C.L.A.S.S. and Preparation of Teachers
The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences has a pivotal role in the preparation of teachers for the 21st Century. This role includes single-subject credential programs, support and core courses for the liberal studies major, supplemental outreach arts and literacy programs to serve pupils in the K-12 education system, and department efforts to support teachers and students in the K-12 system. The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is proud of its contribution to the preparation of teachers.
Preparation for Single Subject Credentials:
- C.L.A.S.S. offers four single subject programs, with 144 students currently enrolled.
- 350 undergraduate C.L.A.S.S. students are currently in major options that will lead to a credential program in these same disciplines.
- Approximately 75 students in the History and English Master of Arts programs are working to advance themselves in their current teaching positions. A significant number of English M.A. students go on to teach in community colleges.
- Liberal studies pre-credential students enroll in between 94 and 114 units (depending upon the program) in CLASS disciplines.
C.L.A.S.S. Programs and Collaborations in Support of K-12 Education:
- The Academy for Literacy through the Arts program provides high quality afterschool programs at low or no cost to children and youth in the Pomona area. The purpose of the program is to introduce students to various facets of the arts in order to stimulate their interest in learning, thereby increasing their literacy and language arts skills. The program also sponsors the Summer Arts Academy which provides for meaningful learning experiences during the summer for middle and high school aged youth at low or no cost to the students.
- During the summer of 2005, the first Teacher Institute on Non-Violence and Social Change took place, hosting 30 participants. This important institute was hosted by the Ahimsa Center.
- C.L.A.S.S. enjoys a collaboration with the The School of Arts and Enterprise (The SAE), a public, charter, college preparatory high school in the Pomona Arts Colony. Students of the SAE are given the opportunity annually to display their work in a gallery setting at the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center.
- The Ennis Cosby Friendmobile offers educational and psychological testing, tutoring, mentoring, and parent-skill building--annually serving 120 children and their families, and involving 20-25 Cal Poly Pomona students (Psychology/Sociology majors) in volunteerism and service learning.
- C.L.A.S.S., in collaboration with 3 of the other colleges at CPP, completed a major HUD grant where more than 1,000 children were served during the past 4 years by dozens of CPP students and faculty, offering tutoring, mentoring, and cultural education.
- The Pomona Peer Theatre Program involves theatre department faculty and students, in collaboration with Pomona Unified School District to enroll approximately 40 high school students to launch a production. They write, produce, direct, develop the technical aspects, and then tour the show through local middle and high schools.
- Los Angeles Opera, in collaboration with Pomona Unified School District, the First Baptist Church of Pomona, and CLASS facilitate a field trip for 800 children in the 4th - 6th grades to attend an opera performance in Pomona. Prior to the performance, the teachers receive lesson plans and materials to create a meaningful and educational experience for the children.
Department-Based Support of K-12 Education:
- The Theatre Department's High School Scene Festival hosts 14 local schools and up to 500 students each January. The morning matinee program serves up to 400 students each quarter in presenting Main Stage productions.
- Music Department faculty and student performers visit 15-20 high schools annually with faculty-to-faculty consultations and ensemble performances.
- The Motor Development Clinic annually serves more than 135 children with motor skill development and behavior problems. It involves 10-20 adapted physical education students in learning by doing.
- Geography has significant involvement in the Science Olympiad which brought over 1,000 elementary, middle school, and high school students to Cal Poly Pomona.
- Service Learning opportunities for students within various departments allowed them to work with teachers in local schools to teach a concept or lesson (e.g. California geography to 4th graders; the scientific method to high school students; Shakespeare to 8-10 year old children).
