Education

We offer early admission for Lewis & Clark undergraduates into a master of arts in teaching degree program at our Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

So you want to teach?

As a student in this program, you will receive targeted advising to ensure that you are perfectly prepared to enter the master’s program, significant exposure to working in a school environment, and targeted education coursework that covers educational theory and practice taught by graduate faculty.

The following outlines the steps to participate in this program.

Step 1: Apply

If you have not yet applied to Lewis & Clark:

• Complete the online application for new CAS applicants.
  
  • PLEASE NOTE: The application requires approximately a 250 word essay outlining your interest, past experiences, and goals in entering the teaching profession. We strongly suggest writing this prior to beginning the form so you can paste it into the text box provided. Essays cannot be attached.

If you are a Lewis & Clark first-year student or sophomore:

• Complete the online application for current CAS students.
  • PLEASE NOTE: The application requires approximately a 250 word essay outlining your interest, past experiences, and goals in entering the teaching profession. We strongly suggest writing this prior to beginning the form so you can paste it into the text box provided. Essays cannot be attached.

If you are a Lewis & Clark junior or senior:

You can apply to the graduate school through the regular graduate application process. You are encouraged and invited to contact a faculty member at the graduate school to discuss what courses you should take to prepare.

Teacher Education faculty will review your application for admission to the Teacher Pathways Program. Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Pathways Program.

Step 2: Meet the benchmarks

If admitted to the Teacher Pathways program, you will be required to meet the following benchmarks throughout your undergraduate experience at Lewis & Clark to maintain good standing in the program and guarantee acceptance to the master’s degree program at the graduate school:

• Maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher by the end of each academic year.
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in your major.
• Successfully complete two education courses with a grade of B or better. At least one of these courses must be completed by the end of your junior year. Grades in any other education-related courses completed will also be considered.
• Complete at least 20 hours of volunteer experience in a school setting before the end of your junior year. This may include work required for undergraduate education courses but should go beyond course requirements as well.

View the benchmark timeline (.doc)

Step 3: Submit final materials

At the beginning of you senior year, you will submit application materials to the Graduate School of Education and Counseling by October 1. This will include an interview with the Teacher Education faculty, and submission of the following materials:

• Graduate School of Education and Counseling application form. (The application fee is waived for CAS students.)
• Required Secondary Essays or Elementary-Multiple Subjects essays. Find the essay prompts by going to our website: http://graduate.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/
• A current resume
• Three letters of recommendations: one from an undergraduate education instructor, one from a teacher or administrator at one of the schools where you have volunteered, and one from a CAS faculty member in your major.
• Official copies of transcripts from any other college attended. (We do not have access to your undergraduate record.)
• Elementary-Multiple Subjects Supplemental Form (if applying to MAT Elementary-Multiple Subjects program.)

If you complete the benchmarks and receive a positive assessment of your final application materials, you will be notified of an admissions decision into the master’s program by November 1 of your senior year. Note: Scholarship and financial aid decisions will be made in March of your senior year.

For more information:

Graduate Admissions Office
gseadmit@lclark.edu
503-768-6201