College of Education

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112 Cathedral School
507.457.5570
College of Education website
Scott Sorvaag, Dean

Mission

The College of Education exists to prepare classroom teachers, counselors, administrators, and other education professionals to continuously improve student learning and effectiveness in twenty-first century schools and communities. The College accomplishes this mission by offering undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare professionals for practice in public and private schools and agencies.

The College provides courses and clinical experiences through which students acquire the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions needed to serve with excellence as professionals and leaders in the region, state, nation. and world. The College provides opportunities for cross-cultural and international awareness through general education, professional work, and faculty-led study.

Faculty members in the College are committed to the serious study of education and the promotion of professional standards to foster innovation in professional preparation.

Admission and Graduation Standards

Refer to the appropriate department for details. For a checklist of the University graduation requirements, see the Academic Policies & University Requirements section of this catalog.

Accreditation and Professional Membership

WSU is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). All teacher education and school counselor programs have been approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) through 2025. In addition, several programs have received national recognition from the following professional organizations: Association for Childhood Education International, Council for Exceptional Children, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association of Schools of Music, National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

WSU’s Counselor Education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and CAEP. Programs in the Department of Education Leadership are also accredited by CAEP and approved by the Board of School Administrators (BSA).

The College of Education is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and the Minnesota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE).

Partnerships

B-20 (birth-to-doctoral education) partnerships play important roles in the College’s education programs; providing clinical placement opportunities, instructional laboratories, expert practitioner instructors, and practical research and service opportunities for students and faculty alike. These partnerships include schools, districts, social service and children’s agencies, mental health centers, tutoring programs, and museums in Winona, Rochester, the state, region and beyond our borders.

Path to Purple Programs

The College of Education is an active partner in the Path to Purple program, through which upper-division (junior- and senior-level) courses can provide transfer students with the opportunity to complete a number of Winona State University baccalaureate degree programs. Students can transfer credits from Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) and other institutions to WSU through individual transcript evaluation and/or through official articulated agreements with RCTC. Students interested in transferring to WSU should schedule an appointment with a faculty program advisor or a general campus advisor (in the Office of Admissions) for detailed program guidance. All students must meet the specific program and graduation requirements listed in the WSU Catalog for each individual academic degree program. For more detailed information about Education majors offered in the Path to Purple program, see the WSU-Rochester section of this catalog.

Honor Societies and Student Organizations

Academically accomplished students are recognized by WSU chapters of the professional honor societies Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Upsilon Alpha. Pre-professional students may join student chapters of professional organizations: American Therapeutic Association, Education Minnesota Student Program, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association, Student Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Student Council for Exceptional Children, and the Student International Reading Association.

WSU Children’s Center

The WSU Children’s Center (located in Helble Hall) provides a living laboratory of child development and exemplary practice for students in professional education programs at WSU. Future teachers have opportunities to work with and observe children from birth through school age. The Children’s Center is an important part of the College of Education and the Professional Education Unit. The Center keeps the learning and development of children at the forefront of our professional education programs.

In addition to experiences at the WSU Children’s Center, students in professional education programs in the College of Education are in schools and other professional settings throughout their programs. Teacher education majors can expect to spend time in Pre K-12 classrooms every-semester while they are in the program, beginning as early as their second semester on campus. Recreation majors culminate their programs in an internship of their choosing after a variety of professional experiences within their major courses.

Study Away/Study Abroad

The College strongly encourages students to study abroad. Many short-term faculty-led programs or semester/summer opportunities are available in most regions of the world to help students meet major, minor, or graduation requirements. For more information, email: studyabroad@winona.edu or consult the study abroad website.

Graduate Degrees Offered by the College of Education

See the Graduate Catalog for program descriptions and other pertinent information.