Learning Opportunities

Hands-on learning is at the core of all our majors.

In any major or minor in the education, department, you’ll have numerous opportunities to apply what you’re learning, conduct research, and gain experience. It’s all part of how we equip you with skills that transfer to any career.

And you’ll be able to get involved right away. Bethel’s size and vibrant community present opportunities for you to get involved from your first day on campus. 

Student teaching and classroom experience

From your first semester, you’ll have numerous classroom experiences in a range of diverse classroom settings in our partner schools: metro and urban schools in public, private, charter, immersion, STEM, magnet, and International Baccalaureate (IB) structures. We've forged many innovative partnerships that allow us to make this extensive experience possible because we believe real-world experience from day one will equip our students to confidently lead a classroom.

You’ll spend a semester student teaching for 14 weeks, full time, in a local classroom. And we have many partnerships with area schools that will help you find the best fit that suits your goals. 

Clinical practice

All Bethel, you'll have the opportunity to apply what you're learning in real classroom settings. And we have many partnerships with teachers, schools, and districts that give students like you the in-depth experience you'll need to be a successful teacher.

Connections and networking

You’ll be able to participate in two networking and recruiting events each year hosted by the department:

• Principal panel. Every fall, principals representing all grade levels, public, private, Christian, and charter schools attend an event on campus. We invite graduates who are teaching locally to participate alongside the principals. Prospective students are invited to attend this event.
• Bethel Advance. Each spring, you can attend a recruiting and interview night, similar to a career fair. School leaders from around the area host a table where they can speak with interested candidates and hold a spontaneous interview if desired.

Here, we've compiled helpful electronic resources for current Bethel students and their supervising teachers to help them make the most out of their clinical experience.

Learn more

Student clubs

You can join the Bethel Student Educator’s Association, a student-led academic club that strives to build community within the education department. You’ll be able to attend club events aimed at supporting your future as an educator and connect with your fellow education majors. You can explore your interests through 30+ clubs and intramural sports on campus.

Study abroad

You’ll have many options for studying abroad over a full semester, January session, spring break, and the summer, including Exploring British Education and Culture, a study abroad course over January for education majors.

Writing opportunities

Especially if you major in communication arts and literature education, you’ll also be able to write for The Clarion student newspaper, the Coeval student literary journal, or the Textura magazine. You can also submit your creative work for consideration to win an annual cash Jerry Healy Poetry Prize. And you can attend on-campus theatre productions and readings along with others around the Twin Cities. 

Music and performance

If you’re a music education major, you’ll find opportunities to perform and enhance your skills through several ensembles. 

On-campus employment

You’ll be able to work on campus as a teaching assistant (TA) or as a tutor in Bethel’s Academic Enrichment and Support Center.