Education • Carthage College

At A Glance

Teachers might stand at the head of the class, but the good ones never stop studying. As a Carthage student, you will open your mind to diverse ideas and commit to lifelong learning.

Degrees

Elementary Education (Grades 1-8)
Special Education (K-12)
Social Science Education (5-12)

Minors

Urban Education (1-8 or 5-12)
Natural Science/STEM (1-8)
Broad Field Science* (5-12)
Secondary Education* (5-12)
Educational Studies

* with major in chosen subject area

Special Programs:

Carthage offers emphases in Art Education, Music Education, Physical Education, and Theatre Education.

View Degree Requirements

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Merging theory and practice, the Teacher Education Program cultivates highly competent, caring, and committed teachers. Carthage firmly believes in experiential learning, sending teacher candidates into local schools early and often to observe, plan, and teach lessons.

As firm believers in experiential learning, we send teacher candidates to local schools early and often to observe, plan, and teach lessons. By the time you begin the official student teaching semester, you will already have spent more than 100 hours in classrooms.

<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36107_4697_163701665847155.rev.1666985725.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36107_4697_163701665847155.rev.1666985725.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36107_4697_163701665847155.rev.1666985725.jpg" alt="Alexyn Cervantes" width="183" height="183" data-max-w="300" data-max-h="400" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because one of my best friends attends Carthage, and he highly recommended both the <a href="/academics/majors-minors/education/">education</a> and <a href="/academics/majors-minors/theatre/">theatre</a> departments to me. The <a href="/about/location-and-map/lake-michigan-photography/">lake</a> is a big bonus too.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2133-alexyn-cervantes">Alexyn Cervantes</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.jpg" alt="Julia Kazupski 23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1082,1122/564_Julia_Kazupski.rev.1638389810.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1082" data-max-h="1122" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Other students should consider a major in education because there is absolutely nothing better than this field. Majoring in education allows you to prepare students to lead amazing lives.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/475-julia-kazupski">Julia Kazupski</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg" alt="Madison Payne" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1170" data-max-h="1170" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Having positive relationships with the faculty here has helped me to create more opportunities for myself at Carthage, and it’s great knowing that I can reach out to any past or present professors if I need help.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2437-">Madison Payne</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,453,584/36387_Eva.rev.1668610248.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,453,584/36387_Eva.rev.1668610248.webp 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,453,584/36387_Eva.rev.1668610248.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,453,584/36387_Eva.rev.1668610248.jpg" alt="Eva Menzia ?25" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,453,584/36387_Eva.rev.1668610248.jpg 2x" data-max-w="453" data-max-h="584" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “During my freshman year alone, I learned so much about becoming a future educator, and I genuinely believe it’s because of the experienced professors I had!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2144-eva-menzia">Eva Menzia</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/19/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,375,503/33310_Noemi-Joann-Norman.rev.1644432850.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/19/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,375,503/33310_Noemi-Joann-Norman.rev.1644432850.webp 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/19/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,375,503/33310_Noemi-Joann-Norman.rev.1644432850.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/19/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,375,503/33310_Noemi-Joann-Norman.rev.1644432850.jpg" alt="Noemi Joann Norman ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/19/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,375,503/33310_Noemi-Joann-Norman.rev.1644432850.jpg 2x" data-max-w="375" data-max-h="503" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Other students should consider the art education major if they want to share their skills with others or if they have a passion for art…”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1515-">Noemi Joann Norman</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,443,444/36436_4847_163701665847155.rev.1669737299.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,443,444/36436_4847_163701665847155.rev.1669737299.webp 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,443,444/36436_4847_163701665847155.rev.1669737299.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,443,444/36436_4847_163701665847155.rev.1669737299.jpg" alt="Kiannah Hayes" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/116/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,443,444/36436_4847_163701665847155.rev.1669737299.jpg 2x" data-max-w="443" data-max-h="444" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The staff at every center on campus — whether it’s the financial aid desk, The Aspire Center, or the Registrar’s Office — are there to help you.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2200-">Kiannah Hayes</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.JPG" alt="Aubrey Schoeneman" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/45/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,56,600,656/36816_6062_163701665847155.rev.1675122295.JPG 3x" data-max-w="600" data-max-h="600" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Education is changing rapidly, and the world needs good teachers. My advice would be to create a strong relationship with those they work with: their peers, professors, and cooperating teachers in the field. There is so much to learn from others. Always keep an open mind and dedicate yourself to becoming a lifelong learner.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2274-aubrey-schoeneman">Aubrey Schoeneman</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.jpg" alt="Lily Stockheimer" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/50/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,150,1242,1391/36109_4561_163701665847155.rev.1667177755.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1242" data-max-h="1241" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage for the small school size and the feel of the community. I really liked the <a href="/academics/majors-minors/exercise-sport-science/">exercise and sport science program</a> and the well-rounded education that Carthage had to offer. Plus, the <a href="/about/location-and-map/lake-michigan-photography/">views</a> are breathtaking.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2134-">Lily Stockheimer</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Experiential Learning

Count on immersing yourself in local elementary, middle, or secondary schools throughout your time at Carthage — beginning with your first semester as a teacher candidate. Students have access to a variety of elementary, middle, and high schools in many different neighborhoods, giving students robust and diverse experiences in urban and suburban settings. The faculty is devoted to ongoing professional development, community involvement, and high-quality field experiences for their students.

Equipped to Innovate

Alumni of the Teacher Education Program teach in a wide variety of settings, primarily in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois but also throughout the world. Others have gone on to work in children’s ministry or to pursue graduate studies in their specializations.

Carthage alumni regularly win county, state, and national awards for their caring, innovative approaches to teaching.

Recent honors include:

Wisconsin Teacher of the Year — 2020
Middle-Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year (National Council for the Social Studies) — 2013
Wisconsin PTA Elementary Teacher of the Year — 2011
Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching — 2003

Advanced Education

Carthage also offers graduate degrees, including a Master of Education program (with several areas of concentration) and a Master of Music in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. Existing teachers can pursue add-on licenses in areas such as reading and English as a second language (ESL).

Learn more about the Master’s Programs at Carthage

Review the Carthage report submitted in compliance with Section 207 of the Title II of the Higher Education Act