History of the College of Education
From teacher’s college to state university, SDSU started here in the College of Education! Scroll down, go back in time, and learn about the history of the College and where our university began!
Note: this page is still being developed.
1897-1910
SDSU started with teachers: Founded March 13, 1897, San Diego State University is the oldest higher education
institution in San Diego, and it began as a training facility for teachers.
SDSU began as a normal school, and the curriculum was limited at first to English, history and mathematics. Course offerings broadened rapidly under the leadership of Samuel T. Black, who left his position as state superintendent of public instruction to become the new school's first president. Black served from 1898 to 1910.
1910-1929
1910s
From 1910 to 1935, President Edward L. Hardy headed a vigorous administration that oversaw major changes to the fledgling institution.
1920s
San Diego State Teachers College: By 1921, the Normal School became San Diego State Teachers College, a 4-year public institution controlled by the state Board of Education. Its new status allowed it to grant certificates and undergraduate degrees. In that same year, the 2-year San Diego Junior College, forerunner of today's local community colleges, became a branch of San Diego State Teachers College. (That union lasted until 1946.)
1930-1949
1931
Montezuma Mesa & Master's Degrees: Due to increased student enrollment, the college was relocated in 1931 to its current location at the east end of Mission Valley on Montezuma Mesa. As the community grew and as the college's capabilities grew, it became increasingly desirable to develop graduate programs.
Teaching - The profession that creates all other professions: Since then, SDSU has broadened its graduate offerings in the field of education to master's degrees in school administration, counseling, community college leadership, community service professions, and of course, teacher education. The teaching of educators has been an important part of SDSU's history from the very beginning. As we in the College of Education are well aware, teaching is the profession that creates all other professions.
1935
The State Legislature authorized expanding degree programs beyond teacher education, and San Diego State Teachers College became San Diego State College.
1940s
In 1945, the California legislature authorized graduate instruction in teacher training and in 1949, State began to offer Master of Arts degrees in education and educational administration.
1950-1999
1960
San Diego State College became part of the newly created California State College system, now known as The California State University system. (In the early 1970s, with legislative approval, San Diego State College became San Diego State University.)
The 2000s
2017
Liberal Studies is one of the largest undergraduate majors at SDSU. In 2017, the Department of Liberal Studies moved from the Division of Undergraduate Studies (now the Division of Academic Engagement & Student Achievement) into the College of Education / School of Teacher Education.
Today
The College of Education continues to maintain a standard of excellence it has demonstrated for its over 100 years of service. The college truly makes a difference in the lives of the people it serves.
Our commitment is to prepare teachers, school administrators, counselors, community
college faculty and leaders, performance improvement/
Photo Album
View an album of historical College of Education photos from the University Archives Photograph Collection
Past Faculty
Anne Morey
Portrait of Ann I. Morey, Dean, College of Education. Doctor Morey became an emerita professor in 2003 after a career at San Diego State University that began in 1985 and included becoming dean of the College of Education. In 2013 she was a distinguished research professor and director of the Center for Educational Leadership, Innovation and Policy. In this picture she sits in her office with bookshelves behind her and smiles for the camera. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Faculty Reception
Teachers College faculty reception, September 1, 1925. Faculty gather for a reception on the front lawn of the Teachers College campus in University Heights. Cellist and pianist stand and sit in foreground. University Archives Photograph Collection.
SDSU Teacher Group
Group portrait of education professors. In the first row, the second woman from left is professor Helen Prouty, and to her right is Helen Scott. Professor George Koester is in the back row, second from the left. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Wayne Hill
Portrait of Wayne O. Hill, Professor of Elementary Education 1955-1983. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Past Students
Francis Otwell
Portrait of Miss Frances A. Otwell, a student of San Diego State Teachers' College, 1930. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Male Student
Portrait of a student of San Diego State Teachers' College, 1930. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Miss Loury
An outdoor portrait of Margaret Lowry, who was vice president of the San Diego State Teachers' College student body during the 1922-1923 school year. Original photograph is from a scrapbook titled "Now and Then." University Archives Photograph Collection.
Unidentified Student
Yearbook portrait of an unidentified student, 1927.
Woman Student
Portrait of a San Diego State Teachers' College student, 1930. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Educating Future Teachers
Orchestra
State Teachers' College Orchestra, 1922. Members of the San Diego State Teachers College Orchestra stand with their instruments on the portico of the campus Main Building. In 1921 the San Diego Normal School was renamed San Diego State Teachers College, but remained in University Heights. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Aztec News
Staff of the Aztec, 1935. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. Staff in the Aztec newsroom, San Diego State Teachers' College. The Aztec was the title of the student newspaper. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Betty Holt
hands, and each student holds a book or pamphlet, circa 1950. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Children's Library
Children's library, 1935. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. Children read and research in the library at the San Diego State Teachers' College. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Dinosaur
Students use a dinosaur book and cutout to illustrate their presentation of methodology to the class. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Finger Paint
A student teacher stands by as a child fingerpaints, circa 1971. A student teacher stands by with a cleaning cloth at the ready as a child fingerpaints on a surface before her. This might have been at the Campus Laboratory School (closed 1970) or the Campus Childcare Center (opened 1971). University Archives Photograph Collection.
Future Teachers In Class
Unidentified future teachers sit in class as one student shows another a page she has written. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Interview
Two women sit at a conference table during an education interview. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Lab Class
Campus Laboratory School classroom. A Campus Laboratory School teacher speaks to a small group of students. 1960s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Library Studiers
Students study in the library, which was then located in Hardy Tower. Circa 1935. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Microphone
Student teacher with child and microphone, circa 1971. An unidentified teacher touches a child's chin with a microphone as the child speaks. The venue might have been the Campus Childcare Center (opened 1971) or the Campus Laboratory School (closed 1970). University Archives Photograph Collection.
Moose
Future teachers sit in class and pay attention to an unidentified instructor helping a student try on a stuffed hand puppet, "Marvin Moose." Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
On Playground
An instructor and a child in a playground, probably of the Family Studies and Consumer Sciences Building, 1970s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Registration
Students at registration windows circa 1930. Staff members sit in chairs at the registration office, while students wait in line at the windows of the office. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Second Graders and Teachers
Unidentified student teachers posed with second grade girls from the Campus Lab School, in the late 1940s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Student Teacher with Children
Student teacher with children. Four second grade students from the Campus Laboratory School pose with their teacher. 1940s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Supervisor
Unidentified student teachers and supervisor of the second grade at the Campus Laboratory School in the late 1940s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Training School
Elementary school for training teachers, 1935. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. Children play in a courtyard behind the Training School, later the Physical Science Building at the San Diego State Teachers' College. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Workshop
A young woman hammers a round structure with a window, and the woman on the left appears to be assembling a model of the solar system. A woman in the background writes "Teacher Education Workshop" on the chalkboard. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Educating Youth
Braille
Unidentified student teacher gives a lesson in Braille, 1970s. Holding his hand over his student's hand to guide him, a man teaches Braille to a young boy. This might have been taken at the Campus Laboratory School or at the Campus Children's Center at San Diego State University. The Campus Laboratory School closed in 1970. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Bunnies
Training School students with pet rabbits, 1925. Third grade Training School students hold rabbits as part of a class project. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Evan
Student teacher and student, 1991. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade - old time school, 1935. Children recreate an old one-room classroom at the San Diego State Teachers' College. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Laboratory School 2
Initially named the "Training School," the Campus Laboratory School (or Campus Lab School) provided instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students in small classes where they could receive more individualized instruction. Besides serving as a grammar school, the Training School allowed Normal School students the opportunity to instruct the students themselves, thus providing practice and teaching experience.
Number Lesson
A woman assists a young student with a number game in a classroom at SDSU. Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Playground Discussion
Campus Laboratory children on playground with 2 student teachers. On one of the children's back a note reads Marni Schultz. 1970s. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Playhouse
Second grade playhouse, 1935. Children play outdoors next to a playhouse. The children are probably students at the Campus Training School of the San Diego State Teachers' College. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Scale
An unidentified student teacher shows a child how to use a scale circa 1971. An unidentified student teacher shows a child how to use a balance scale by putting weights in the pans. Another student and two teachers are in the background. This might be at the Campus Laboratory School (closed 1970) or the Campus Childcare Center (opened 1971). University Archives Photograph Collection.
Teacher Recruitment
A school boy adjusts his fort exhibit and three young adults observe during a high school teacher recruitment conference, 1958. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Viking
Fourth grade viking activity, 1935. Children participate in an art activity in a classroom at the San Diego State Teachers' College. Original photograph created for and displayed at the California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park, San Diego, 1935-1936. Photo by Lee N. Passmore. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Original Campus
1923
Teachers' College students, 1923. Group of men posing on the steps of the San Diego State Teachers' College Main Building. In 1921 the San Diego Normal School was renamed San Diego State Teachers College, but remained in University Heights. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Assembly 1928
State Teachers College assembly, 1928. Orchestra and choral group perform in front of students and faculty assembled on the steps of the San Diego Teachers College campus in University Heights at 4100 Normal Street. University Archives Photograph Collection.
CC2F Building
CC2F building.
Postcard
San Diego State Teachers' College postcard, 1924. View of entire exterior of the San Diego State Teachers' College postcard. Dated 1924, but doesn't reflect name change. In 1921 the San Diego Normal School was renamed San Diego State Teachers College, but remained in University Heights. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Women
Teachers' College Women's club, 1923. The Jugs, a women's club at the San Diego State Teachers' College, poses on the lawn in front of the Main building. University Archives Photograph Collection.
New Campus
Aerial View
Aerial view of San Diego State Teachers' College campus, 1931. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Ed Building 1957
Unidentified speakers at the dedication of the Education Building on Founders Day, 1957. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Education Building 50s
A man stands in front of the Education Building, circa 1956. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Education Signage
Sign on "Education" Building. This is one of a series of photographs of signs, most on buildings, at San Diego State University. This sign reads, "Education" but is probably on the North Education Building, since there is part of a letter to the left of "Education." Photo undated. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Founders Day 1957
Unidentified men shake hands during the dedication of the Education Building on Founders Day, 1957. University Archives Photograph Collection.
Hardy Tower 1931
View of Hardy Tower from the southeast, soon after its construction in 1931. University Archives Photograph Collection.
New College Site
New College Site, 1929. A man stands at the intersection of two dirt roads at the site of the new campus of the San Diego State Teachers' College on Montezuma Mesa. A sign reads: "New College Site." Photo by Lee N. Passmore. University Archives Photograph Collection.
New College Site Sign
Groundbreaking for new Stage College site, circa 1929. In the foreground a sign reads "New College Site." In the background is another sign, which reads "H. Mayson power house and training school." The second sign has an arrow that points to the partially completed building for the new site of San Diego State Teachers' College. University Archives Photograph Collection