Divisional Philosophy I Elementary Education I Middle Grades Education I Secondary Education

Special Education I Faculty I Other courses

A graduate of the teacher education program:

1. Demonstrates an up-to-date body of professional knowledge and a commitment to
   continued professional development.
2. Demonstrates appropriate oral and written communication skills for interacting with
   students, parents, and members of the professional community.
3. Demonstrates a philosophy of reflective practice which considers both subject matter
   and the developmental needs of learners.
4. Utilizes skills of effective decision making as needed for instructional planning,
   classroom management, and implementing active learning.
5. Interacts effectively and in accordance with ethical codes in carrying out responsibilities of the profession within the school community.
6. Demonstrates an awareness of diversity and provides instruction, curriculum, and a
   classroom environment supportive of diversity.

The teacher education program is accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Admission Policies
A student seeking admission to the Teacher Education Program at Wesleyan should apply during the spring of the sophomore year. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education Program. A student must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before enrolling in upper-level education courses or must have permission from the Teacher Education Program. Permission will not be granted to students who have less than a 2.5 GPA.

Entrance Criteria A student must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before enrolling in upper-level education courses or must have permission from the Teacher Education Program. Permission will not be granted to students who have less than a 2.5GPA.

A student must meet the following criteria for admission to teacher education:

1. Have passed the PRAXIS I tests (reading, writing, and math) as required by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Students who have earned a total score of 1100 on the SAT or 24 on the ACT are exempt from Praxis I testing requirements.
   Students who have at least 550 on a part of the SAT may be exempt from part of Praxis I.

2. Have achieved an overall grade point average of 2.5 on all previous college work.

3. Have a successful interview with a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Council. This interview will deal with personal, social, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to teaching. A checklist of desirable characteristics for teachers, which will be used by the subcommittee, will be available to students prior to the interview.

4. Have two positive recommendations and the required admission portfolio.
    

Licensure-only and lateral entry students should check with the chairperson of the program for specific programs of study. Teacher licensure only programs are approved for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for those individuals who have earned a degree(s) and who have met the entrance requirements for teacher licensure.

The certification of the student to the Department of Veterans Affairs must be accompanied by a copy of the advisor’s evaluation which lists the subjects needed for the teaching license, professional objective being sought and which shows the total number of credit hours needed for the teaching license. Only those subjects and credit hours needed for the teacher licensure may be certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits payment purposes. Electives are not permitted.

Retention Policies

Once a student has been admitted to the Teacher Education Program, he or she will be expected throughout the program to maintain at least the entrance criteria. That is, adequate language skills must be apparent, grades must meet the entrance levels, and personal, professional, and social characteristics must be demonstrated in classwork, extracurricular activity, and personal life.
 

A continuous monitoring of academic performance will be done by the Teacher Education Council. The Education faculty reserves the right at any time during the program, and for cause, to remove a student from the Teacher Education Program. Any student removed will have the right to appeal to the Teacher Education Council. All students will be expected to have maintained a 2.5 GPA overall and a 3.0 in education and teaching area courses. The state requires a 2.5 GPA overall for a teaching license.

Field/Clinical Experiences

All education courses include clinical experiences in area K-12 schools. Placements for the field experiences are coordinated by the director of field placements in the education department.

The Student Teaching Block Program

The culminating experience of any student preparing to teach is the Student Teaching Block at the level of licensure being sought. Included in this program are seminars in classroom management. Care should be taken to ensure that all prerequisites for the block have been met prior to registration. Admission policies are as follows:
 

1. Students’ teaching assignments in the block program must be made in cooperation with local schools. It is imperative that information concerning interns be received in adequate time for these assignments to be completed. Students must apply for the block program no later than six months prior to the term in which they plan to enroll.

2. All teaching area courses and all methods courses must be completed or the student applying must have the permission of the Education faculty. In no case may a student enter the block with more than 12 hours to complete for graduation after the block.

3. All applicants must demonstrate competence in educational media and in the use of audiovisual equipment and computers.

4. All applicants to the block must have maintained high standards of performance in their collegiate program. Students with less than a 3.0 average in the subject teaching field or in education courses will be required to have a vote of confidence by the Teacher Education Council.

5. Because of the nature of the Teacher Education Program and its relations with local schools, the College reserves the right to refuse to admit or retain any student in the block program.

6. Students who enroll for the block program must enroll for the full course load and may not participate in any other program, course of study, or collegiate athletics. Part-time work is allowed only in cases of economic hardship.

7. Guidelines from the state require students to be admitted to teacher education one full semester prior to the student teaching semester.

Elementary Education

Students who choose to become licensed in elementary education, grades K-6, will major in elementary education. Since the requirements for the program are extensive, those who are interested should discuss the program with an education advisor early in their college career and select courses carefully to meet program and general education requirements.

Students who wish to become licensed to teach in grades 6–9 will major in middle grades education. Each person seeking a degree is required to complete two concentrations selected from the following four areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, or Science. Licensure-only and lateral entry teachers are required to complete one concentration.

The requirements for the middle grades program are extensive; interested students should discuss the program with an education advisor as early in their college career as possible. Courses selected to fulfil the general education requirements should be chosen with care to match the requirements of intended concentrations. The pairing of concentrations may require students to complete more than 124 hours for graduation.

Concentrations

Students are required to complete two concentrations to meet the guidelines established for the middle grades programs by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Students are encouraged to work closely with an advisor and plan their programs of study with care noting opportunities to overlap general education requirements and concentration requirements.

Special Education

Students who choose to become licensed in special education will major in special education. Since the requirements for the program are extensive, those who are interested should discuss the program with an education advisor early in their college career and select courses carefully to meet program and general education requirements.

Certification for Secondary Education

Students may be licensed to teach in grades 9–12 in biology, English, history, mathematics, or social science. All students must complete a specific academic major and complete required courses in education to meet licensure requirements. (Checklists identifying requirements are available in the Education Office.)

A minimum of 35 semester hours in education courses including 202, 205, 300, 316, 341, 400, 410, 416, 444, and 448, along with PSY 111, 201 or 202, COM 130, CIS 195 and the completion of the requirements in a subject area are needed for a license in secondary education.

Faculty:

Barbara L. Perry-Sheldon, Ed.D.
Professor of Education
Director of Teacher Education and
Coordinator of Middle School Education

Patricia G. Brewer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of  Education
Coordinator of Special Education

For More Information:

For more information about the programs in Education at North Carolina Wesleyan, please contact a faculty member. For general information about admission to the College, please contact the Admissions Office.

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