Westfield State Awarded for Top-Tier Undergraduate Degree in Education

Aug 1, 2024
A graphic image that resembled a badge. The badge is blue and white and says, "Best Colleges, Education, and Colleges of Distinction". This was awarded to the University for their undergraduate education program.

The Colleges of Distinction badge awarded to the University for their top-tier undergraduate education program.

Westfield State University has earned special attention for its undergraduate program in education. Recognizing its stellar curriculum and outcomes for education majors, Colleges of Distinction granted this award as a stamp of approval for the impactful ways that students are prepared to lead their own classrooms after graduation. Westfield State’s title as an Education College of Distinction is a testament to the quality of its hands-on approach to learning, leading, and succeeding.

Already acknowledged as a College of Distinction for its impactful approach to education, Westfield Statereceives specialized recognition in Education.

“An impressive undergraduate education is marked by its stability, practical experiences, advising and mentoring, high-impact practices, and successful student outcomes,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction. “It's inspiring to see the next generation of teachers graduating from Westfield State with confidence.”

To earn this distinction, Westfield State demonstrated the following markers of excellence:

  • Stability – The School of Professional Studies has a longstanding presence, operating for at least 10 years with consistent enrollment and an established number of degrees awarded annually.
  • Accreditation – The Westfield State College of Professional Studies holds regional accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) as well as from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
  • Multidisciplinarity – The College of Professional Studies offers students the opportunity to specialize in three or more distinct disciplines including early childhood, elementary, secondary, and reading specialist education.
  • Practical Experience – Starting from the first year, students in the College of Professional Studies engage in real-world teaching experiences, including urban and rural settings, diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and different school sizes.
  • Non-Education Specialization – The College of Professional Studies requires students to graduate with a minor, emphasis, specialization, or related credential in a subject they intend to teach professionally.
  • Dedicated Advising and Counseling – The College of Professional Studies provides high-quality academic advising, major-specific advising, and career advising tailored to Education majors.
  • Industry Connections – Students enrolled in the College of Professional Studies have numerous opportunities to establish professional connections in their field through job placement, internships, co-op opportunities, advisory councils, and networking activities.

Schritter emphasizes, "Beyond having a deep understanding of the topics they will teach, Westfield Statestudents also gain the skills to lead their classrooms with empathy, patience, and creativity.”

To explore Westfield State's comprehensive profile and discover more about its innovative learning experiences, you can find more information here.

About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.