Concentrations

When it comes to concentrations, compromise elsewhere.

Champlain's B.S. in Education gives you the freedom to pick and choose what and where you teach.

In addition to the immediate classroom experience our Upside-Down Curriculum offers, a distinct feature of the program is the breadth and depth of your concentrations, which all correspond to different teaching licensure endorsements. The flexibility to explore, pair, and combine different concentrations—or even add a minor—means you'll graduate with options in your teaching career and be competitive in the field. Working with a Faculty Advisor, you'll navigate concentration and minor options to declare after your first year that will pave a path ideal for you. For instance, you could concentrate in Middle Grades Social Studies and English Language Arts and explore concepts of equality, access, and human rights through our Social Justice minor.

Concentrations include:

Early Childhood Education Middle Grades Mathematics
Elementary Teacher Education Middle Grades Social Studies
Computer Science Education Concentration Secondary Level English
Middle Grades & Secondary Education Secondary Level Mathematics
Middle Grades English Language Arts Secondary Level Social Studies

Early Childhood Education Concentrations

Is teaching the youngest members of society your personal calling? Do you want to make a lasting impact by creating positive classroom environments for those who need them most? If so, then choosing one or both of the follow concentrations may be the right path for you:

  • Early Childhood Education: Working with ages birth - 8, in early education settings like pre-schools and childcare centers
  • Elementary Teacher Education: Working with ages K - 6, in elementary school settings
  • Computer Science Education Concentration

These concentrations will deepen your passion and strength for working with others and provide opportunities to build the next generation's love of lifelong learning. A career in early childhood or elementary education is boundless: From public and private school systems to social service agencies or specializations in select areas through certification programs or graduate school.

Students in these concentrations can choose to pair them, or may opt for one of Champlain's minors. You can also deepen your understanding of diverse cultures by working with English Language Learners (ELLs) in Burlington and taking advantage of service-learning opportunities locally and internationally.

At Champlain College, not only will you be in your major classes from day one, but by the end of your first semester, you will be in a local daycare or school classroom. Our small class sizes allow you to create strong personal relationships with your professors and other education majors, and numerous opportunities in the Burlington community allow you to engage with many innovative local schools.



Middle Grades Concentrations

Middle school is a pivotal and unique time in which students change, develop new ideas, find their passions, and learn more about themselves and their local and global communities. If you want to be part of a positive support system in this critical stage in their lives, be an influencer or a leader, choosing one or multiple of the following concentrations may be right for you:

  • Computer Science Education Concentration
  • Middle Grades & Secondary Education: teach in grades 6-12
  • Middle Grades English Language Arts: focus on reading, writing, and comprehension
  • Middle Grades Mathematics: focus on division, equations, and probability
  • Middle Grades Social Studies: focus on history, government, and special topics

Teaching middle school students is one of the most worthwhile and rewarding challenges you'll take on. The rapid intellectual and emotional development that happens between ages 10 and 15 makes being an educator of pre-adolescents particularly gratifying-and very often, a ton of fun.

While the subject matter of each Middle Grades concentration varies, they all build Champlain students to become future teachers who can master curriculum design, have a strong baseline in learning theory and adolescent psychology, integrate technology into the classroom, and have licensures and strong professional portfolios.

You'll spend time in the field throughout every semester of study, giving you an impressive background and the confidence that comes with an abundance of firsthand experience. In just your first year, you will accumulate over 30 hours in the field. As part of the curriculum, you'll have the option to work with English Language Learners (ELLs) and diverse learners across various educational settings-from rural, small towns to urban settings-that will challenge you to think in new ways and develop your cultural awareness.



Secondary Level Concentrations

Want to change the world? There's no better place to begin than in the high school classroom. If you're ready to inspire young adults and help them discover what gives them meaning, choosing one or multiple of the following concentrations may be the right path for you: 

  • Computer Science Education Concentration
  • Middle & Secondary Education: teach in grades 6-12
  • Secondary Level English: focus on literature, writing, and drama courses
  • Secondary Level Mathematics: focus on a sequence of math classes including calculus, geometry, and discrete mathematics
  • Secondary Level Social Studies: focus on history, geography, economics, and government

Want to change the world? If you're ready to inspire young adults and help them discover what gives them meaning, by choosing one or multiple of the following concentrations, you can prepare them to become world leaders for social change, engage them in diverse classroom topics and discussions, and inspire communities through positive activism. 

Champlain's program has been structured to equip teachers to rise to the educational challenges of tomorrow while imparting historical knowledge, encouraging healthy communication and expression, and exploring the possibilities of math. You'll have the option to apply for a middle-grades endorsement through concentration pairings, or may choose to minor in topics like Computer Science, Social Justice, Global Studies, or Psychology. Tailoring the Education degree equips students to bring a passion for knowledge, creativity, and equal access to education into any classroom.