早年
From its infancy, teacher training at 西雅图 Pacific thrived. 师范学校, 这是当时的叫法, began in 1921 with formal curriculum, 设施, 和老师. Its establishment was one of President Orrin Tiffany's primary goals as a way of serving the 家庭 in the region. Organized and directed for the next 19 years by the legendary Candis Nelson, the teacher-training program progressed rapidly, and in 1922 a joint committee from the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Education voted for its formal accreditation.
During its first year, there were two graduates of the Normal School’s two-year course of study. By 1940, there were 27 graduates of a three-year curriculum and 41 graduates of a four-year curriculum. Guided by another great leader-educator, 维维安拉森, the program continued to produce teachers, 数量迅速增长, who earned a reputation as among the finest in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The first Master of Education degree was awarded at the end of the 1954–55 school year. In 1973, 西雅图 Pacific created the 教育学院 in recognition of the increasing numbers of programs being offered and students being served in the discipline of education.
In 1976, the continuing education program was initiated, and the first doctoral degree program was begun in 1993 at the request of school 负责人 in the region. SPU’s first online master's degree program was established in 1999.
Today
The original teacher education program has grown into a 教育学院 offering undergraduate and post-baccalaureate teacher certification, 博士课程, 硕士学位课程, graduate certification programs, an online program that allows students anywhere in the world to earn their MEd degree, and a Center for Professional Education.
While many students train to become teachers, others prepare for roles as school counselors, 校长, 负责人, 民政事务处人员, or professors in higher education. 总共, thousands of educators have graduated from 西雅图 Pacific over nearly a century — making SPU one of the five Washington colleges and universities that have graduated the most educators.