West Hartford's USJ Expands Education Degrees Due To Teacher Shortage

University of Saint Joseph

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) recently announced three new education degree programs beginning this fall in response to the teacher shortage in Connecticut.

The new degree offerings aim to attract students to the teaching profession and to provide professional development options for teachers already in the classroom.

With collaboration between education faculty, state Department of Education advisory groups,
students/alumni and analysis of the needs of current teachers and the demand for
educators, USJ will now offer:

• Bachelor of science in elementary education.

• Graduate certificate in dyslexia and reading disabilities.

• Graduate concentration-master of arts in education with a concentration in
personalized professional pathways (MAPPP).

"The state Department of Education and USJ’s faculty worked together to review the curriculum,
accreditation standards and the needs of Connecticut schools. The curriculum for each of the
degrees was created through the integration of “existing robust courses in new pathways,” said Ashley Oldham, chair and associate professor for the USJ Department of Education.

“As the need for support and continuous professional development increases in the face of
serious teacher shortages in Connecticut, programs to sustain and energize educators already
in the classroom have become a priority,” said Oldham.

For more information on the new USJ educational program offerings, click on this link.