Urban Teacher Track
What is the Urban Teacher Track?
The Urban Teacher Track offers special sections of EGP, MGP, and dual major courses for students who are especially interested in becoming strong, adaptable, and confident teachers in diverse school settings. Participants learn practical strategies for teaching students from a wide range of racial, cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds. They develop skills to build relationships with students and families, draw on community strengths, navigate classroom challenges, and teach in ways that promote equity, social justice, and racial justice. Courses are flexible -- you can start with one and decide if you want to take more. No prior urban school experience is required and the skills you gain will strengthen your teaching wherever you teach.
Urban teacher Track Pacing Guide
How do I arrange to spend a morning shadowing a teacher in one of WCU's Urban Partner schools?
Email Dr. Sylvester at psylvester@wcupa.edu to arrange this.
May I request to student teach at one of WCU's Partner schools?
Yes! At the information session preceding student teaching, you can specify one of our Urban Partner schools for placement. This is a special arrangement for Urban Partner schools only, and is not available at other schools and placements.
Are there different courses in the Urban Teacher Track than in the regular programs?
Urban Teacher Track courses are the same courses required for EGP and MGP, but with an urban lens. There are no new courses in the UTT. The sections that are part of the Urban Teacher Track meet all of the required course objectives.
A pacing guide with suggested electives is available.
How are sections in the Urban Teacher Track different than sections that are not part of it? What does it mean for a course to have an urban lens?
Courses in the Urban Teacher Track pay special attention to topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion in an urban context. While these issues may occur in other contexts, they are often the most pressing in urban settings. The faculty who teach in the UTT have experience and interest in teaching in an urban context. Urban Teacher Track courses with field components will have placements in urban schools.
What are the courses in the Urban Teacher Track?
The Urban Teaching Track pacing guide is available. The pacing guide shows recommendations for the semester to take each course. Taking courses in the recommended semesters facilitates going through those semesters with many of the same group of students.
Courses in the Urban Teacher Track have the .44 suffix in their course number. The exception to that is EGP 400, which uses the .90 suffix because it is an online course.
Do I have to be sure that I want to end up teaching in urban schools?
No, you don’t need to know whether you will teach in an urban school; the skills you learn will prepare you to teach in any school.
Is it true that you can have some student loans forgiven by working in schools with economically disadvantaged students?
Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness up to $17,500 if you teach full-time for five consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency. See their website for more
Additionally, through the Teach Grants you can receive $4000 per year toward tuition by committing to teaching in schools with lower income.
Is it true that you can receive $4000 per year towards your tuition by committing to teach in urban schools with low income populations?
Yes. See details are available on the TEACH Grants website.
Will taking courses in the Urban Teacher Track interfere with or delay my ability to gain Teacher Candidacy or graduate on time?
Taking courses in the Urban Teacher Track will not interfere with or delay your ability to gain Teacher Candidacy or graduate on time.
I’m interested. What do I do next?
- Find a course with the UTT Suffix .44 and sign up.
- If you have questions contact Dr. Paul Sylvester at psylvester@wcupa.edu
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just take one course? What semester do I start?
You can take any or all the Urban Teacher Track courses. You can join the Track at any point in your time at West Chester after the completion of your first semester, although for most programs, UTT courses begin in Semester 3.
What semester can I start taking courses in the Urban Teacher Track?
You can join the Track at any point in your time at West Chester after the completion of your first semester, although for most programs UTT courses begin in Semester 3.
Do I need to apply to be part of the UTT?
You do not need to apply to be part of the Urban Teacher Track. Just sign up for one or more of the sections designated as part of the Track with the course suffix .44. So, for example, the Urban Teacher Track section of EGP220 is EGP 220.44.
What is the is Youth Empowerment and Urban Studies (YES) Minor? Is it part of the Urban Teacher Track?
The Youth Empowerment and Urban Studies minor is perfect complement to the Urban Teacher Track. We recommend starting with YES 250: Introduction to Youth and Urban Community Work. Course descriptions can be found here.
How do I complete the track? Are there courses required to be part of the Urban Teacher Track?
While students are encouraged to take all of the Urban Teacher Track courses for their program there is no required number of courses. We want students to feel free to begin taking the UTT courses at any time in their career at West Chester.