The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of the process by which liberal arts students' learn about the teaching profession. This specialized course is the means by which all students prepare to enter the teaching profession. For this purpose, I did a qualitative case study in a university having the teaching profession course for liberal arts students.
The characteristics found through this study are as follows: Firstly, liberal arts students enter the teaching profession course for various reasons ranging from “the desire to become a teacher”, “to obtain teaching certification”, “to learn the theory of education as a liberal art”, and “to experience teaching”, to name a few. Secondly, their activities in this course are like "living alone", "competing severely", "acting formally", "studying the theory of education", and "following a mirage". Thirdly, the course is referred more to as "the course for liberal arts", "the course for getting the certification for teaching", and "the course for searching for job" than as "the course for preparing teachers".
I found that the current course is losing its' identity as a means for preparing teachers. That is, the current teaching profession course rarely function as a course for preparing teachers, but acts as a position as a course for preparing teachers. Some scholars explain this situation as ‘myths' and 'ceremonies', or the 'logic of confidence'.