For over 120 years, the Department of Education has prepared teachers as human developers who love to teach. The Department nurtures future teachers through a formation process to become exemplary teachers in the region, state, and nation. In August 1963, West Virginia State College was first granted provisional accreditation for its elementary and secondary programs.
How Teacher Education Works at “State”
This program requires candidates to demonstrate that (1) They are focused on public school student achievement and success. (2) They are role models for public school students. (3) They have the potential to be a member of the teaching profession.
For over 120 years, the Department of Education has prepared teachers as human developers who love to teach. The Department nurtures future teachers through a formation process to become exemplary teachers in the region, state, and nation.
Graduates of the program must firmly believe that all public school students can learn. This program requires candidates to demonstrate that (1) They are focused on public school student achievement and success. (2) They are role models for public school students. (3) They have the potential to be a member of the teaching profession. Candidates must demonstrate these three dispositions throughout the program that requires the completion of a rigorous academic content specialization, combined with a complementary sequence of related general education courses, and a professional sequence of education courses that contain at least 800 clock hours of field placements and student teaching.
The following student outcomes provide the bases for the preparation program.
1. Demonstrate knowledge of their chosen content field(s).
2. Teach units and lessons aligned with national and state standards that address the learning needs of all students.
3. Integrate technology and twenty-first century learning tools and skills in their own teaching as well as the learning processes of their students
4. Exhibit behaviors of a professional teacher congruent with the Teacher as a Human Developer conceptual framework
5a. Maintain effective learning communities that value diverse abilities and talents and facilitate respect for all and
5b. Make connections in the school and community by communicating effectively with parents and other community members to promote student learning.
These outcomes are addressed in course content, with relevant class assignments, field experiences, student assessments, and program evaluation components and are articulated by the theme for the WVSU teacher preparation program: Teacher as HUMAN Developer. The theme serves as a unifying concept or framework for the entire program, and conveys the essence of the philosophy regarding good teaching. Outcomes for program completers will be measured by multi-modal methods, including faculty panel review, grade point requirements, portfolios, performance assessments, evaluations in field experiences by qualified supervisors, speaking opportunities, exams, projects, and state and national assessments required by the West Virginia Board of Education. Additional information is contained in the Teacher Education Handbook, purchased by each candidate in Education 200.
Cirriculum
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION – 120 hours required for graduation
GENERAL EDUCATION – 41-43 hours
| ENGL 101 and 102 ……………………………………………………………….. | 6 hours |
| ENGL 201 or COMM 100……………………………………………………….. | 3 hours |
| MATH 120, 104 or 111……………………………………………………………. | 3 hours |
| Arts……………………………………………………………………………………… | 3 hours |
| Humanities …………………………………………………………………………… | 3 hours |
| International Perspective (EDUC 319 or 321) …………………………… | 3 hours |
| Scientific Reasoning ……………………………………………………………… | 4 hours |
| Natural Science…………………………………………………………………….. | 6-8 hours |
| History ………………………………………………………………………………… | 3 hours |
| Social Science (EDUC 201) …………………………………………………… | 3 hours |
| Wellness ……………………………………………………………………………… | 2 hours |
| First-Year Experience…………………………………………………………….. | 3 hours |
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION – Grades K-6
All majors in elementary education complete a block of courses and an Academic Capstone Experience designed to prepare them for a self-contained classroom settings in WV, grades K-6. Current requirements for this content specialization are contained on the Department Homepage.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – Grades 5-9
The following subject options are designed to prepare candidates to teach in middle childhood settings, grades 5-9. Current requirements for this content specialization, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage. Students opting for these must complete another program at either the Adolescent level (Grades 5 or 9-Adult), Elementary, (Grades K-6), or PreK-Adult.
- ENGLISH – Grades 5-9
- MATHEMATICS – Grades 5-9
- SOCIAL STUDIES – Grades 5-9
ADOLESCENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS – Grades 9-Adult
Candidates opting for adolescent education will select programs which prepare them to teach in secondary school settings, grades 9-Adult. Current requirements for these content specializations, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage.
- BIOLOGY – Grades 9-Adult
- CHEMISTRY – Grades 9-Adult
MIDDLE-ADOLESCENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS – Grades 5-Adult
The options allow a candidate to select a single field across two levels of certification, 5-9 and 9-Adult. Candidates are prepared to teach in middle and secondary settings. Current requirements for this content specialization, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage. Additional teaching fields are not required for these options.
- BUSINESSÂ – Grades 5-Adult
- ENGLISH- Grades 5-Adult
- GENERAL SCIENCE – Grades 5-Adult
- MATHEMATICS – Grades 5-Adult
- SOCIAL STUDIES – Grades 5-Adult
READING EDUCATION K-6 or 5-ADULT
These two content specializations require candidates seeking K-6 licensure in Reading to complete the licensure requirements for elementary education K-6 or for 5-Adult in Reading to complete English 5-Adult. Current requirements for these two content specializations, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN-ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS – (Grades PreK-Adult)
These options prepare a candidate to teach a subject specialty in school settings. They do not require additional teaching fields or specializations. Current requirements for these content specializations, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage.
- ART – Grades PreK-Adult
- MUSIC – Grades PreK-Adult
- WELLNESSÂ (Physical Education and Health Education) Grades PreK-Adult
SPECIAL EDUCATION (Grades K-6 or 5-Adult)
In addition to the special education endorsement, candidates who seek licensure as a special education teacher must complete one of the following content specializations: Elementary Education K-6, or Biology, Chemistry, English, General Science, and Mathematics, or Social Studies 5-Adult. Candidates who complete Elementary Education will be licensed to teach all content subjects to students with special needs in grades K-6. Candidates who complete 5-Adult content endorsements may only teach their content specializations in grades 5-Adult and serve in a consultative role for all the remaining content subjects. Current requirements for these content specializations, including the Academic Capstone Experience, are contained on the Department Homepage.
- MULTI-CATEGORICAL SPECIAL EDUCATION (BD, MI, SLD)- -Grades K-6 or 5-Adult.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES
All candidates in teacher education will complete the professional education core: EDUC 200, 201, 202, 227, 300, 316, 319/320, 331, 426, and 480-487.