Who We Are

The Advocates for Children & Education Scholars (ACES) Program is designed for students of all majors with an interest in learning about issues that affect children in today’s society. The program enables Scholars to examine a variety of children’s issues through lectures, discussions, excursions, and volunteer experiences. Students in this program have diverse career goals including but not limited to: education, counseling, administration, social work, medicine, non-profit and business.

Highlights of this program include attending lectures, seminars and discussions with speakers on hot topics relating to children and education; planning and participating in educational events including museum trips, workshops and job shadowing; gaining hands on experience through a variety of service opportunities relating to children; and traveling to major cities such as Chicago, New York or Toronto to explore education and social justice related themes.

Prospective ACE Scholars who are interested in teaching should research the requirements of teacher licensure in their area of interest when considering The Ohio State University, as some teachers are trained at the undergraduate level, some at the post-baccalaureate level and a great many trained exclusively through competitive master's degree programs. Admission into the ACES program does not guarantee acceptance into any of the university's teacher training programs.  

For more information on the Advocates for Children & Education Scholars Program, please contact Karrie Mills, Program Manager, at (614) 292-3135 or via e-mail at mills.284@osu.edu

Learning Community

The Advocates for Children & Education Scholars Program provides students with a close knit community of students who are passionate about making a difference for children. ACE Scholars challenge each other to think critically about the world around them and support one another in their efforts to make a difference. Students form strong bonds and develop life-long friendships through the learning community.

• Advocates for Children & Education Scholars are required to live together the first-year of the program, unless they are commuting from home.
• ACES live together in Mack Hall on South Campus.
• Group activities are arranged in the residence hall and the Scholars Program Coordinator holds weekly office hours there

Common Majors

You can be enrolled in ANY major and participate in the Advocates for Children & Education Scholars Program. Below please find a list of some of our more common majors. This is just a sampling of majors; if your intended major is not listed here you are still welcome in our program!

• Art Education
• ASC Middle Childhood Education 
• Career and Technical Education 
• Chemistry
• Coaching Minor
• Early Childhood Development and Education
• English
• Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• French
• Geological Sciences
• Health and Exercise Science
• History
• Mathematics
• Middle Childhood Development and Education
• Music Education
• Nursing
• Physics
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Spanish
• Special Education
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Sport and Leisure Studies  
• Workforce Development and Education

Please note: Prospective students interested in K-12 education are encouraged to research the requirements of teacher licensure in their area of interest when considering The Ohio State University, as some teachers are trained at the undergraduate level, some at the post-baccalaureate level, and a great many exclusively through competitive master’s degree programs.

Graduate Programs

Prospective ACE Scholars should research the requirements of teacher licensure in their area of interest when considering Ohio State, as some teachers are trained at the undergraduate level, some at the post-baccalaureate level and a great many trained exclusively through competitive master's degree programs. Below you will find a listing of the most common graduate and licensure programs pursued by current Scholars.

• Art Education (Grades K-12)
• Counselor Education (Grades K-12)
• Drama Education (Grades Pre-K-12)
• Early Childhood Education (Grades Pre-K-3)
• Foreign and Second Language Program
• Foreign Language Education (Grades K-12)
• Hearing Impairments (Grades Pre-K-12)
• Integrated Language Arts / English Education (Grades 7-12)
• Integrated Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
• Integrated Social Studies (Grades 7-12)
• Middle Childhood Education (Grades 4-9)
• School Psychology (Grades Pre-K-12)
• Science Education (Grades 7-12)
• Special Education
• Sport Humanities
• Exercise Science
• Physical Education
• Visual Impairments (Grades Pre-K-12)
• Workforce Development and Education (Grades 4-12)

Other Benefits

Scholars students receive College Level Priority Scheduling.  This means that they schedule classes at the beginning of their rank, ie. Scholars freshmen schedule before all other freshmen. 

Clustered Courses

Advocates for Children & Education Scholars take English 110 together the fall quarter of their freshmen year.  

ACES have the option to take EDU PAES 289.01 - First Education Experience Program (FEEP). Clustered during fall quarter of the sophomore year, FEEP gives students credit (8 credit hours) for serving and shadowing in a K-12 classroom. The FEEP course is designed to provide students an opportunity to explore classroom teaching and other school professions through inquiry, field experience, and group discussions.

Frequently Scholars students will “self-cluster” themselves into courses.  This means that students are able to purposefully schedule classes together because their priority window for scheduling opens at the same time.

Community Service is an integral part of the ACES program. Students are encouraged to volunteer in a variety of settings relating to children. By way of these experiences, Scholars develop a deeper awareness of children’s issues such as educational inequality, homelessness, healthcare, and economic access to education. In addition to providing students with first hand knowledge, service experiences aim to give students an understanding of themselves and their impact on society.

• All ACE Scholars participate in our Adopt-A-School Program where they can gain valuable experience in either a middle school or elementary setting.
• Each year we do a number of group service projects decided on by the students.  We’ve done things such as:
  • Making activity bags for kids at Children’s Hospital
  • Cleaning up trash in the University District
  • Talking to kids about college
  • Field day for local elementary school
  • Journal writing with 4th grade students
  • Children’s book drive for a local YMCA

Specialized Programming

Through specialized programming, ACES gain knowledge and insight into important educational, social, economic, and political issues affecting today’s children and families. Students are encouraged to explore different fields to ensure their comfort with their chosen career path. Lectures, workshops, discussions, and site visits are typical co-curricular opportunities provided by this program. Some recent examples include:

A campus visit by educator and activist Jonathan Kozol.

• Mr. Kozol met in a small group with ACE Scholars and stimulated interesting discussion on the state of public education in the United States and Ohio. Mr. Kozol also discussed his latest book Letters to a Young Teacher and did a book signing for students.

A lecture with Ohio Treasurer of State Richard Cordray and the Honorable Jeffrey S. Sutton.

• Together with the PSL Scholars we attended a lecture and discussion on the issue of school funding in the state of Ohio.
• A group of ACE Scholars and PSL Scholars subsequently presented to their peers on the state of funding in our area using three local districts as examples: urban, rural, and suburban.

A graduate panel.

• Current graduate students and alumni from the ACE program answered student questions about graduate school, preparedness, teaching, and other relevant topics.

Peer Buddy Program

Each incoming first-year student is paired with an upperclass ACE Scholar. This Peer Buddy is a great resource for first year students and can provide valuable information and support during the transition to college. There is a Peer Buddy Social at the start of the quarter so that students can connect.

Travels

Each year the Advocates for Children & Education Scholars take a long weekend excursion to a big city. Past destinations have included Toronto, New York City, and Chicago. The trip focuses on children and education and allows the students to experience a mixture of learning, bonding with one another, and fun.

New York City – May 11

Our visit to NYC started out with a tour of the Simon Wiesenthal New York Tolerance Center. Through interactive exhibits, videos, and workshops we explored issues of prejudice, diversity, tolerance, and cooperation in the community.

We had a wonderful group meal together and spoke with a panel of professionals (including an ACES alum) working with children in the Manhattan area. They shared with us their experiences and thoughts on education and issues affecting today’s children.

One of the highlights of our trip was visiting a Brooklyn high school. Once there we spoke with the students about college and the misconceptions that they may hold. They had numerous questions for us! We were also given the opportunity to speak with teachers and administrators about their day-to-day activities and their views on education.

Lastly, visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was fun as well as educational. Students were able to explore the museum and learn more about the United State’s immigration history.

Ace Scholars are also encouraged to participate in the special study abroad programs offered for all Scholars students