Great educators have the ability — and the privilege — to change lives. At Quinnipiac, our mission is to empower the next generation of educators with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be the best of those change-makers, both inside and outside the classroom.
Our undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs fully immerse you in the art of teaching. You’ll learn how to manage a classroom and communicate effectively, structure engaging lessons and use the latest educational technology. Most importantly, you’ll ensure that students of every learning level and cultural background receive a quality education and have every opportunity to succeed.
Our approach integrates modern teaching theory with a close and supportive community of passionate educators, leaders and lifelong learners. Class sizes are small. Each course is taught by diverse, accomplished faculty with deep educational experience. You'll complete extensive fieldwork, which will give you both practical experience and the benefit of reduced tuition.
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, an experienced educator looking to specialize or move into an administrative role, or a developer of digital learning materials, we have programs for every career stage. Graduates of our programs are hired quickly and go on to lead rewarding careers.
Kyanna Joseph '17, MAT ’18, works with a Bridgeport first-grade student on a Smart Board in the School of Education teaching classroom on the North Haven Campus.
The School of Education offers several dynamic programs designed to meet you at various stages of your career. These include dual-degrees, a graduate MAT, a Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership and online master’s programs in special education, instructional design and teacher leadership. You also can learn to develop online courses for the corporate or nonprofit sectors.
All of our programs are intentionally designed and endorsed by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Under the guidance of forward-thinking educators, you’ll investigate and apply new knowledge to educational challenges in real-world settings, improving classroom learning outcomes that ultimately transform lives.
Dean Anne Dichele sits down with Shelby Sharkey '18, MAT '19, in a common area of the School of Education on our North Haven Campus.
Our full-time faculty all have advanced degrees and decades of teaching experience. Through their expertise, they'll enable you to tackle modern educational challenges and strengthen the academic and social experiences of the students you'll teach.
Anne Dichele, dean of the School of Education, is typical of our faculty in that she has made a difference in public education, maintains strong connections with the teaching community — and she knows what works. She was one of six public school educators who founded an academically challenging, social justice-based charter school in an urban school district and continues to serve as chair of the Side by Side Charter School’s board of directors.
As a former classroom teacher, Dichele brings decades of experience and an innovative approach to teaching and has fostered a close-knit community where professors get to know students on a personal level.
“I believe strongly in the crucial role of public education and providing every child with a high-quality education taught by caring and innovative teachers.”Anne DicheleDean of the School of Education
Professor Mordechai Gordon meets with students Cynthia Lerman, MAT ’19, Q. Annie Ishfaq, MAT ’19, and Michael Thorpe, MAT ’19.
Graduates from the School of Education enjoy strong placement rates, with 92% of our MAT students employed in full-time teaching positions within four months of graduation — faster than the national average. This is because faculty-student relationships and extensive practical experiences better prepare them to meet the challenges and needs of public schools.
As our students prepare to graduate, they leave ready to take that next step — whether it’s their first teaching role or they're hired into a position in educational leadership, special education or instructional design.
Michael Syrotiak '15, MAT ’16, teaches students lessons that will guide them inside and outside the classroom at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, Connecticut.
As an experienced history teacher, Michael Syrotiak '15, MAT ’16, feels energized, and is moving beyond basic history lessons. In addition to working with athletics and school social events, Syrotiak has designed a course titled Conversations on Race. “Cultural sensitivity is something incredibly important in education,” he said. “Moreover, it’s a subject I am very passionate about.”
Syrotiak credits the MAT program with helping him to develop a personal educational philosophy, as well as his own techniques for creating effective lesson plans, structuring assessments and adapting his curriculum for a variety of learners. He also lauds the program for guiding him through the certification process, and offering workshops dedicated to all aspects of the job search experience.
Syrotiak said a number of MAT course offerings prepared him to tackle heavy subject matter and tailor it to a high school classroom. He also relied on guidance and feedback from his former professors — now colleagues — when developing the class.
“I send my old professors questions and ideas about curriculums and pedagogy all the time,” he said. “They always make the time for me.”
In kind, Syrotiak has made the time to give back to his alma mater. He has taught student workshops on filling out job applications, Praxis test prep for elementary education teachers and crafting cover letters and resumes.
“It takes a lot of work and preparation to plan three courses,” he said. “But the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Quinnipiac consistently challenged me to do more. That was my motto: Do as much as you can — and enjoy yourself while doing it.”Michael Syrotiak '15, MAT '16
Amanda Charlton, MAT ’20, Shelby Sharkey, MAT ’18 and Sarah Wiederecht, MAT ’18 collaborate on a presentation in the School of Education on the North Haven Campus.
The School of Education is located on our scenic and interprofessional North Haven Campus, alongside the Schools of Law, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. You'll learn in technologically advanced classrooms that reflect 21st century teacher preparation.
Our Center for Science Teaching and Learning offers a number of workshops in curriculum development and career preparation for students interested in teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The student-run Quinnipiac Future Teachers Organization (QFTO) enables educators and social justice advocates to engage in community outreach activities to improve student learning.
Michael Gagnon, MAT ’19, completed a student teaching experience at North Haven High School. Here, he leads an activity with high school students during an AP psychology class taught by high school teacher Evan Soderholm '13, MAT '14.
Our resources extend well beyond our physical location into public schools in surrounding cities and towns across the state. As you intern, you’ll gain more than just a wealth of classroom experience and the opportunity to apply program theory. You’ll form close relationships with veteran teachers and administrators who’ll become part of a long-term and growing professional network that spans several school districts.
Anthony Szarpa from All Saints Catholic School reads his essay at an event hosted by the School of Education as part of the fourth annual Social and Emotional Learning Awareness Week in Connecticut.
Our students in the School of Education aren’t just numbers to us. And neither are you. We’re happy to guide you through the application process, and respond to your individual needs and concerns at every step.
We'll also show you how you can become a fully licensed teacher through our dual-degree or graduate MAT programs without breaking the bank. Tuition costs for the graduate year are significantly reduced through internships at local schools while you attend evening courses on our North Haven Campus. In lieu of a salary, teaching interns have their tuition reduced, paid to the university by the school district.
All programs in the School of Education are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE), and by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
School of Education graduates earn exceptionally high scores on licensure examinations required for certification both within and outside the state of Connecticut, including the Praxis II tests for special educators, and elementary and secondary teacher candidates, as well as the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT), which will be transitioning to the Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (ELAS) test taken by the candidates in the Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership program.
