The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is currently based on ASU’s Tempe campus, but soon it will be offering two degrees only at the Downtown campus.
The Teachers College will offer two bachelor’s of the arts in education degrees focused in elementary education. The first will be specialized in English as a second language and bilingual education, while the second will be specialized in art-based reflective teaching, said Erica Mitchell, director of academic services for the Teachers College.
Mitchell said the school would also offer their new degree option, Educational Studies, at the Downtown campus, which will work well with many of the education-related agencies in Phoenix.
“Students often don’t think of the Downtown Phoenix campus until they take a tour, so we encourage students to jump on the light rail or the intercampus shuttle and see for themselves all that the campus has to offer,” she said.
Carmen Newland, director of academic services and student outreach for the Teachers College, said the Downtown campus offers the same small-community feel as Mary Lou Fulton, which the school wants to continue on another campus.
“The Teachers College students have built a strong community with one another both in and out of the classroom through taking classes together, creating study groups and building friendships outside of the classroom,” Newland said.
Newland said education students who enroll Downtown would also have the support of an adviser in the Mercado building and the opportunity to build a strong relationship with the same person throughout their academic career.
“The Teachers College Downtown is very one-on-one, which is great because Tempe is a big school, and I think that Downtown has a lot to offer,” said Julie Scalise, a junior studying elementary education and an ambassador for the Teachers College.
Scalise, who is Tempe-based, said she has not taken classes Downtown, but she was aware of the opportunity and would if she had the chance.
The Teachers College is also encouraging students at the high-school level to enroll at the Downtown campus.
Mitchell said the school is working with high schools near the Downtown campus to encourage enrollment through a new program called Education Exploratory Track, which will be implemented in the fall.
The track will allow students who do not know what grade level or content area they want to teach to begin as an education major without selecting their degree program as a freshmen.
“The Exploratory Track is great because we have a lot of students that come in that will transfer in or out of the program, and it is a smooth transition and good opportunity for students to see if they like teaching,” Scalise said.
Mitchell said that after taking tours at the Downtown campus, students fall in love with the urban environment, and the education college is working hard to encourage more enrollment Downtown for that reason.
“It may be attending the First Fridays events, exploring the many local businesses or volunteering their time at ASU Preparatory Academy — teaching students how to dance or play a sport — the students fall in love with the downtown campus,” Mitchell said.
Contact the reporter at marlee.bever@asu.edu
