The School of Education offers four degree programs: the Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Bilingual/English as a Second Language Education, the Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Elementary Education (with options in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education), the Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Middle Level Education, and the Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Special Education. The primary purpose of the Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle Level Education, and Special Education programs is to prepare candidates to become educational practitioners who engage in informed action that is grounded in knowledge and reflection, who are deeply committed to the highest standards of professional practice, who are able to adapt to emerging social, economic, and cultural landscapes, who are skilled in the use of technological tools that promote teaching and learning, and who are committed to empowering all learners. The programs provide students with a foundation of general studies, a scope and sequence of carefully designed professional courses emphasizing exploratory, experiential, student-centered teaching and learning, and extensive experiences observing and working with children in a variety of classroom settings. Field experiences begin early in each program and gradually increase through the senior year, culminating in student teaching.