LMU’s teacher preparation programs offer students the chance to practice their skills in real-world settings, conduct research, and explore a variety of career options.
Engaged Learning and Clinical Practice Experiences
Teacher preparation students engage in fieldwork in real classrooms and clinical experiences that give them the opportunity to implement the theories and pedagogies from their coursework. Once you begin taking credential coursework, you’ll be assigned to partner K-12 schools for hands-on engagement with mentor teachers and their students. This experience begins with the first credential course you take. Upon completing coursework requirements, you’ll have also completed more than 600 hours of fieldwork.
Research Opportunities
You’ll have ample opportunities to conduct faculty-guided research, even while fulfilling a demanding course load. Students in our teacher preparation programs:
- Do in-depth research and present findings at the Education and Learning Sciences Capstone symposium on a global issue of particular relevance, as a student in the course LBST 4900, “Education & Global Issues.”
- Work with a faculty mentor on student-generated research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), the McNair Scholars program, or as a summer intern.
- Present their work at LMU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium.
- Lead an Alternative Break Trip
Career Pathways
There are many viable career options for LMU’s teacher preparation students. Your degree and credential put you in high demand in California and beyond. Opportunities our students explore include but are not limited to the below:
- Working as an elementary or secondary school teacher in public, charter, or private schools
- Participating in a teaching fellowship or a post-baccalaureate service year
- Working in a bilingual setting for students who earn a bilingual authorization in Spanish or Mandarin
- Attending graduate school to earn a master’s degree to boost their earning potential. Some students enroll in LMU’s Educational Studies Integrated 4+1 Program to earn an M.A. in just one year. LMU also has two mission-driven graduate programs with a focus on Catholic schools: CAST (Catholic Archdiocesan School Teachers) and PLACE (Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education).