University education courses and the professional preparation of teachers: A descriptive analysis

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative case study that explored the role methods courses played in the education of preservice teachers at a large southeastern state university in the U.S.A. The paper portrays three distinct roles: the relevant role, the liberalizing role, and the critical role. The final section of the paper explores the implications of the study's findings for research and program development.