• Academics at Bryn Athyn
• Academic Philosophy
• The Core Program
• Majors and Areas of Study
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Education
    • Program Requirements
    • Certification Requirements
  • English
  • History
  • Religion
  • Interdisciplinary Major
  • Forms
• Experiential Education
• Graduate Programs
• Summer Session
• Lifelong Learning
• Faculty
• Academic Support Services
• Swedenborg Library
• Catalog, Courses, Forms

At Bryn Athyn, we'll give you the theoretical and practical preparation to be a successful teacher in a public school, New Church school, or private school at the grade level that fits your interests. We also offer secondary certification in English or history.

Meet the Major Head

Phillips, Nina Gunther, Interim Head of Education Division, Instructor in Education

B.A. Penn State University, M.S. Bridgeport University
267-502-2518, nina.phillips@brynathyn.edu

Nina Phillips joined the faculty of Bryn Athyn after a 15-year career as a public school teacher in Connecticut. She uses stories from this experience to illustrate the finer points of classroom instruction. Her background in theater also gives her a place backstage at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center in an annual college production.

After spending two years at Bryn Athyn College, Mrs. Phillips transferred to Penn State University where she received a BA in Creative Writing and Theater. Several years later she read a newspaper article that inspired her attendance in a Masters program in Elementary Education at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Upon graduation Mrs. Phillips began to teach in a public school system where her daily interaction the children and teachers in the school made it clear that she had found her love. With the birth of her little girl another life change was inspired and so her family moved to Bryn Athyn, where she uses her New Church background to help inspire future generations of teachers interested in connecting spiritual and natural concepts within their learning and teaching.

Program Strengths

Early Childhood Education

The Bryn Athyn College Early Childhood Education program meets all the Pennsylvania state certification requirements to prepare students to teach pre-school through grade 4. Students do all their course work at Bryn Athyn College and complete their senior teaching under the auspices of nearby Holy Family University.

During the course of the program students observe classrooms in a number of school settings, both private and public. The Bryn Athyn College education program is most closely associated with Bryn Athyn Church School which is located just down the street from campus. Bryn Athyn Church school is a New Church school associated with the General Church of the New Jerusalem. All education majors fulfill state certification requirements; those who would like the qualifications to teach in the General Church school system as well are encouraged to fulfill the New Church certification requirements embedded in Bryn Athyn College Early Childhood Education Program.

We offer specialized education courses in many areas, including:

• Integrating art into the curriculum
• Music education
• Health and physical education
• Educating diverse learners
• New Church perspectives
• Classroom management
• Teaching in a multi-age classroom

Certification in Secondary Education

Bryn Athyn College offers certification programs in either English or history that will train students to become high school teachers. The programs combine teacher preparation with solid instruction in the discipline, culminating in a semester of student teaching. We partner with Holy Family University for certification training.

Hands-On Learning

Bryn Athyn College’s education major is heavily steeped in the practical application of the skills and practices acquired in courses.

During the third year students will spend 2 days a week in an ECE classroom giving them 360 hours of experience with students and teachers in that setting. Students should expect to have placements in public schools and other private institutions as well in order to have the broadest possible experience prior to senior teaching.

In the forth year there is a 72 hour field experience in upper grade levels 5-8 combined with an adolescent development course in order to help prepare students who desire to teach at those levels in schools that do not require certification for employment.

Spiritual Curriculum

Whether you intend to pursue teaching at a New Church school, another private institution, or in public education, studying education at Bryn Athyn will give you the opportunity to study educational theories and practices within the context of spiritual principles.

We use the Old and New Testaments and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg as a guide to the spiritual aspects of our program. It is a premise of the Bryn Athyn College education program that education for the “whole child” includes the nurturing of their spirit as well as the tools they will need to be successful in their everyday life. There is a special focus in the program on authentic learning and encouraging students to serve the neighbor. We believe that teachers have the potential, in any setting, to be a powerful force for good in the lives of their students. They do this by modeling a spiritually focused life and integrating moral values into the content of their lessons.

Related Links:

• Education Faculty