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Summer session provides learning options for teachers

By Katherine Hedland '88

The Coats performed during on of last summers Fruit Festivals. More campus events and academic programs are being planned this year by the Summer Sessions office.

Teachers and other professionals who want to work their way into the classroom can do some intensive studying at PLU during the summer months. The Summer Sessions Office coordinates several master’s in education pro-grams, in addition to its other special programs.

“We have lots of opportunities for professional educators,” said Lynn Beck, dean of the School of Education. “Summer is the time for them to take classes.”

Many of the academic programs that start in the summer are aimed at teachers, who have time during the summer to continue their education. There are workshops for advanced placement teachers and programs that endorse teachers in four areas in which there are now shortages: special education, reading, English as a second language and media services.

Also offered is an innovative master’s program run in conjunction with the Tacoma School District to train teachers to deal with “urban learners,” focusing on issues such as poverty and language.

“It’s a very powerful program that we are excited about,” Beck said.

It is known as a cohort program—all students move at the same pace through a 14-month curriculum that begins in the summer, then continues on nights and Saturdays. During the school year, classes meet in downtown Tacoma.

PLU also offers a master’s in literacy educa-tion, a master’s in education administration, and a teacher certification program for professionals who have degrees in other areas, but want to teach. PLU graduates get a discount on tuition.

The Summer Sessions Office also offers Middle College, which helps students make the adjustment from high school to college; Summer Scholars, a three-week residential program for gifted fourth- through 11th-graders; music and sports camps and programs for the community, such as “Jazz Under the Stars” and the summer fruit festivals. The title of this summer’s programs is Odyssey 2001, and courses will follow the theme of “journeys.” In addition, about 220 graduate and undergraduate courses are offered this summer.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PLU SUMMER SESSION, GO TO www.plu.edu/encore.