Department of Education

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Department Purpose:

The purpose of the Department of Education is to prepare students to function as competent and effective professionals who are critical thinkers and problem solvers. The broad content knowledge of the University core courses provides the knowledge base of the professional education component. The breadth of this foundation includes content knowledge in communications, mathematics, science, history, philosophy, literature, and the arts. Courses in these disciplines introduce students to traditional forms of scholarly inquiry such as the research paper, the oral and written report, and scientific methods in a laboratory setting.

The professional education component provides additional breadth as students are engaged in: 1) the investigation of topics using technology skills, 2) reviewing and critiquing print and digital content, and 3) attending seminars to enhance their exposure to current trends and issues in education.

The Department of Education’s emphasis on critical thinking makes questioning an integral part of the Unit’s approach to scholarship. Through exposure to theory and theory development in professional studies courses in concert with clinical and practicum experiences, students develop their own theory and philosophy of education and are able to make effective application to practical settings.

The entering freshman and transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA as they continue through their course of study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in the courses of their major.

Professional Educational Program

Bachelor of Arts in Birth through Kindergarten (BK-Licensure)
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (K-6 Licensure)
 

(Subject to change if the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s standards and indicators change.)

Shaw University students who seek a career as a public school teacher must select from the following areas: Birth-Kindergarten Education and Elementary Education: General Curriculum.

The professional educational program leads to initial certification in North Carolina after satisfactory completion of all course and test requirements. All students must apply for formal admission to the Teacher Education Program. The admission process is outlined in the departmental handbook. All education courses are web-enhanced. Many of the courses are delivered online. All education majors must take the courses below. They must also pass Praxis I or be exempt from the exam before they are eligible to apply for formal admission to the Teacher Education Program. Students are exempt if they have high SAT or ACT scores (see department for actual scores).

Test Requirements

All elementary and birth-kindergarten majors must successfully pass Praxis I based on the current North Carolina state criteria or have an exemption based on their SAT or ACT scores, before they will be eligible to apply for formal admission to the Teacher Education Program in the major area selected. All Elementary Ed and Birth-Kindergarten majors must complete required coursework and successfully pass Praxis II in order to earn a North Carolina Teaching License.

Majors Offered

Majors are offered in specialty areas that lead to the standard professional 1 license as a teacher. Each student who is accepted into the program is required to select a major after the completion of the common professional studies courses. Listed below are majors that are offered in the teacher preparation area.

Birth-Kindergarten Education-B.A. (B-K Licensure Preparation)

Elementary Education-B.A. (K-6 Licensure Preparation)

Certification Only and Lateral Entry Candidates

This category consists of individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree or  higher, are enrolled in courses to meet state certification requirements only, and in the case of lateral entry students, are already employed in the public schools and need to complete a course of study to meet State requirements that will qualify them as teachers.  These candidates must also be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program.

Programs

• Birth-Kindergarten Education, BA
• Early Child Development Education, BA
• Elementary Education, BA

• Teacher Certification/Lateral Entry

Courses

• EBK 248 Physical Development, Health, Nutrition, and Safety in the BK Classroom (3)
• EBK 300 Spanish for Preschool Teachers (3)
• EBK 311 Early Intervention (3)
• EBK 317 Early Childhood Guidance (3)
• EBK 325 Aesthetics Experiences for Young Children (3)
• EBK 360 Emergent Literacy (3)
• EBK 372 Best Practices Working With Infants Toddlers and Twos (3)
• EBK 380 Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Early Education (3)
• EBK 400 Administration of a Child Care Center (3)
• EBK 410 Teaching Integrated Curriculum in the Birth-Kindergarten Classroom (3)
• EBK 440 Early Childhood Indoor and Outdoor Learning Environment (3)
• EBK 450 Teaching in a Head Start Program (3)
• EBK 468 Teaching K to 2nd Grade Literacy/Reading (3)
• EBK 470 Families, Schools, and Community Collaboration (3)
• EBK 477 Teaching Practicum (6)
• EBK 485 Early Childhood Observations, Assessments, and Evaluations (3)

• EDU 101 Basic Instructional Technology (3)
• EDU 113 Introduction to Pre-Teaching (3)
• EDU 114 Introduction to Pre-Teaching Lab (2)
• EDU 115 Introduction to Teaching (3)
• EDU 116 Introduction to Teaching-Field Placement I (2)
• EDU 217 PRAXIS Seminar I: Reading (1)
• EDU 217 PRAXIS Seminar I: Reading (3)
• EDU 218 PRAXIS Seminar III: Writing (1)
• EDU 219 PRAXIS Seminar IV: Mathematics (1)
• EDU 220 Praxis CORE Pre-Professional Seminar (3)
• EDU 255 Curriculum Development for a Community of Learners w/ Field Lab Experience (3)
• EDU 256 Curriculum and Development for a Community of Learners-Field Placement II (2)
• EDU 258 Facilitation of Student Learning (6)
• EDU 260 Introduction to Students with Special Needs (3)
• EDU 270 Child & Adolescent Development (3)
• EDU 305 Integrated Arts in Elementary School (3)
• EDU 321 Assessment and Measurement for the 21st Century Classroom (3)
• EDU 326 Teacher Certification Exam Seminar (2)
• EDU 365 Foundations in Reading and Math (3)
• EDU 390 3rd Year Practicum (2)
• EDU 401 Capstone Leadership Seminar (3)
• EDU 425 Behavioral Management and Intervention Strategies (3)
• EDU 462 Teaching Science in the Elementary School (3)
• EDU 463 Teaching Math in the Elementary School (3)
• EDU 464 Social Studies in the Elementary School (3)
• EDU 467 Teaching Writing and Related Language Arts in the Secondary School (3)
• EDU 468 Teaching K to 2nd Grade Literacy/Reading (3)
• EDU 469 Teaching 3rd to 6th grade Literacy/Reading (3)
• EDU 471 Teaching K-6 Reading/Literacy (3)
• EDU 473 Teaching K-2 Mathematics in Elementary School (3)
• EDU 474 Teaching 3-6 Math (3)
• EDU 476 Teaching K-6 Math & Science with Lab (6)
• EDU 482 Teaching Science in the Elementary School Lab (1)
• EDU 497 Student Teaching Part I (6)
• EDU 498 Student Teaching Part II (6)
• EDU 499 Student Teaching (12)

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