The Educational Studies minor has undergone several changes since the last academic year.

Instead of completing their teacher licensure during the four years at Macalester, students must now spend at least a semester at another institution after graduation in order to meet state standards for licensing.

To complete the minor, students have always had to major in an area related to their teaching interests in order to have a strong liberal arts background in the subject. However, the department found that the coursework became too much for many to finish within four years.

“In effect, all of our licensing students are double majors,” said Ruthanne Kurth-Schai, Educational Studies chair and associate professor of Education.

With requirements rising over the last few years, students would often return to Macalester for an extra semester in order to fulfill what was necessary for either the minor or their major.

Kurth-Schai said the college still wanted to maintain a commitment to preparing students to become teachers, but with less stress involved.

According to the new outline, those graduating in May 2005 may still complete teaching licensure at Macalester.

Students who will minor in Educational Studies after this date will have two emphases to choose from: Teaching and Learning or Education and Society.

The Teaching and Learning emphasis is a bridge program designed for students who are interested in pursuing a teaching license after graduation. Having completed a set of courses at Macalester, students then have the option of receiving a license within the next year at one of the cooperating institutions: the University of Minnesota, Hamline, St. Thomas, Augsburg or St. Catherine’s.

The bridge program serves as a formal agreement so that students can be certain that they will be able to complete the licensure program at one of the five schools.

The Education and Society emphasis focuses on exploring the interdisciplinary aspects of education. Minors propose an integrative theme such as urban education or youth development.

“This emphasis provides in-depth consideration about the educational implications of your major,” Kurth-Schai said.

Michelle Bemis ’04 will complete her teacher licensure this year. She has had to take extra summer classes and plans to student-teach after graduation. “I think it will be somewhat easier for the students coming in,” Bemis said in reference to the additional time that will be offered for licensure.

Nicole Giardina ’07 said that she finds the change unnecessary. “I think that it’s ironic that an institution based on the foundations of education doesn’t recognize the importance of encouraging its students to become teachers.”