Department of Education

All of us can remember a favorite teacher who made a major impact on our lives.  If you want to be a passionate, inspiring teacher for your students, our education programs will give you a great foundation for a rewarding career.

Our education programs prepare confident, versatile, creative teachers prepared to work in a variety of settings. Our alumni are employed in early childhood centers, public and private schools, higher education institutions, and at the highest levels of education administration.

With job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers expected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, the demand for teachers will remain strong.

The UHart Difference

• Real-world learning begins right away - you’ll have classroom experience beginning your first semester of your first year.

• With five schools on campus or within walking distance, we have multiple opportunities for teacher training right in our backyard.

• Our bachelor’s degree in Integrated Elementary and Special Education allows you to earn two Connecticut certifications in four years, which opens doors to many more career options.

• Our Montessori concentrations allow you to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree with an internationally recognized Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma in one program.

• Undergraduates can pursue research with our experienced faculty members.

• Our honors program provides exceptional academic and co-curricular experiences for students seeking advanced inquiry and deeper exploration in education.

• Class sizes are small, and you’ll receive ample individual mentoring from our faculty.

At the graduate level, we offer programs to support you at various stages of your career, including master’s degree programs in early childhood, elementary and special education as well as a Montessori concentration. Our doctoral program in educational leadership offers advanced training to mid-career adults interested in shaping their postsecondary education work environments into dynamic learning communities.

From Classroom to Career

Through clinical experiences at approximately 55 partner schools throughout the state, you’ll gain the skills and training to become confident leading a classroom.  Fieldwork, practica and student teaching experiences take place throughout your program.

Principals, assistant principals, and teachers from our partner schools also meet with us regularly to help shape our clinical experiences and curriculum, ensuring they are meaningful and relevant in the changing landscape of education.

Our programs weave together coursework, clinical experiences, and preparation for Praxis exams to help students successfully obtain State of Connecticut certification.

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Majors

• Early Childhood Education (BS)
• Elementary Education (BS)
• Integrated Elementary and Special Education (BS)
• Montessori Concentration (BA, BS)

Undergraduate Minors

• Teacher Education

Graduate Programs

• Early Childhood Education (MEd)
• Elementary Education (MEd)
• Special Education (MEd)
• Montessori Concentration (MEd)
• Educational Leadership (EdD)

Additional Programs

These programs are offered in partnership with other University of Hartford schools and colleges:

• English Secondary Education - College of Arts & Sciences
• Mathematics Secondary Education - College of Arts & Sciences
• Music Education - The Hartt School

Department Contacts

Lisa Zawilinski, Chair
Education Department
860.768.5718
zawilinsk@hartford.edu

Silvia Baptista, Office Coordinator
860.768.5734
baptista@hartford.edu

Brayson Grant, Office Coordinator - Clinical Experiences
860.768.4773
bgrant@hartford.edu

Michael Panicello, Coordinator of Assessment & Accreditation 
860.768.5964
panicello@hartford.edu