Education Student Opportunities

Explore the Possibilities

In the Education program at Saint Francis University you will have plenty of opportunities in the classroom and beyond. Below are just a few of the opportunities waiting for you as a future education student.

Best Buddies Service Learning

As an Education major you could participate in Best Buddies, a national charitable organization dedicated to enhancing communities through one-to-one friendships between our students and individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Best Buddies program is grounded in the belief that friendship is important to the process of individual development and thus uses friendship as a medium to aid individuals with intellectual disabilities in becoming a part of their communities. By having a student friend, Buddies are able to explore their world with a peer who brings empathy, laughter and support. Students communicate with their buddy weekly, and meet with them several times each semester.

St. Francis CARES

St. Francis CARES is a community outreach program offering social skills instruction to children on the Autism Spectrum living in the communities surrounding the university. Students in the Education Program, under the direct supervision of an Education Department faculty member, have the opportunity to teach individualized lessons to elementary or high school students, on the campus of the university.

Field Experiences

Field experiences are off-campus activities that provide you with opportunities to apply theories and concepts studied in the classroom. These experiences are directed by University faculty, facilitated by teacher mentors, and are an integral part of all education courses leading up to student teaching. Activities include, but are not limited to, observing, tutoring, mini-teaching, lesson planning, and developing instructional materials. Field experiences may take place in public or non-public schools, or in community agencies approved by University faculty.

Student Teaching

The student teaching semester is a significant period in the teacher preparation program. It represents both an end -- to undergraduate professional education -- and a beginning -- to the wonderful and challenging career of teaching. It is both a requirement -- for certification -- and an opportunity to prove that the beginning professional deserves to belong to the learning community which the field of education should signify, perhaps more than any other. Education Club. The Education Club is open to any student interested in pursuing teaching as a career, or in promoting the advancement of teaching.This club meets periodically and sponsors a variety of events such as guest speakers, service activities, and the American Education Week celebration.

Study Abroad/Mission Trips

Our students have served as part of the Education Team on the HUGS United mission trip to the Dominican Republic as well as taken part in other study abroad and service-related opportunities.