Meet Chasida Fertel

My INDS Degree

I have a passion for helping students with learning differences reach their full potential. My goal is to open a school for students with learning differences. When looking for majors I was looking for a college degree that would not only teach me how to be a great teacher but also give me the know-how to run my own school. That’s when I found Individualized Study (INDS). It’s perfect for me. It allowed me to tailor make the perfect degree for me. I’m excited to turn my dream into a reality with the help of this program.

Degree Mentors

• Vickie Williams, Education
• Kevin Fulmer, Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship
• Steven McAlpine, Individualized Study

Post Graduation Plans

I plan on receiving my masters in educational therapy and then after working as an educational therapist opening a school for students with learning differences. My INDS degree provided me with the necessary foundation for my future plans.

Courses In My INDS Degree

✅ Learning to be an effective educator: These courses will help me not only understand the education system, but will provide me with effective theoretical teaching strategies, and opportunities to practically implement the strategies. These courses will also expose me to challenges that my future students will face and provide me with the education to help them and most importantly, how to understand them. Although I am not working toward my teaching certification in my undergraduate degree, these classes will provide the fundamental knowledge to receive my certification in the future. (EDHD 201, 231 / EDUC 310, 311, 388, 412 / SOCY 345)

✅ Understanding Behavior and Motivation: By learning the field of psychology I will explore the reasons people act, speak, and feel the way they do. I not only think it is important to understand this on a personal level, but to be an effective teacher I must be able to understand the motivations behind my students actions and learning patterns. Having this understanding will allow me to build relationships with my students, which will lead to a successful classroom environment. (PSCY 200, 210, 285, 305, 360, 365)

✅ Understanding the Basics of Opening and Running a Business: To accomplish my dream of opening a school, I must have enough of a business background to communicate with and understand the perspectives of the businesspeople on my team. I will also be able to bridge the gap between the people with and without business experience on my team. Entrepreneurship not only allows me to learn the basics of opening and running a business, but it creates a mindset that will help me to develop my goals without the fear of failure. (ENTR 200, 201 / MGMT 210)

✅ Individualized Study: The INDS courses will teach me the tools to incorporate diverse disciplines into one degree. This will deepen my knowledge of my degree focus through approaching it from multiple perspectives. (INDS 330, 335, 410, 480, 490)