Allegheny's distinctive Senior Project provides a unique advantage for students interested in becoming professional educators. The Senior Project is a significant piece of original research, designed by each student with faculty guidance, that demonstrates the ability to complete a major assignment, to work independently, to analyze and synthesize information, and to write and speak persuasively (all projects include a written report and an oral defense).
There can be no better preparation than the "comp" for the rigors of a master's program in education. By developing and defending an original thesis, students gain important in-depth knowledge of their subject area as well as the persuasive communication skills necessary to teach effectively.
Allegheny students who plan to pursue careers in teaching can integrate education into Senior Projects in a variety of disciplines. Some develop curricula and course syllabi; others explore difficult issues in education:
- Cultural Transitions in the Cinderella Story (English)
- The Effect of Cooperative and Competitive Games on Preschoolers' Sharing Behavior (Psychology)
- An Exploration Between Rhetoric and Education: Linking Theory with Practice (Communication Arts)
- Bullying and the Cognitive Abilities of Students in the Sixth Grade (Psychology)
- An Exhibition in German Four Months of Different Schooling (German)
- People, Bees, Mountains, and Trees: An arts and science curriculum for children to aid in the discovery and understanding of nature and the development of a personal Earth ethic (Environmental Studies)
- Influence of Teaching Styles on Peer-Acceptance and Rejection among Third Grade Students (Psychology)
- Developing a Geography Enrichment Program for Gifted & Talented Middle School Students (Geology)
Even before the Senior Project, Allegheny requires completion of a Junior Seminar and encourages Independent Studies - advanced work done in a field of special interest, beyond the scope of scheduled courses - as well as research with faculty.
