Departmental Philosophy

Psychologist and philosopher William James said, "The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." It is this belief—that our work educating tomorrow's leaders will impact many generations to come—which forms the basis of the Educational Foundations Department philosophy.

The ability to think straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, some skill to do useful service, some urge to fit that service into the well-being of the community—these are the most vital things education must try to produce. — Virginia Gildersleeve

A foundation is something that supports. It has longevity; it provides stability. It lasts.

To that end, we draw further inspiration from an ancient monument built in several stages from 2800-1800 BC that still stands on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Stonehenge. Thought to have been designed for observing astronomical phenomena, it has captured imaginations for centuries. We see it, still firmly in place thousands of years hence, as a powerful metaphor for the solid and lasting foundation we seek to add to human knowledge through our teaching and research.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. — Einstein

If you seek to inspire, challenge, and engage the students of tomorrow—that is, help build a solid foundation through education, you are in the right place. We invite you to investigate our six programs:

Adult Education, M.S.
Adult Education (Graduate Certificate)
Career and Technical Education, M.S.
Career and Technical Education, B.S.
Career and Technical Education (Certification Only)
Human Resource Development (Graduate Certificate)