School of Education
Roberta Evans, Dean
Sharon Dinkel Uhlig, Associate Dean
The School of Education is comprised of five academic departments–Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Counselor Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Health and Human Performance. It is also the home for the Division of Educational Research and Service (DERS). Its mission is as follows:
The School of Education shapes professional practices that contribute to the development of human potential. We are individuals in a community of lifelong learners, guided by respect for knowledge, human dignity, and ethical behavior. We work together producing and disseminating knowledge to advance the physical, emotional, and intellectual health of a diverse society.
The School of Education coordinates The University of Montana Professional Education Unit, a unit comprised of initial teacher preparation at the elementary and secondary levels, and the advanced preparation of teachers, educational leaders, school counselors, and school psychologists. The Departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Counseling Education prepare professionals for careers in education with bachelor, masters, Education Specialist and Doctor of Education programs while the school psychology program, housed in the Psychology Department in the College of Arts and Sciences, prepares students for careers in education with its masters, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. These programs are organized to foster the development of learning communities and incorporate three basic themes: integration of knowledge and experience; cooperation among participants; and inclusiveness, caring, and respect for others. The Professional Education Unit at The University of Montana is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), http://www.ncate.org.
The Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Counselor Education, and Health and Human Performance Departments all prepare professionals for careers in human service professions. Via its bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders, the Communicative Sciences and Disorders Department prepares graduates qualified to work as clinical aides in speech-language pathology or audiology. Through its master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology (planned for fall 2009) the department will produce first professional students qualified to work as speech-language pathologists in schools and clinical settings. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Counselor Education are prepared to work in a variety of community/agency settings. Upon c0ompletion of the program, graduates are prepared to sit for the Licensed Practical Counselor or Licensed Practical Clinical Counselor examination. Via its Bachelor and Master of Science degrees, the Department of Health and Human Performance prepares students in the areas of applied health science, athletic training, exercise science, exercise and performance psychology (on moratorium), health enhancement , and health promotion. The Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.
Central to its research and outreach efforts with P/K-12 schools, the School of Education’s Division of Educational Research and Service (DERS) designs, evaluates, and disseminates programs that support the well-being of students and communities. Since 1957, DERS has collaborated with numerous local, state, national, and federal organizations to provide effective, data-driven research models that enhance the social development and academic achievement of all learners. Externally sponsored teaching, research, and service activities are central to DERS. In addition, the School of Education supports a Preschool Laboratory, Preschool Program, Health and Human Performance Laboratory and Technology Resource Center. These centers offer enhanced opportunities for student involvement and learning.
Specific program options within the School of Education are described below and in the various departmental sections of this catalog. The Web address for the School of Education is http://www.soe.umt.edu