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Education

Help shape society as a teacher or as an education policy-maker.

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    A Monmouth student helps local kindergartners make observations about plants and insects during a visit to the Educational Garden.
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    Educational studies students, faculty and Monmouth sixth-grade teachers learned about the ecology of place on a trip to Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming.
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    Area school children research local history with help from elementary education major Jordan Cortez '18.

Why do we do it this way? Will this homework ever be relevant to my life? Who gets to decide what’s included in a textbook, anyway?

If questions like that provoke your curiosity (or your frustration), and if you believe the answers can help shape society for the better, you’re well on your way to finding a home in the Educational Studies Department — a training ground for teachers and education policy makers.

At its core, education is about growth and change

Our students envision change in themselves and want to inspire growth and change in others. Our instant support network of educators and community advocates support students from day one. Our strong, close-knit community works together to help you develop and jump-start your vision for education.

Students investigate the archives of the Warren County History Museum and discover local educatio... Students investigate the archives of the Warren County History Museum and discover local educational history with educational studies professor Brad Rowe.

Lots of hands-on opportunities

We offer pathways to teacher licensure in a variety of subject areas and grade levels, and we also offer a unique major in educational studies for those interested in education but want a role outside of the classroom.

Get experience leading community impact projects with our place-based school network, lean on experienced teacher mentors as part of our rural teacher corps, or interview local legislators and historians to understand the context of your place through our educational studies major. Our Educational Farm & Garden is open to all students and offers a great setting for hands-on teaching and learning for any subject.

Through our programs, students discover the many opportunities you only find in a small, rural town with a big educational mission.

  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “Monmouth’s theatre education major gave me the skills I need for the classroom and the director’s chair.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Natalie Stortoni ’16, drama teacher at Gage Park High School in Chicago</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “Attending Monmouth College has been one of the best decisions I have made. The Educational Studies Department is doing wonderful things for rural communities and schools.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Kylee Payne ’19, fourth grade teacher at Glen Oak Learning Center, Peoria Public School district</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monmouth College is one of the top institutions we look to for quality educators that are ready to face the challenges of the teaching profession. They are educationally and socially ready to lead our district into the future. Monmouth College uniquely prepares each student for the professional world.”</span></p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Toby Vallas ’98, Director of Student Services, Farmington (Illinois) Central CUSD #265</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “To become the educator I am today, it took a lot of dedication, perseverance and a passion for music. Finding the right place to reach my goals was crucial, and Monmouth was that place.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Luke Pratt ’18, music teacher in Elmwood (Illinois) School District</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “I discovered that the classroom was where my heart’s deepest gladness had met the world’s deepest hunger.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Courtney Gillen ’18 2nd grade teacher at United West Elementary School</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “I chose educational studies because I knew that I wanted to be involved in education, but I realized that the classroom wasn’t for me. I found that higher education really interested me after working in the College’s Alumni Office. I am so grateful that the ed studies major was created so I could explore education in a new way that really means something to me.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Rylee Mann ’21, educational studies major and women’s studies minor</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “The educational studies courses I took allowed me to become more empathetic to the needs and challenges of diverse groups of students. I learned to truly think and teach outside of myself — which should be the ultimate goal of any college student, regardless of their primary major.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Taylor Ewald ’19, history major and educational studies minor; outreach educator at Adirondack Experience, Blue Mountain Lake, New York</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “As a PE major at Monmouth College, I was 100% prepared to teach physical education when I stepped into first official teaching position. The education the faculty provided was exactly what I needed to prepare me for the real life teaching world.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Michael Smith ’17, Physical Education major</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “I could not have chosen a finer institution than Monmouth College. The Educational Studies and Music departments provided me with early hands-on experiences that reinforced my urge to join the profession, offered invaluable guidance to meet my scholarly needs, and taught me how to best serve every student based on their individual needs.”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">Katie Yelm ’17, music teacher in Monmouth-Roseville School District</footer></blockquote>
  • <blockquote class="callout-quote"><div class="callout-quote-text"><p> “Although Chicago provides a much different scenery than Monmouth, there are many things I have learned while attending a small college like Monmouth that I can apply while teaching in a large city. One of the most important practices I have learned is the necessity for teachers to take their time in building meaningful relationships with their students. The professors in the Educational Studies Department modeled how to build healthy relationships with students, and I will always be thankful for that!”</p></div><footer class="callout-quote-footer">María Magallón ’18, elementary education and French major with a Spanish concentration; second grade bilingual teacher, Peck Elementary School in Chicago</footer></blockquote>

Education News

  • Holly Reyner plays violin and piano in senior recital

    Holly Reyner ’21, music major with K-12 teacher licensure, performed Beethoven, Pugnani-Kreisler, her own compositions, and others at her senior recital. She played both violin and piano, showing the range of her talents. Student teaching in Spring 2021, Holly will be ready to be a K-12 music teacher upon graduation. 
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  • Ed Studies students star in theatre production

    Math major with 9-12 teacher licensure student Kenny Broge and Theatre Education major Mel Delbridge each played roles in the Theatre Department’s production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone. Kenny played the role of Gordon (the dead man!), and Mel played the role of Mrs. Gottlieb, Gordon’s mother.
    Read More

  • Episode 13: Nov. 20, 2020

    Biochemistry major Logan Evans ’21 and chemistry professor Brad Sturgeon discuss research advantages available to Monmouth students; educational studies professor Craig Vivian explains how the new open-air classroom at the Educational Farm helps area children learn more about nature and their environment.
    Read More

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