College of Education

DEPARTMENTS

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  Curriculum & Instruction

  Our award-winning teacher-preparation program gives students invaluable classroom experience with support from experienced mentors. At the graduate level, our degrees deepen students’ research skills and content knowledge for career advancement. Together, we're making an impact in schools across the region.

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  Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

  Our graduate programs prepare aspiring principals, superintendents, special education professionals, higher education administrators and other scholars committed to transformative leadership. We also offer undergraduate minors in special populations and Asian-American studies.

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  Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences

  With a focus on improving wellness and quality of life, we offer undergraduate degrees in health and human development and family studies. We also offer graduate degrees in counseling, counseling psychology, school psychology, and measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences.

NEWS & FEATURES

• More stories
• News briefs
• Media mentions

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  Top Graduates Ready to Transform Education

  Thirteen top graduates share their goals and advice on how to earn 4.0 GPAs. “Do not be afraid to ask questions, seek help when needed, stay focused, be positive and believe in yourself,” said Larry Chan, who is graduating with a B.S. in teaching and learning.

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  Faculty, Students to Present on Educational Equity at AERA

  Dozens of UH College of Education members will share their research on teacher preparation, STEM education, learning during the pandemic, and more at the 2022 American Educational Research Association conference in San Diego.

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  School Psychology Student Leads with Empathy

  An immigrant from Costa Rica, Ph.D. student Elías Loría once struggled to assimilate to a new culture. He’s now using his voice to advocate for social justice as president of UH’s Graduate and Professional Student Association.

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  Professor to Transform Statistics Education

  Assistant Professor Travis Weiland received a nearly $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to improve statistics education in middle and high schools by creating a supportive professional development program for teachers.

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  Professor Earns National Science Foundation Role

  Elsa Gonzalez will have the opportunity to help improve student success in STEM fields as a newly selected program director for NSF. “It’s a very important opportunity because of the impact it can have in underrepresented communities,” she said.

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  Three-Time Coog Named Houston ISD Academic Chief

  Shawn Bird, who earned an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the College and a B.A. in English, has returned home to help bolster academic performance in the state’s largest district. “You have to invest in the teacher,” he said. “It’s the most important job in society.”

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  Alumni Couple Encourages Coogs to Give Back

  Kelly and Todd Thurber, co-chairs of the College’s Giving Day Campaign, are encouraging donations to support student scholarships. “Think about what this could do for our city,” said Kelly, a teacher for nearly three decades. “Every little bit helps.”

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  Study: Latino Students in Rural Communities Left Behind Amid COVID-19

  Professor Jorge Gonzalez found that one third of the Latino families surveyed in south central Texas did not have access to the internet and over half lacked digital devices. “Our findings are really important because it exposes a digital divide,” he said.

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  Doctoral Student Wins International Teaching Award

  Meg Eubank won a 2022 Teacher of the Year Award for helping nearly 4,000 students from over 100 countries learn English throughout her career. She was recognized by the TESOL International Association in partnership with National Geographic Learning.

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  UHCOE Online Programs Earn High Ranking

  The College’s online master’s degree programs were ranked 14th best in the nation on the 2022 list from U.S. News & World Report. “Our professors, rather than just lecturing at us for three hours, they incorporated breakout rooms. They still made it really engaging,” said recent M.Ed. graduate Elizabeth Rodriguez.

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  Researchers Study Vaccine Hesitancy Amid COVID Rise

  Associate Dean for Research Ezemenari Obasi, who leads the UH HEALTH Research Institute, is working to mitigate COVID risk and illness with culturally responsive strategies. “What we want to do is empower people with strategies that make sense from their cultural standpoint,” Obasi said.

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  Professors’ Program Trains Diverse Nutrition Educators

  Norma Olvera and collaborators received a $500,000 grant to create a paid internship program to increase the number of Hispanic and Black nutrition educators and address health disparities among children of color. “It’s an excellent opportunity,” Olvera said.

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  Fall 2021 Graduates Recognized with Top Honors

  Among the approximately 360 graduates are three first-generation college students and future teachers who maintained 4.0 GPAs. “I am immensely proud of the accomplishments of the class of 2021,” said College of Education Dean Bob McPherson.

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  Study: Anti-Gay Slurs Not Targeted Just at Gay Men

  Associate Professor Nathan Grant Smith explored whether heterosexual men who had their status threatened were more likely to use anti-gay slurs against other heterosexual men. “It is our hope that our research can help men to develop healthy masculinities that lift up all men, gay and straight alike,” Smith said.

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  Professor Finds STEM Stereotypes Begin Young

  Assistant Professor Allison Master’s study found that children develop beliefs as young as six that boys are more interested than girls in STEM fields. “By the time they reach high school, many girls have made their decision not to pursue degrees in computer science and engineering because they feel they don’t belong,” Master said.

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  Professors’ STEM Research Earns $500,000 Grant

  Allison Master and Weihua Fan have developed a series of studies to boost girls’ interest and participation in computer science by counteracting stereotypes. “We are interested in gender disparities in STEM because these have such important implications for our society,” Master said.

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  COVID-19 Stress Hinders Parents’ Ability to Feed Children

  Associate Professor Leslie Frankel’s research found that psychological distress and anxiety induced by the pandemic has made it difficult for parents to gauge when their child is hungry or full, which can harm them in the long run.

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  Assistant Professor Trains Next Generation of School Leaders

  Keith Butcher’s commitment to education and his students earned him a 2021 Teaching Excellence Award from the College. While he handles administrative work as a program director, mentoring and inspiring students will always be his priority.

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  Academic Advisor Prepares Health Undergrads for Success

  In addition to helping students select courses and stay on track to graduate, Meggan Gittens offers encouragement and advice. “You’re on the right path,” she tells them. “You just gotta work hard to get where you want to be.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

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