Education, Art PreK-Adult (BS ED)

The Professional Education Component

 All teacher education candidates must earn a 2.75 GPA in the Professional Education component, and complete the following courses with a grade of C or better.

• EDUC 210 Foundations of Education (2)
• EDUC 301 Educational Technology (3) *
• EDUC 305 Psychology of Teaching and Learning (3)
• EDUC 306 Instructional Processes and Strategies (3)
• EDUC 310 Assessment and Evaluation of Instruction (2)

•  

• SPED 303 Introduction to Special Education (3)
• SPED 309 Strategies for the Inclusive Environment (3) **

•  

• EDUC 456 Supervised Directed Teaching (4-12)

The Special Methods Component

Students in Pre K-Adult, 5-9, 5-Adult, and 9-Adult content specializations must complete the special methods of teaching course(s) with a grade of C or better. These courses are offered through the academic divisions/departments which offer the content specialization.

Admission to Teacher Education

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education degree must be officially admitted to the Teacher Education Program prior to taking EDUC 306 . Applications should be submittedto the Division Office for processing.All candidates will be notified by letter concerning their admission status.

Candidates must complete 100 hours of documented volunteer experience working with children in organized settings prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program.Appropriate volunteer experiences might include: Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, Energy Express, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, tutoring in after-school or summer programs, camp counselors, etc.The 100 hours of experience must be documented through letters from teachers, supervisors or leaders.All documentation must be included in the candidate's portfolio when he/she applies for admission to the Teacher Education program.The 100 volunteer hours are in addition to any required field practicum hours.

Prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program, candidates must also satisfy the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours, which must include 19 hours from the General Studies Program, with a 2.00 grade point average.The general studies courses must include the following:
   
   1. English - 6 hours
      
      • ENGL 101 Composition and Rhetoric I
          (3)
      • ENGL 102 Composition and Rhetoric II
          (3)
        A Grade of C or better is required.
   2. Communication Arts - 3 hours
      
      • CART 101 Fundamentals of Speech
          (3)
        A Grade of C or better is required.
   3. Mathematics - 3 hours
   4. Natural Science - 4 hours
      
      • One laboratory science course

        (Note:Candidates in the Elementary K-6 Program should select from BIOL 101 , BIOL 102 , PHSC 103  or PHSC 104 .)

   5. Social Science - 3 hours

      (Note:Candidates in the Elementary K-6 Program should select from GEOG 200 , HIST 101  or HIST 102 .)
   6. EDUC 210 Foundations of Education
        (2)
      Completion with grade of C or better and documentation of asuccessful 25 hour school-based field experience.
2. Attainment of an overall grade point average of 2.75 or better in all work completed (including transfer credit).
3. Successful completion of the PRAXIS I Pre-professional Skills Tests(written verification from the testing service must be received by the Division of Education Office), and a required demonstration of speaking and listening (CART 101 ).A waiver for Praxis I may be obtained by providing documentation from the Registrar's Office, reflecting an ACT composite score of 26 or higher, SAT re-centered score of 1125, or completion of a master's degree.These waivers are accepted only in the State of West Virginia. Certification requirements for other states may include Praxis I test scores. 
4. Submission of a Professional Portfolio with acceptance by a Teacher Education Admission Committee. Requirements for the portfolio are available in the Division of Education Office.Portfolios will be due in the Division of Education Office the last working day of September during the fall semester, and the last working day of February during the spring semester.Candidates whose portfolios are not approved by the Teacher Education Admission Committee will be given recommendations for improving their portfolios or will be counseled concerning their admission to the teacher education program.
5. Successful completion of an interview with a Department of Education faculty committee when indicated.
6. Declaration of a specific and accurate major and content specialization(s) through the Division of Education and Human Performance office.

CAUTION:Candidates not meeting application deadlines or admission criteria will be denied admission to the Teacher Education Program and must reapply.

Admission to Student Teaching

Student teaching (supervised directed teaching) is a semester of professional experiences in a public school setting(s).The teacher candidate must file an application for admission to student teaching by the end of the fourth week of the semester proceeding the semester in which the student teaching is planned.

Candidates will be notified by letter of their eligibility.Additionally, all candidates must attend a mandatory placement meeting held the semester prior to student teaching. Placement meetings are held on the last Wednesday in September and the last Wednesday in February.

Due to licensure and accreditation regulations, admission requirements may be revised.Therefore, candidates should check current requirements with the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences.

The following criteria must be met in order to be eligible for admission to student teaching:

1. The teacher candidate must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program.
2. All coursework must be completed. Credit for all coursework including transfer courses, correspondence courses, individual study courses, etc., must appear on the candidate's transcript at the time of the eligibility deadline.
3. Music education majors must complete a technology competency exam.
4. All required school-based field experiences must be successfully completed.
5. The following minimum grade point averages must be attained:
   1. An overall 2.75 in all course work taken.
   2. An overall 2.00 in General Studies.
   3. An overall 2.75 in the professional education core component, with no grade less than a C.
   4. The required grade point average for the teacher candidate's content specialization(s).
6. Evidence of a current negative tuberculin test (PPD) that extends throughout the student teaching semester must be presented to the Division of Education Office.The PPD or an X-ray are the only acceptable tests and are valid for two years.
7. Passing scores on PRAXIS II:Subject Assessments (some specializations require more than one subject assessment) and Principles of Learning and Teaching Test (PLT) must be attained. Written verification from the testing service must be received by the Division of Education Office prior to the deadline for eligibility to student teach. The eligibility deadline is the last day of the semester prior to the student teaching semester.

Student teaching is a full time professional experience.Teacher candidates should not enroll in extra coursework, or engage in extra-curricular activities which interfere with student teaching. Exceptions to this must be approved by the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences.

Candidates working toward the Bachelor of Science in Education degree are advised that all phases of teacher education require cooperative efforts between Concord University and the public schools or other agencies.The superintendent, or legal representatives of these agencies or schools, and the representative of the University shall have the authority, after consultation, to reject placement or terminate the participation of any candidate who fails to meet the professional standards of the cooperating school, agency, or the University.During student teaching, the reports of the supervising teacher(s) and the recommendation(s) of the University Supervisor are essential components in determining the eligibility for graduation and recommendation for licensure.

CAUTION:Candidates not meeting application deadlines, admission criteria, and/or not attending the mandatory placement meeting will be denied student teaching.Candidates may reapply the following semester.

Retention

The Division of Education and Human Performance provides a variety of measures to facilitate candidates' successful performance including the following:

• Assignment of an appropriate advisor;
• Special summer advising;
• Report of mid-term grades;
• Resources and study materials for PRAXIS I testing preparation;
• Individual letters to candidates upon application and acceptance to the program;
• Individual interviews;
• Individual letters to candidates upon application and acceptance to student teaching;
• Student teaching placement meetings provide for discussion and questions;
• Exit interviews with student teachers identify program strengths and recommendations for program improvement.

A variety of support services are available including the Concord Child Development Center, Student Support Services and the Financial Aid Office.

Exit Criteria

Graduation criteria include the completion of a minimum of 120 hours, the required GPAs, successful completion of all state-required tests, and the completion of all coursework to meet program certification requirements. Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education will not be granted unless a teacher candidate also satisfies all West Virginia teacher certification requirements which includes a state and national background check.