the field. Few programs can claim this level of collaboration, yet this cohesion is vital to effective, developmentally sequenced, and sensible preparation.
4. Join a Team of Remarkable Students
In TEP you will begin and end your program with the same cohort of students. You will study and teach among a supportive, dedicated, and high-caliber group of colleagues. These people will be life-long friends and professional colleagues.
See what past students have to say>>
5. Join Graduates who become Teacher Leaders
Our graduates take on leadership positions early in their careers as department chairs, or working in professional development, curriculum development, and administration. The rigor of the program means you leave UCSB with a foundation of skills, knowledge, and values that enables your growth wherever your teaching career takes you.
6. Make a Difference in California's Children
Through teaching, research, and public outreach, we are dedicated to improving society for future generations. More importantly, we engage you in research-based practice and mentor you in supportive schools with diverse students so you are equipped to teach, embrace, and support all children from all backgrounds, who come to you with a variety of needs and gifts and languages. Watch them flourish under your guidance and know you have made a difference. Watch your influence extend to the school and community, and know you have the power to build learning environments our children need and deserve. Our vision themes express our commitment and beliefs.
7. Find an Exceptional Educational Value
Financing a graduate degree program is always a consideration and a challenge. UCSB offers world-class professional training that is very cost effective. Compared to the money private institutions offering teacher preparation programs, academic fees are much lower. In addition, the university offers financial support and the program actively seeks substantial private support - so substantial that we gave away $67,000 in the 2007-08 year. Finally, most of our students graduate with a master's degree and start their teaching careers in a higher salary bracket.
8. Be Prepared to Teach
Our graduates consistently report that, unlike many of their new teacher colleagues from other institutions, they felt very well prepared for their first year in the classroom. Because of our small size, our outstanding faculty, and the cohesion within our program, we provide more levels of individual support, supervision hours, and immersion in classroom teaching than most other programs. It is an intensive year of preparation, as our graduates will attest, but we have substantial proof that this is optimal for preparing excellent teachers. Research on some "intern" programs show it takes 3 years before these graduates generate the levels of student achievement that graduates from "traditional" programs (such as ours) produce in their first year. Research also shows the best prepared teachers stay in the profession longer and enjoy greater satisfaction with their careers.
9. Attend a Top Ranked University
UCSB is one of only 62 institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. The Newsweek Guide to America's best colleges has named UCSB one of the country's "hottest colleges" twice in the last five years. The U.S. News and World Report ranks UCSB among the top 50 research institutions in the United States. Another study ranked UCSB the #2 public university in the United States adjusted for size. UCSB as a campus has many renowned programs and a remarkable record of faculty receiving Nobel Prizes and other research awards. It is a dynamic, forward-thinking campus.
10. Enjoy a World Class Setting for World Class Training
There is simply no more beautiful and inviting place to receive professional teacher preparation in the world. The UCSB campus is located in the central coast region of California with all the advantages of a progressive college community and with immediate access to beaches and mountain wilderness areas. The "Galapagos of North America," the Channel Islands National Park, is just 25 miles from the campus. The Santa Barbara community has numerous cultural and entertainment venues. In addition, the rich diversity of the Los Angeles metropoliltan area is just 100 miles away.