From the Archives

1854

Brockway College organized a Preparatory and a Normal Department. “The Normal Department is designed to embrace the solid and ornamental branches of a finished English Education, together with the Modern Languages. Particular attention will be paid to those preparing to teach. In addition to a thorough drilling in the elementary branches, frequent lectures will be given on a school discipline, and the best methods of imparting instruction.”

1867

Of the four members of Ripon College’s first graduating class, Luthera Harriet Adams, Harriet Hemans Brown and Susan Ann Wright Salisbury all became teachers.

1870s-1906

The only education course taught at the College is in the Philosophy Department with President Emeritus Edward Merrell.

1907

Dr. William Mutch is hired to replace Edward Merrell in the Philosophy Department. Mutch brings expertise in pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching), and the department is renamed the Philosophy and Pedagogy Department.

1908

The Philosophy and Pedagogy Department is broken into three departments: Philosophy, Pedagogy and Religious Education. All three departments are led by Mutch.

1921

The Department of Philosophy and Education is divided. A new professor, J. Clark Graham, became the head of the new department, the Department of Psychology and Education.

1950s

Twelve courses are offered in the Education Department, led by its only faculty member, J. Frederic Andrews. Courses of study include secondary education, physical education and music education.

1960

Elementary Education program is introduced.

1972

Several courses are revamped and new courses are added like “The American Public School.”

1992

Major revisions to the course offerings are made because of a program review by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. New certifications are offered in elementary education (grades 1-6), elementary/middle education (grades 1-9), secondary/middle education (grades 6-12), secondary education (grades 9-12), physical education (grades K-12) and music education (grades K-12).

2001

Early Childhood Education major and minor programs added to the curriculum.

2010

Art Education certification program is offered in partnership with UW-Oshkosh.

2018

Dual certification program is offered for students to licensure in elementary education (grades 1-8) and special education (grades K-8) with a joint program through UW-Oshkosh.

2019

The Department of Educational Studies offers more than two dozen courses leading to teacher licensure, an educational studies major or minor, or a combination of licensure with a major or minor.