Sample Courses
Here are just two great examples of education courses at Montana Western. For a full course selection, please see the course catalog.
EDU 201, Introduction to Education with Field Experience
The first formal course in the Teacher Education Program provides an introduction to the field of education and the relationships between schools and society. Students begin to evaluate the reasons chosen to become a teacher and the effects that decision will have on their lives. Students examine social, cultural, political, legal, economic, and historical issues within schools and how these issues impact professional educators. During this course, students begin to assemble the professional portfolio, which is a requirement for entry into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). The portfolio will be maintained throughout participation in the Teacher Education Program and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Students will complete a field experience in a school setting.
EDU 311, Culture, Diversity and Ethics: Global Education
This is a survey cuorse to acquaint students with the cultural foundations of education. Special emphasis is given to the multicultural and global dimensions of education. In addition, students study educational outcomes for American Indian students. High dropout rates, over-representation in special education, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and poor prospects for employment are endemic in this population of students. This course requires a field experience practicum for four or five days during which candidates engage in observation and practice teaching in Native American reservation schools and evening activities. The course takes place in a diverse setting where exceptionality is present. Assessment is based on projects, reports, exams, and field work.
Education degrees available from Montana Western:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education.
Graduates with this degree will be prepared and licensed to teach any grade in a public elementary school with the following majors:
- Early Childhood Education
- Coaching
- Earth Science
- Industrial Technology (offered through Helena College)
- Life Science
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- Social Studies
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Secondary Education.
Graduates with this degree will be licensed and prepared to teach any one or combination of the following majors:
- Art Education K-12
- Biology
- Business & Computer Applications Education
- Computer Science K-12
- Drama K-12
- Earth Science
- English
- General Science Broadfield
- Health & Human Performance K-12
- History
- Industrial Technology Education (offered through Helena College)
- Interdisciplinary Social Science
- Library Media K-12
- Literacy K-12
- Mathematics
- Music Education K-12
- Physical Education & Health K-12
- Special Education K-12
- Coaching Option
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education.
Graduates with this degree will be prepared to assume leadership roles as early childhood teachers. The degree is designed to be accessible to distance students (in addition to on-campus students) through online and weekend courses and courses based at Montana University System campuses across the state.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Early Childhood Education.
Graduates with this degree will be prepared to meet the unique needs of children from birth through age eight in child care centers, Head Starts and pre-schools.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Education Studies.
Graduates with this degree are prepared to be teacher’s aides with the expertise to assist with instruction of students under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
Larry Brazill, M.Ed.
Larry Brazill teaches drama at Montana Western and is actively involved in the arts both on campus and in the community. He directed “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the fall of 2008 and “Little Shop of Horrors” in the fall of 2009. Brazill was named the Montana Theater Educator of the year for the 2002-2003 academic year; the Myrna Loye Center’s Arts Educator of the Year in 1997; and received an honorable mention for Teen Ink Magazine’s Educator of the Year in 2001-2002. Currently, he is working on a dissertation study regarding the creative process of playwrights.
Bert Brewer, D.M.A.
Albert Brewer’s training includes a D.M.A. is in vocal performance from Catholic University in Washington D.C. and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from the University of Montana. His teaching experience includes 25 years teaching general music, band and choir to grades one through 12 in Montana public schools. Brewer has sung professionally with the Opera Society of Washington D.C, the New York City Opera and the Paul Hill Chorale at both the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap Farm Park. He currently directs the noontime Concert Choir and the Cantabileers at Montana Western.
Julie Bullard, Ed.D.
Julie Bullard is the director of the Early Childhood Education Center at Montana Western. She recently wrote an educational textbook entitled “Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight.” This text was published by Merrill/Prentice Hall/
Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Julie Bullard’s focus of research is on early childhood environments.
Megan Chilson, Ed.D.
Megan Chilson’s research focuses on whole-brain learning, which is the integration of physical movement into traditional academic learning.
In her Elementary Physical Education Methods classes, Chilson pairs research findings with the teaching of a skill or discipline with some type of body movement leading to better academic performance and retention into practical teacher education. Her students develop a lesson plan for a traditional academic subject to be integrated with a physical activity in coordination with classroom teachers. Chilson’s work emphasizes the importance of retaining physical education in schools.
Dana Cotton, Ph.D.
Dana Cotton is an accomplished educator in pre-service teacher education, literacy, and professional development. She has conducted professional workshops for teachers across the globe including in Pakistan and Japan. Cotton has received two Who’s Who Among American Teachers nominations as well as the University of Idaho’s Excellence in Graduate Research Award. Cotton teaches under a constructivist paradigm and believes theory should support practice. Experiential teaching and learning is her primary method of instruction.
Doug Daenzer
Doug Daenzer teaches mathematics teaching methods. The capstone section of his methods classes is a field experience in which students observe and work in the classrooms of elementary teachers or high school mathematics teachers. Block scheduling allows his students to immerse themselves in the classroom experience all day for four days straight.
Daenzer also teaches Business Research and Statistics. In this class, students conduct a culminating research project as a class and apply their knowledge of hypothesis development and testing, data gathering, and appropriate statistical analysis in the context of a business problem.
Gary Frey
Gary Frey has degrees in biology, industrial technology and a doctorate in multidisciplinary studies with an engineering emphasis. He is currently working on a master’s degree in industrial engineering. Frey has worked in the automotive, construction and woodworking industries. His career includes jobs in biochemistry, microbiology, environmental impact studies and industrial design. He is the designer of seven patented or patent pending industrial products.
Jennifer Gilliard, Ph.D.
Jennifer Gilliard is an instructor of Early Childhood Education. She offers her students the opportunity to conduct action research projects to learn about how young children develop and learn best. In 2004, Gilliard helped start the Building Tolerence Club at Montana Western.
Gay Garard-Brewer, D.M.A.
Garard-Brewer’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and a Master of Arts in music history and literature from the University of Montana. Her DMA in is piano pedagogy is from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Brewer, in collaboration with TimeWarp Technology and Yamaha Corporation, is at the forefront of the new InternetMidi remote piano teaching. Brewer brings over 40 years of private studio and performing arts academy teaching expertise. At UMW she is the staff pianist and teaches piano and music education classes.
Janelle Handlos, ATC
Janelle Handlos is the university’s Head Certified Athletic Trainer. She also teaches First Aid/CPR and Nutrition and supervises students in many internship settings such as personal training, recreation programming, coaching, and athletic training. Her students coordinate blood drives, perform nutrition case studies using peers and others on campus, and participate in health and wellness activities.
Handlos is the co-advisor of Humans in Performance (HIP Club), which sponsors on- and off-campus activities related to health and wellness and encourages research by students. She is currently working on her dissertation on Leadership Development in Athletic Training Education Programs.
Denise Holland
Denise Holland teaches the methods courses for the Business and Computer Applications, Technology for Elementary Teachers courses, and serves as the post baccalaureate coordinator for students wanting licensure. Holland has a love for technology and the potential it has to serve both students and teachers.
Holland’s students work on projects they can use in their classrooms and encourages them to learn as much about technology as possible. Her professional history includes educating college students in business, computer applications, and technology education for the past 10 years; teaching public high school courses in business and marketing; and assisting elementary teachers in creating technology projects for their classes. Holland’s research interest focuses around the topic of technology and education.
Vikki Howard
Vikki Howard is the coordinator of the Special Education Program at UMW. Howard has worked with a range of children from infancy to adulthood in a variety of settings. These experiences include service in the U. S. Peace Corps in Jamaica. Howard’s research interests center around applied behavioral methods of improving instruction and learning for children with and without disabilities. She is the author of several publications, including peer-reviewed articles and book chapters; her co-authored text, “Very young children with special needs: A foundation for educators, families and service providers,” is in its fourth edition. Howard’s teaching is guided by the principles of commitment to the “power of one,” a progressive attitude of support for human dignity and an appreciation of those qualities that bring people together to teach well.
Cheryl Juergens M.A.
Cheryl Juergens has taught health/physical education at all public school levels (K-12) with an emphasis on cooperative strategies. She has collegiate experience as the head coach for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at Vassar and Principia College, as well as high school coaching in cross country, volleyball and swimming and diving.
Juergens’ recent research involves investigating relationship dynamics of dual Ironman and Olympic distance triathlon couples; assessing gender attitudes in student-athletes at the Collegiate National Championships; and conducting a Strong Women™ strength training intervention for older adults.
Anne Kish
Ann Kish has been a librarian at Montana Western’s Lucy Carson Library since 2006. In addition to her duties as a librarian, she is an instructor for the K-12 Library Media Endorsement Program. Kish has a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of North Texas and a B.A. in English from the University of Texas in Austin. Each fall Kish teaches LIB 464: Reference Resources in addition to teaching a variety of the other courses offered through the program.
Eva Mastandrea, M.F.A.
Eva Mastandrea is the chair of the fine arts department. She has taken her love of creating and teaching art around the world twice during two Semesters at Sea in 2000 and 2006. She previously developed her expertise on Asian art through her Fulbright fellowship in China and Japan. Experience One scheduling has helped her students understand and explore the creative process that is essential for artistic expression. Mastandrea has exhibited her own art in non-profit venues throughout the state of Montana.
Brent McCabe, D.M.A.
A versatile music educator, Brent Poe McCabe has taught in a variety of educational venues, from K-12 and community college to university instruction. Throughout his academic journey, McCabe has served as choir and band director, supervised student teachers, and has taught most courses within a collegiate music education program. McCabe has also served as presenter and clinician at state and regional MENC conferences and holds a MM degree from The Juilliard School and a DMA from the University of Arizona.
As an acclaimed classical guitarist, McCabe has performed throughout the United States and abroad and has been a prize winner in numerous national and international music competitions. McCabe has also recorded two CD’s, “Classical Guitar” and “20th Century Latin Guitar Works.” He has also performed on radio programs throughout the country, including National Public Radio.
Delena Norris-Tull, Ph.D..
Delena Norris-Tull’s specialty is science education. In addition to teaching science methods courses to Montana Western education students, she provides professional development to Montana science and elementary teachers as part of the Clark Fork Watershed Education Project, funded by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. In winter 2010/2011, she will conduct a workshop for southwest Montana elementary teachers on the science of snow. She also works with math and science teachers statewide as part of the Mathematical Modeling for Montana Green Technology Project, funded by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. Norris-Tull is currently serving as chair of the Montana Western Department of Education. She also serves on the board of RESA4U, a regional service agency providing professional development to teachers in southwest Montana. Norris-Tull was also named the 2010 Montana Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Greg Ryan, Ph.D. CSCS
Greg Ryan’s research focuses on various aspects of human performance. Greg is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is responsible for teaching Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Motor Learning and Control and Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning. He emphasizes hands-on learning in all of his classes, giving students many opportunities to learn about and perform original research on topics of interest. Greg studied at the University of Alabama, and his dissertation focused on cooling strategies for soft body armor.
Kathy Shipman, M.Ed.
Along with teaching education courses at Montana Western, Kathy Shipman is a supervisor for student teachers and a member of the Dillon K-8 Parent Council. She is the program coordinator for the elementary and secondary education program partnerships between Montana Western and Montana Tech of the University of Montana-Missoula. She is also the Montana Western-Montana Tech Education Club advisor.
Marlene Stonelake, M.Ed.
During her graduate work, Marlene Stonelake conducted research dealing with the use of portfolios for the assessment of writing. Her work was published and presented at various seminars and most notably this research led to the implementation of the Teacher Education Program (TEP) portfolio, which is a significant part of the teacher education program at Montana Western. With a firm belief in strong communication skills, Stonelake continually researches ways to teach and assess student writing and speaking.
Laura Straus, M.A.
Laura Straus is an instructor of education with a specialty in literacy. In 2003, she was named the History Teacher of the Year by the Kansas State Historical Society.
Judy Ulrich, Ph.D.
Judy Ulrich was appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer to the Montana Arts Council. This agency of state government, similar to those in 49 other states and the National Endowment for the Arts, was established in 1967 “to develop the creative potential of all Montanans, advance education, spur economic vibrancy and revitalize communities through involvement in the arts.” Ulrich is also the faculty advisor for the Polynesian Culture Club and is active in its development.
John Xanthopoulos, Ph.D.
John Xanthopoulos is actively involved in the Equestrian program as well as the Education program at Montana Western. He founded the Montana Western Equestrian Team in 2002 and is the current Head Coach.
In 1999 Xanthopoulos co-authored a book entitled “Global Education for Perspective Teachers” and is an authoritative voice on multicultural education.
For over one hundred years, the education department at Montana Western has been preparing teachers who are successful in all settings. Our program is a nationally recognized rural education center noted for producing outstanding teachers.
