Connections For Life
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The mission of Duquesne University is "serving God by serving students" and in the School of Education our students come first.
During your time in Canevin Hall, we want you to interact with faculty, visit your student success coach, and get involved with one or more of our various education-related student organizations.
Our services for you include:
- Transcript Reviews
- Guiding you through the certification process
- Our Maureen Sullivan Curriculum Center
- 5-Year Early Start Graduate Programs
- Our Center for Career Development
We strive to assist you with various aspects of your academic career while providing you with a strong educational foundation.
Undergraduate, Graduate, & Alumni Awards
School of Education Awards are for Duquesne University School of Education alumni as well as undergraduates and graduates who will have finished their program by the end of this academic year. The awards honor excellence in academic and career pursuits. Award recipients receive recognition and a monetary award. Applications are open toward the end of the spring semester. Awards are given at the end of the spring semester.
The Leading Teacher Program Excellence Award is given to an undergraduate student whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program: Leadership, Diversity, and Technology, and is framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.
- Leadership: A leading teacher is a life-long learner inspiring a community of learners to pursue continuous improvement and growth, who will serve as a practitioner guided by an ethical and moral framework
- Diversity: A leading teacher is an advocate, creating learning experiences that demonstrate sensitivity, acknowledging students of all abilities and valuing human differences
- Technology: A leading teacher is an architect building learning environments that acknowledge and incorporate the power of technology.
Criteria for Eligibility: Senior Bachelor's Level Award
- Full-time undergraduate student in the LTP
- Successfully completed student teaching within the current academic year
- Minimum 3.5 quality point average.
Application Requirements:
- Current resumé
- Essay and artifacts
- Two letters of recommendation (one from LTP faculty member, one from Student Teaching Cooperating Teacher or University Supervisor).
Instructions for Essay:
Describe how your accomplishments in coursework, field experiences, student teaching,
extracurricular activities and community involvement relate to and exemplify one of
the three Themes of the Leading Teacher Program and the Spiritan Tradition of Caring
at Duquesne University. Provide specific descriptions and evidence of distinguished
performance framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring in at least one LTP Theme area
(e.g., artifacts demonstrating impact on student learning, impact on university, P-12
schools, or community-based efforts).
Essay length: maximum of 1,000 words
Application Materials Due: March 15, 2023
Award Recipient Receives:
- Certificate of recognition
- $500 award
- Acknowledgment on School of Education website and social media.
Incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.
Apply NowThe School of Education Distinguished Graduate Award is given to a graduate student (master's or doctoral) whose performance is demonstrative of excellence in one of the following goals of the School of Education:
- Preparing educational and/or community leaders
- Conducting scholarship for schools or the community
- Providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.
Criteria for Eligibility: Graduate Level Award
- Masters or doctoral student in the School of Education who has successfully completed program within the current academic year
- Minimum 3.5 quality point average.
Application Requirements:
- Current resumé or curriculum vitae
- Essay attesting to the merit of the candidate for the award (see below)
- Artifacts of excellence in one or more of the aforementioned goals (see below)
- Two letters of recommendation from faculty members in the student's program.
Instructions for Essay:
Describe how your accomplishments in coursework, related experiences, extracurricular
activities, and community involvement relate to one of the goals of the School of
Education and exemplify the Spiritan tradition of caring at Duquesne University.
Essay length: maximum of 1,000 words
Instructions for Artifacts:
Provide specific descriptions and evidence of distinguished performance framed in
the Spiritan Tradition of Caring (e.g., artifacts demonstrating academic excellence,
impact on university, P-12 schools, or community-based efforts, research, etc.).
Application Materials Due: March 15, 2023
Award Recipient Receives:
- Certificate of recognition
- $500 award
- Acknowledgment on School of Education website and social media.
Incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.
Apply NowThe Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an alumnus/alumna whose performance demonstrates excellence in one of the goals of the School of Education:
- Preparing educational and/or community leaders
- Conducting scholarship for schools
- Providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan Tradition of Caring.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- An alumnus/alumna of a Duquesne University School of Education undergraduate program or a graduate program in any of the following: the Leading Teacher Program (Bachelor's and Master's), Counseling (Master's and Doctoral), School Psychology (Psy.D. & Ph.D.), Educational Studies (Master's), Program Evaluation (Master's), Administration & Supervision (Master's), ProDEL (Doctoral), IDPEL (Doctoral), Reading Specialist, Instructional Technology (Master's & Doctoral), ESL programs, Child Psychology program, and Special Education programs
- A minimum of five full years of continuous experience after degree was conferred.
Application Requirements:
- Current resumé or curriculum vitae
- Essay and artifacts
- Two Letters of professional recommendation (e.g. supervisor, colleague, student, etc.).
Instructions for Essay:
Describe how your accomplishments in your field relate to and exemplify one of the
goals of the School of Education: Preparing educational leaders and/or community leaders,
conducting scholarship for schools, and providing practice that is guided by the Spiritan
Tradition of Caring.
Provide specific descriptions, evidence and artifacts of distinguished performance framed in the Spiritan Tradition of Caring in at least one goal area. Link all evidence to the goals of the School of Education. Finally, describe what you aspire to be your legacy in your field.
Essay length: maximum of 1,000 words
Application Materials Due: March 15, 2023
Award Recipient Receives:
• Certificate of recognition
• $500 award
• Announcement in DU Alumni Newsletter (Bulletin From Our Bluff)
• Post on DU Alumni and School of Education Facebook pages
• Acknowledgment on School of Education social media and website
Incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee.
Apply NowContact Us
Student and Academic Services
Lisa Patrick
Saundra Bondo
Education Student Services Receptionist
Student Teaching and Field Placement
Student Teaching and Field Placement
Our Office of Student Teaching and Field Placement (OSTFP) facilitates field experiences, internships, practicums, and student teaching experiences for various programs in the School of Education.

We work to coordinate field placements for students that allow them to integrate information regarding teaching fundamentals and advanced pedagogies taught in their coursework into practical application in K-12 classrooms.
The mission of the OSTFP mirrors the overall mission of Duquesne University in that they strive to prepare students to become innovative, inclusive, and well-rounded leaders in society through providing a diverse range of field experiences.
Our team of staff within the OSTFP recognizes the importance of securing high-quality and meaningful field and student teaching experiences for School of Education students. The excitement students express over their field experiences is shared by the OSTFP, as they are passionate about helping students grow professionally, academically, and personally through their field experiences. The OSTFP works to maintain a culture of accessibility with students, and encourages all students to contact them at any time during their academic journeys.
Securing Field Placements
The process of securing field placements involves a collaborative effort between the OSTFP, academic advisors, School of Education staff and faculty members, K-12 school partners, and School of Education students.
OSTFP works with over 75 school districts in the Greater Pittsburgh Region including public, private, charter, and Catholic schools, and they are constantly building new, mutually beneficial K-12 school partnerships to expand upon experiential opportunities for students.
Partnership with Indiana University's Global Gateway for Teachers Program
In addition to local K-12 school relationships, Duquesne University is one of only three schools in Pennsylvania, and one of 22 colleges and universities in the United States, that have a partnership with Indiana University's Global Gateway for Teachers Program, which is located in Bloomington, Indiana.
As a partner university, Duquesne University students have the opportunity to be placed by IU Global Gateway in an overseas student teaching experience in one of 18 countries. Participating countries include, but are not limited to, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and Tanzania. This is meant to be a cultural immersion experience in which student teachers are placed in a host nation school by a consultant who is an experienced overseas educator. Homestay recommendations are made for student teachers in many of the countries.
During their student teaching semester, students fulfill their Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements for student teaching locally prior to student teaching abroad. Duquesne University's Director of Student Teaching and Field Placement works with abroad student teaching applicants to assist in the preparation of application materials to be submitted to IU Global Gateway.
Contact Us
Office of Student Teaching and Field Placement
Lisa George
Scholarships for Graduate Students
JEWISH SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH of the Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh provides a scholarship to a university student (undergraduate or graduate) or high school student (junior or senior) in financial need who is Jewish and has been a resident (for two or more years) of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, or Westmoreland county.
If you plan to apply for this scholarship, you must use a desktop/laptop computer (not a mobile phone/tablet) and turn off your pop-up blocker.
ApplyScholarships for Undergraduate Students
JEWISH SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH of the Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh provides a scholarship to a university student (undergraduate or graduate) or high school student (junior or senior) in financial need who is Jewish and has been a resident (for two or more years) of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, or Westmoreland county.
If you plan to apply for this scholarship, you must use a desktop/laptop computer (not a mobile phone/tablet) and turn off your pop-up blocker.
ApplyStudent Organizations
Duquesne University School of Education offers multiple organizations for students to join. Joining these organizations allows students to gain new experiences, develop a professional identity, create research opportunities, and make new friends. By getting involved in one of the School of Education organizations, students will not only develop marketable skills but will also enhance their college experience.