to the Education and Educational Psychology Department's homepage. We appreciate your interest in our programs and hope that you will find the information for which you are looking on these pages. The Education and Educational Psychology Department currently serves 925 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in education and counseling programs at WestConn. Our Conceptual Framework describes our educational vision, commitments and values, and it reflects the philosophy, mission and objectives of the University, the School of Professional Studies, and the Education & Educational Psychology Department.

On the undergraduate level, WestConn offers programs that lead to certification in elementary education (K-6), health education (K-12),

music education (K-12) and secondary education (7-12). Our Certification Only program helps students who already have the baccalaureate degrees meet Connecticut requirements for teacher certification at both the elementary and the secondary levels.

WestConn's masters level programs include two programs in Counselor Education that are nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Students in Counselor Education can choose between school counseling that leads to certification as a school counselor or community counseling that prepares professionals for careers in a variety of community agencies. WestConn also awards masters degrees in education, with options in curriculum, instructional technology, reading, and special education. Our doctoral program in Instructional Leadership is designed for teachers already holding masters degrees who want to become leaders in their schools and districts.

The Education and Educational Psychology Department has a close relationship with the public schools in Danbury and the surrounding communities, and these relationships enrich our teacher preparation programs. We have an active Education Club and honor societies in both education and counseling. If you are a current student, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the program requirements and explore the clubs and activities available to you as future teachers, counselors and school leaders. If you are a perspective student, we hope that you will contact us with any additional questions you have about our programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Education and Educational Psychology Department is to prepare candidates for careers in teaching and counseling professions. We believe initiating and maintaining professional relationships with the broader educational community and are committed to the continuous support and development of cooperative projects and services with area schools and community agencies. We embrace the broader mission of Western Connecticut State University to empower students to "…attain the highest standards of academic achievement…personal development, and ethical conduct". Candidates in our teacher and counselor preparation programs must achieve the following objectives:

1. demonstrate academic competence in their selected fields,
2. complete a general program of studies (in Education) in addition to a recommended content area major other than Education,
3. know the historical, social, economic, political, comparative and philosophical foundations of education or school counseling,
4. understand the variety of patterns of human growth and development
5. value and infuse cultural diversity,
6. demonstrate a proficiency in and working knowledge of the Connecticut Common Core of Teaching (with the embedded Connecticut Competency Instrument), Connecticut Common Core of Learning, Curriculum Frameworks K-12, the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility, and effective practices in the profession,
7. demonstrate a spirit of inquiry, the use of critical thinking skills, and the habits of the reflective practitioner, and,
8. demonstrate the ability to incorporate appropriately the use of technology in instructional practice.