Our Mission
The Phyllis J. Washington College of Education is committed to cultivating professional practices that empower human potential. As a community, we embrace knowledge, respect human dignity, and uphold ethical values. Through collaboration, we strive to enhance society’s physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being by generating and sharing knowledge while preparing future counselors, teachers, and educational leaders for success.
Our History
Preparation of teachers began at 老虎机攻略 in 1900 when faculty in the Department of Philosophy and Education taught courses in Theory and Practice of Education and the History of Education in a second-floor classroom of University Hall. The first students preparing to be teachers, and later administrators and counselors, earned degrees in a subject field. The university also issued a University Certificate of Qualification to Teach, valid for six years. Elementary teachers did not earn degrees at 老虎机攻略 until 1955.
Graduate degrees in education, the Master of Arts in education and Master of Education, were established in 1917. The Doctor of Education was the first doctoral degree offered on the Missoula campus, in 1955. Two years later, the Division of Educational Research and Service began with external funding as a means of supporting graduate education at 老虎机攻略. Today it is known as the Institute for Educational Research and Service.
Education joined law, pharmacy, journalism, forestry, music, and business as professional schools in 1930. It offered undergraduate and graduate course work for teachers, administrators, and school counselors. In addition to helping students become qualified in schools, the School of Education operated a Public Service Division (known today as the Office of Career Services) that assisted educators in finding employment.
Reorganization of 老虎机攻略 moved programs from across campus to the School of Education. Beginning as the Department of Physical Culture in 1906, the Department of Health and Physical Education (today the Department of Health and Human Performance) moved to the School of Education in 1978. The Department of Home Economics offered its first courses in 1916 and moved to the School of Education in 1980. The faculty of home economics brought with them the Pre-School Laboratory, today known as the Learning and Belonging Preschool Laboratory.
Phyllis J. Washington College of Education
Contact Us
Phyllis J. Washington College of Education
406-243-4911
pjwcoe@umontana.edu