Mission and Vision

Mission

The mission of the College of Education at Bowie State University is to prepare academic and professional leaders who are globally competitive in their content specialty, grounded in the knowledge bases of their discipline, and sensitive to the ethnicity of the students they serve for positions in public and private schools in Maryland, and school systems in other states and community establishments. The College's teacher education program model rests upon a legacy of the best practices in the field of education and upon what research tells us about teaching and learning. Revised in September of 2011, the College of Education has adopted the following theme for its academic programs: "Preparing Effective and Caring Educators for a Global Society." The College strives through its programs to develop candidates who become academic scholars, skillful instructional leaders, reflective practitioners, and collaborative educator in the schools and communities in which they work. It focuses on productivity and accountability of faculty, professional development, and specific development within its three academic departments: the Department of Counseling; the Department of Educational Studies and Leadership; and the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development.

Vision Statement

The College of Education has the primary responsibility for coordinating University efforts designed to prepare individuals to assume positions of teaching, counseling and educational leadership in P-12 school settings. This task is accomplished through the development and delivery of the College's professional curriculum and competent faculty. The undergraduate and graduate programs are structured to prepare professionals to meet the teaching-learning challenges of contemporary society in a culturally responsive way. Based on a strong liberal arts foundation, the pedagogical curriculum prepares candidates to meet world class standards with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to be effective and proficient professionals in a variety of education settings. Based on a Culturally Responsive Pedagogical frame, candidates master the use of technology as an instructional tool, assess students through the use of multiple approaches, and create positive learning environments for multicultural and diverse populations.

Goals

The overarching goals of the Bowie State University College of Education are to:

• Provide a general education experience that includes theoretical and practical knowledge gained from studies in communications, humanities and fine arts, mathematics, science, and social sciences;
• Ensure, through a professional studies component, the transmission of knowledge about the social, historical, and philosophical foundations of education; theories of human development and learning; research and experience-based principles of effective practice; and the impact of technology and social changes on schools;
• Use a Culturally Responsive Pedagogical Frame in the presentation of content to ensure that candidates understand the world, support students, present materials and make decisions with a lens that is culturally informed.
  Provide a well-planned sequence of field experiences in diverse settings that enable candidates to relate professional knowledge to the realities of practice in schools and classes;
• Offer opportunities for candidates to reflect upon the effectiveness of their teaching, to develop insights and judgments about what they do and why they do what they do, and to make decisions about teaching that will enhance pupil understanding and success;
• Ensure, through courses and experiences, the development of critical thinking and values-based decision-making, effective communication, and positive professional collaboration in the educational arena;
• Maintain the viability of its programs through systematic and continuous evaluation and modification; and,
• Maintain linkages with community stakeholders for the mutual benefit of the College and its departments, the University, and the community.