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AQ Difference

Why Choose the AQ School of Education?

In the 2005-2006 report from the Michigan Department of Education, Aquinas College ranked fourth (of 46 colleges offering teacher certification) in cumulative pass rate on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification with a 95.2% pass rate.

As the largest school in the college, we represent an eclectic mix of full-time faculty, adjunct instructors, and some of the best master teachers in their fields. We are surrounded by well-trained staff members who are approachable and highly qualified in their areas. We believe in our students and are adamant about allowing them to become the best teachers they can be.

We don’t save the real-life classroom experiences until the end of our program. The School of Education offers a hands-on approach to teaching that models and emphasizes reflective, constructivist pedagogy. We have small class sizes and require classroom field experiences throughout the program. Roughly 80% of our education courses will require some type of daytime field placements in area schools. It is our intention to have students gain valuable experiences in a variety of settings, including urban, suburban, private, and public, in order to gain a broad-based perspective of tomorrow’s classrooms today.

Flexible scheduling and personal attention:

Small classes taught by experienced and professional faculty who care about the personal, intellectual and professional development of their students provide many opportunities for classroom participation and mentor relationships. In the words of our students, "You can actually call professors and be able to talk with them!"

Our classes are offered in a variety of formats in order to fit into the busy time schedules of working students and adults. We offer classes in a semester long format, a quadmester format, web-based format, weekend format, and a variety of summer class formats. These classes are offered during the day, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and summers. Although we do not profess to meet the specific scheduling needs of every single student, if you have the desire to become a teacher, then this is the place for you.

Teacher certification:

Teacher Education candidates earn Elementary Certification to teach grades K-5 all subjects; 6-8 all subjects in self-contained classrooms; or 6-8 in major and minor areas. Coursework for Secondary Certification certifies candidates to teach grades 6-12 in their major and minor areas.

Graduate studies:

Graduate Studies in Education offers the Master in the Art of Teaching (M.A.T.) degree, The Master in Education (M.Ed.) degree with initial certification, and the Master in Science Education (M.S.E.) degree.

Highly-Qualified Faculty:

Of the ten full-time faculty members in the School of Education, six possess a terminal degree, with three others currently enrolled in doctoral programs. The majority of our faculty is engaged in research, both qualitative and quantitative, as evidenced in their faculty biographies. Faculty share the outcomes of their research, some of which is grant-funded, with multiple communities both locally, nationally, and abroad through workshops, presentations, and publication.

A breakdown of the information collected from the School of Education Faculty indicates that:

90% are actively involved in multiple types of research
Eight of ten have had books or papers published, are in the process of publication, or engaged in writing
100% of faculty involved in research are invited presenters of these efforts and they participate in conferences and workshops on a regular, ongoing basis

Our faculty integrates this research into the School of Education curriculum, continually assessing the programs to ensure Aquinas College students are presented with current pedagogy. The range of topics in which the faculty has an interest is broad, and the depth of research is impressive. It is also of interest to note that, even while fully engaged in doctoral programs and full-time teaching, faculty are active participants as conference presenters and workshop conductors.

In summary, the research undertaken by the School of Education faculty has allowed this department to move forward with initiatives that will enable Aquinas College to become progressive and remain competitive in the field of teacher certification.

School of Education Mission Statement
The mission of the Aquinas College School of Education is to empower our students
to be capable, compassionate and committed educators with integrity.


1607 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799 - (616) 632-8900