Chapman University’s Attallah College is strengthening its roots in the surrounding community, welcoming local high school students to campus, celebrating milestone undergraduate cohorts, and continuing to offer accelerated routes into the teaching profession. 

Attallah College has been actively cultivating relationships with local school districts, inviting prospective first-generation college students to experience Chapman firsthand and envision themselves as future educators. 

Century High School, Corona High School, and Norco High School

Attallah College recently welcomed students from Century High School’s TEACH Academy in the Santa Ana Unified School District, and Corona High School and Norco High School in the Corona-Norco Unified School District’s Education CTE program to the Chapman University campus for a day of connection and learning. 

The visit opened with remarks from Dean Roxanne Greitz Miller, followed by sessions led by Shannon Crogan, director of transfer admission, and Dr. Jillian Wood, associate dean for academic affairs and director of undergraduate education. Students then heard from current Attallah College students Rusty Henry, Naomy Vazquez, Alexa Arostico, Valeria Bahena, and Monserrat “Monsy” De Rosas during a first-generation student panel, where panelists shared their paths to Chapman and their experiences on campus. Stephany Cuevas, Ph.D., assistant professor of education, concluded the visit with a CES 206 mock class, offering students a hands-on glimpse into Attallah College coursework. 

Bridging the Gap: A Faster Route to the Classroom

During their visit, students also learned about an exciting milestone: this spring, the inaugural cohorts of two Attallah College undergraduate programs, Liberal Studies and Community Educational Studies, will cross the stage at Chapman University’s commencement and degree ceremony.  

The Liberal Studies major prepares students with a broad interdisciplinary foundation in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, with a focus on equity and civic engagement. Students who pair a Liberal Studies major with a minor in Elementary Education are well-positioned to apply for Attallah College’s Integrated Teacher Education pathways, a streamlined route to earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree while pursuing a California teaching credential. 

The Community Educational Studies major takes an applied approach to education, centering community, social justice, and learning across diverse contexts.

Together, these programs reflect Attallah College’s mission to develop educators who are prepared to meet students where they are. In addition, these Integrated Teacher Education Pathways can cut the cost of graduate school by as much as 50%, continuing to remove the barriers and burdens many first-generation students experience in higher education.

For more information about Attallah College’s undergraduate majors and Integrated Teacher Education pathways, visit chapman.edu/education/undergraduate/undergraduate-overview.aspx.