Department of Education Professions

Purpose

The purposes of the Department of Education Professions at the baccalaureate level are:

• To prepare candidates to fulfill their role in the teaching profession;
• To cultivate skills for critical thinking and effective expression with an awareness of cultural diversity; and
• To prepare candidates to use technology in teaching and professional development experiences.

The purposes of the Department of Education Professions at the advanced level are:

• To meet the educational needs of those interested in becoming administrators, supervisors, and enhance skills in educational leadership roles;
• To prepare educators and community leaders for applications of instructional technology;
• To provide an atmosphere conducive to the development of educational leaders in the community;
• To provide opportunities for expansion of knowledge;
• To encourage the continued professional preparation of school personnel;
• To assist school personnel through advisory and consultative services;
• To encourage research and development of new knowledge for the improvement of educational practice; and
• To prepare special educators committed to developing the highest educational and quality of life potential of exceptional children and youth.

Philosophy

The development of an effective teacher involves the process of acquiring skills that will promote life-long learning. In keeping with the University’s mission of providing learning opportunities; enhancing intellectual, civic, and cultural well-being; and improving the quality of life, the faculty strive to:

• Enable the candidate to prepare for the roles of leadership and participation in the community by developing appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions;
• Assist the candidate in acquiring an enriched background, depth of specialization, and breadth of knowledge necessary for teaching all students;
• Support the candidate in mastering techniques for adapting and applying instructional content, resources, and strategies to respond to cultural, gender, linguistic, learning, and socioeconomic differences;
• Provide the candidate with knowledge of principles of human growth and development and how to apply these principles to student learning;
• Encourage the candidate to acquire a sense of loyalty and service to the profession;
• Develop within the candidate a desire for continuous self-improvement;
• Model the belief that all students can learn and succeed regardless of his or her ethnic, racial, gender, socioeconomic, language, and/or religious background; and
• Develop abilities to utilize state, professional, and institutional standards related to assessment.

The intent of the department is to produce educators who participate in educational and community environments in a manner that contributes to the cultural and intellectual advancement of all members of the community.

Graduation Requirements

EDTC, EDUC, and SPED courses over 10 years old relative to a student’s current/active term may not be applied toward an undergraduate certificate, degree, or minor offered by the Department of Education Professions. Students in the Department of Education Professions must meet the graduation requirements listed in the Degree and Graduation Requirements  section of the Academic Regulations page. Students must also meet all requirements for admission and progression through the teacher education program, teacher residency, and graduation as stated on the Teacher Education Preparation Portals  page. 

Office of Graduate Education Programs

The Office of Graduate Education Programs offers a number of possibilities for post-baccalaureate study including Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education, and Master of Science programs as well as Graduate Certificate and Post-Master’s Certificate programs. Additional information and curricula are available on the program pages below.

Programs

• Early Childhood Education Grades PK-3, BS
• Elementary Education Grades 1-5, BS

• Elementary Education Grades 1-5, Minor
• Library Science, Minor
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12, Minor
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Multiple Levels Grades K-12, Minor
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Secondary Education Grades 6-12, Minor

• Elementary Education Grades 1-5, PBC
• Multiple Levels Grades K-12 [Art], PBC
• Multiple Levels Grades K-12 [Music-Instrumental], PBC
• Multiple Levels Grades K-12 [Music-Vocal], PBC
• School Librarian, PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Agriculture], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Biology], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Business], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Chemistry], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [English], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Environmental Science], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [General Science], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Mathematics], PBC
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Social Studies], PBC
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Elementary Education Grades 1-5, PBC
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Secondary Education Grades 6-12, PBC

• Elementary Education Grades 1-5, MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Agriculture], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Biology], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Business], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Chemistry], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Chinese], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [English], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Environmental Science], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [French], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Latin], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Mathematics], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Social Studies], MAT
• Secondary Education Grades 6-12 [Spanish], MAT

• Curriculum and Instruction, Academically Gifted Education Concentration, MEd
• Curriculum and Instruction, Content Literacy in K-12 Education Concentration, MEd
• Curriculum and Instruction, English Learners Concentration, MEd
• Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education Mild/Moderate for Elementary Education Grades 1-5 Concentration, MEd
• Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education Mild/Moderate for Secondary Education Grades 6-12 Concentration, MEd
• Curriculum and Instruction, Transformational Teaching and Learning Concentration, MEd

• Instructional Technology, MS

• English Language Learners, GC
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Elementary Education Grades 1-5, GC
• Special Education Mild/Moderate for Secondary Education Grades 6-12, GC

• Academically Gifted Education, PMC
• Educational Technology Leadership, PMC
• Reading Specialist, PMC