Teacher Education Program 

The Teacher Education Program at Pacific Oaks College is a small, established, fully accredited program built around constructivist and social justice principles. Guided by our Mission Statement, we prepare candidates who think critically about diversity, culture and power in the classroom; who understand that learning is a social, cultural, and cognitive process; and who maintain teacher professionalism while implementing state-adopted standards and curriculum.

With about 150 candidates active in the program we maintain each class size to no more than 22.  Offering all of the benefits of a small school: individual attention, faculty availability, and a close-knit learning community, students feel like they are known and that they belong.  Our students include career changers, community college students transferring in, UC and CSU graduates, homemakers returning to school, and already practicing teachers.       

Our academic program weaves both coursework and fieldwork together each semester, ensuring that candidates have frequent opportunities to integrate their learning.  Our faculty are diverse in background, interests and areas of specialization.  Our classes meet afternoons, evenings and weekends as many of our students complete their degrees and credentials while they hold jobs and support families. 

These combined elements are ways in which we uniquely serve and prepare our candidates for the important work as future educators, mentors and great teachers of children.