Initiative Category: Education (au)

The value of Trinity’s special education teaching programs is nearly impossible to quantify: Our special education majors go on to change the lives of students by cultivating relational peace, educational equity, and justice for all children and impacting the mind, body, and soul of each student through excellence in teaching.

So, the College is particularly pleased to see the value of our undergraduate and graduate degrees in special education recognized by Grad Degree Search. According to the rankings organization, Trinity has been recognized in several categories, including among the top 10 in the Great Lakes Region for both types of degrees! Our bachelor’s and master’s degrees were also honored with a top-50 rankings nationwide.

— 7th in Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region Ranking

—9th in Best Value Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region Ranking

— 44th in Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools Ranking

— 49th in Best Value Special Education Schools Ranking

“When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school’s quality as well as its sticker price,” Grad Degree Search noted. “Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value.”

Trinity brings value in many ways, according to Christine Scholma ’04, assistant professor of special education and co-director of the Center for SPED. “One of the added values of Trinity’s special education program includes a variety of partnerships with local schools,” said Scholma. “Through these partnerships, students with disabilities come to campus to learn alongside Trinity special education majors. Prospective teachers get the opportunity to apply what they are learning in class by teaching local students about community living.”

Trinity education majors leave the College confident in what they believe and possess the skills and experience necessary to excel in their field for good, according to Colleges of Distinction. That is one reason that the organization has once again recognized Trinity’s top-ranked nursing program among several categories, including among Christian colleges and Illinois colleges. The organization has also recognized Trinity’s business and nursing programs and for career development. 

Trinity’s education program excels in its commitment to nurturing and supporting future educators, Colleges of Distinction found. Among the aspects that set Trinity’s education program apart: stability; multidisciplinary exposure; practical experience; non-education specialization; dedicated advising and counseling; high-Impact practices; and industry connections. 

“The College of Distinction recognition underscores the spectacular work of Trinity faculty and the excellent engagement of Trinity students,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “The recognition of Trinity’s three largest academic departments highlights the breadth of Trinity’s academic excellence, while recognition in the career development category highlights the successful translation of that academic excellence into vocational preparation.” 

In recognizing Trinity, Colleges of Distinction specifically highlighted the College’s student-to-faculty ratio and high percentage of graduates who quickly find employment or enroll in grad school. “Trinity students are prepared for life beyond college thanks to their liberal arts curriculum that is grounded in Christian faith,” noted the organization. 

Among the other areas that set Trinity apart: 

Business 

Colleges of Distinction awards badges to institutions whose business degrees are multidisciplinary in nature and loaded with practical experiences for students to engage the wider world of business. Trinity’s business program was lauded for its real-world experience; industry connections; business ethics emphasis; collaborative learning; and dedicated advisors and counselors. 

Nursing

The organization cited several factors that led to this ranking for the nursing program: stability and excellence; validation from a nursing-specific accreditation agency; practical experiences; high mastery rates; dedicated advising and counseling; liberal arts exposure; high-impact practices; and industry connections. 

Career Development 

In the career development area, Colleges of Distinction recognizes Colleges that have demonstrated superior ability to think ahead about how their students will succeed after they graduate. “Our Career Development Colleges of Distinction does not just have a career services office on campus; they integrate future careers into the present curriculum,” the organization noted. 

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has recognized colleges based on four key areas: engaged students; great teaching; vibrant communities; and successful outcomes. 

Trinity education majors leave the College confident in what they believe and possess the skills and experience necessary to excel in their field for good, according to Colleges of Distinction. That is one reason that the organization has once again recognized Trinity’s top-ranked nursing program among several categories, including among Christian colleges and Illinois colleges. The organization has also recognized Trinity’s business and nursing programs and for career development. 

Trinity’s education program excels in its commitment to nurturing and supporting future educators, Colleges of Distinction found. Among the aspects that set Trinity’s education program apart: stability; multidisciplinary exposure; practical experience; non-education specialization; dedicated advising and counseling; high-Impact practices; and industry connections. 

“The College of Distinction recognition underscores the spectacular work of Trinity faculty and the excellent engagement of Trinity students,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “The recognition of Trinity’s three largest academic departments highlights the breadth of Trinity’s academic excellence, while recognition in the career development category highlights the successful translation of that academic excellence into vocational preparation.” 

In recognizing Trinity, Colleges of Distinction specifically highlighted the College’s student-to-faculty ratio and high percentage of graduates who quickly find employment or enroll in grad school. “Trinity students are prepared for life beyond college thanks to their liberal arts curriculum that is grounded in Christian faith,” noted the organization. 

Among the other areas that set Trinity apart: 

Business 

Colleges of Distinction awards badges to institutions whose business degrees are multidisciplinary in nature and loaded with practical experiences for students to engage the wider world of business. Trinity’s business program was lauded for its real-world experience; industry connections; business ethics emphasis; collaborative learning; and dedicated advisors and counselors. 

Nursing

The organization cited several factors that led to this ranking for the nursing program: stability and excellence; validation from a nursing-specific accreditation agency; practical experiences; high mastery rates; dedicated advising and counseling; liberal arts exposure; high-impact practices; and industry connections. 

Career Development 

In the career development area, Colleges of Distinction recognizes Colleges that have demonstrated superior ability to think ahead about how their students will succeed after they graduate. “Our Career Development Colleges of Distinction does not just have a career services office on campus; they integrate future careers into the present curriculum,” the organization noted. 

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has recognized colleges based on four key areas: engaged students; great teaching; vibrant communities; and successful outcomes. 

For Kimberly Mueller ’19, the support of her husband and her faith in God helped her achieve her goal of graduating from Trinity’s Adult Programs with a bachelor’s degree in art education on Dec. 14 and beginning a teaching job at Stony Creek Elementary School in District 126 in Alsip, Ill.

While it was challenging to balance family life, student teaching, homework, and the requirements of passing the Teacher Performance Assessment EdTPA, Mueller believes it is all part of God’s plan. “I feel I am meant to be an art teacher and share my talents with my students. I am proud of how far I have come,” she said.

Mueller began Trinity’s Adult Program at Trinity in 2016. Her first student teaching placement was at Prairie Junior High School, also in District 126. “I was unsure what to expect,” she said. But she was reaffirmed by how much she loved teaching art.

For her second student teaching assignment, which took place during the fall of 2019, she was placed at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights. “My first week of high school was tough. I did not think high school was for me,” she said. “But I continued to have faith in God.”

Just like at Prairie Junior High School, Mueller’s student teaching assignment consisted of getting to know the students and staff. After observing her cooperating teacher, she began teaching herself. She found that it was very hard to say goodbye at the end of her student teaching period, she said. “I met some very talented and awesome students. I now feel comfortable teaching high school and will miss my students.”

While Mueller was at Shepard, she was also doing research and writing for the EdTPA, a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need in the classroom.

“As I researched and wrote my EdTPA, I asked God for help and guidance,” she said. “I finally submitted my EdTPA about a week into my second placement. It took a month to get my scores back. All of my hard work paid off! My family was proud of me.”

While at Shepard, Mueller received an email about a job teaching art in District 126 at Stony Creek. “My former principal at Prairie Junior High referred me to the principal at Stony Creek. I went in for an interview and I got the job!” she said. “I could not be happier.”

Mueller begins teaching in January. “I feel Trinity has prepared me to be an excellent teacher. This journey has been beyond difficult, but God has a plan for me,” she said.

At Trinity Christian College, we prepare our students for a world that needs them. That is why we are proud to announce that our special education program has been ranked among the top 20 nationwide by College Factual. The program has also been recognized third in the state of Illinois.

“Trinity’s Special Education program engages preservice teachers in multiple hands on experiences over several semesters,” said Dr. Joy Meyer, Ed.D., Department Chair and Director of Teacher Education at Trinity. “Trinity students put learning into practice by providing inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities on our college campus and collaborating with local teachers to support the diverse needs of students in both general and special education classrooms. Preservice teachers also engage professionally presenting research to educators, creating teacher materials, and providing disability awareness instruction to partner institutions.”

College Factual uses a number of different criteria when creating its rankings, including graduate earnings, resources dedicated to specific majors, accreditation, and overall school quality.

Trinity offers a major and minor in special education. At the graduate level, Trinity offers M.A. degrees in special education programs that lead to a Learning Behavior Specialist I endorsement and Behavior Intervention Specialist endorsement.