Education Courses

Involvement in some educational service activity in the community. Acceptable activities include tutoring and assisting in public and private schools, youth recreational programs, community day-care facilities or other approved educational service. Requires 30 clock hours of service. Offered fall, January term, spring. 1-2 credits.

Students taking education courses must pass an approved criminal background investigation in order to meet course requirements as a requirement for working with children in a school setting.

An introduction to public schools and the teaching profession, including control of curriculum, the history of American education, philosophies which have influenced educators, how schools are financed, and laws which govern teachers and students. Requires 30 clock hours of field experience in a public school classroom. Students taking this course must successfully complete a criminal background check. 3 credits.

Introduces pre-service teachers to a teaching design under which technology (computer hardware, software, and ancillary equipment) is used to help change how teachers teach and students learn. Students will learn basic computer and multimedia equipment operation, techniques of multimedia authoring and how to use the Internet effectively in teaching across the curriculum. Prerequisite: 150. Offered January Term. 3 credits.

Applications to teaching and school learning of behavioral, cognitive, and humanist learning theories, human development and motivational concepts, and assessment and evaluation procedures. Prerequisite: 150. 4 credits. (IS)

An overview of linguistically and culturally appropriate teaching strategies for teaching English Language Learners (ELL) in the mainstream classroom. A review of current second language learning theory and an application of these theories to planning effective instruction for students with limited English proficiency. An examination of second language development and cultural issues that affect ELL's academic performance in the mainstream classroom. Prerequisites: 150, 230, or consent of instructor. 3 credits. (US)

Current theory and research in first and second language acquisition and issues in linguistics applied to linguistically and culturally diverse students. Topics in language acquisition include historical and current theories, language stages, as well as the factors that influence learning an additional language. Topics in educational linguistics include concepts in phonology, orthography, phonics, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, with a focus on classroom applications. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 240. 3 credits.

Analyze and evaluate the historical, political, socio-cultural, and linguistic issues related to local, state, and federal laws and policies regarding English Language Learners (ELL), their families, schools and community. Assess and advocate for ELL students to develop policies and systems of support for ELL students. Prerequisites: 150, 230. Offered January of even numbered years. 3 credits.

An overview of the philosophy, methods, and materials used in child care, preschool, kindergarten, and primary classrooms. Beginning with birth experiences, following the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children through the primary grades. Educational programs for child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and the primary grades. Requires 30 clock hours of field experience in a preschool setting. Prerequisites: 150, 230, and sophomore standing or consent of instructor. 3 credits.

Projects in several media appropriate for teaching art in the schools. Art teaching methods. Prerequisite: 150. 3 credits. (CS)

An exploration of adolescent development and literacy. Physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children from the intermediate grades through high school. An examination of theories, strategies, and assessment of multiple literacies to enhance learning in secondary subject matter classrooms. Requires 20 clock hours of field experience in a middle school setting. Prerequisites: 150, 230, and sophomore standing or consent of instructor. 3 credits.

Supervised work in a public school setting to develop skills in planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction as well as in establishing a climate conducive to learning. Enrollment by departmental directive for those students who, in the judgment of the department, require more extensive time in a clinical experience at a pre-student teaching level before assuming the responsibilities of student teaching. 1-12 credits.

A broad interdisciplinary examination of the school-society relationship in the United States and of the many issues embedded in this relationship including equal opportunity, students with special needs, human diversity, ideology, politics, and social change. Prerequisites: 150, 230, and junior standing. 4 credits. (IS or US, MWI)

Techniques of classroom teaching: the planning process, implementation of instruction, assessment of learning, use of educational resources, and classroom management. An introduction to teaching methods and classroom management as a foundation for future development in content specific methods courses. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290. 4 credits.

Current curriculum models, materials, teaching approaches and assessment techniques that maximize the language development and academic achievement of English language learners. Emphasizes strategies related to planning, implementing, and managing instruction that enable students in different proficiency levels to access the core curriculum and develop language skills. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 240. Offered January of odd-numbered years. 3 credits.

Theories, concepts, methods, and materials for developing literacy skills in children from primary through fourth grade. Matching instruction to individual student's needs, abilities, and interests. Integrating children's literature. Using assessment to drive instruction. Aligning to state and federal standards. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290, and prerequisites or co-requisites of 302 and 305, or consent of instructor. 4 credits.

Theories, concepts, methods, and materials for developing literacy skills in students from fourth through tenth grade. Matching instruction to individual student's needs, abilities, and interests. Integrating children's and young adult literature. Using assessment to drive instruction. Aligning to state and federal standards. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290, and prerequisites or co-requisites of 302 and 305, or consent of instructor. 4 credits.

Curriculum, methods and assessment in the middle and high school content fields. Assignment to sections based upon teaching major. Observation and application in middle and high school classrooms. May be repeated for credit with different subjects. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 290, and prerequisites or co-requisite of 305, or consent of instructor. Offered fall. 3 credits.

Approaches to teaching mathematics with a focus on how children learn concepts, develop skills, and apply mathematics to their daily lives. Overview of the mathematics curriculum. Emphasis on teaching problem solving, number concepts, technology, basic operations with whole and rational numbers, probability and statistics, geometry, measurement, and algebra. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290, 302, 305, 401, or consent of instructor. 3 credits.

Dimensions of science; science curriculum, observation, model building, discrepant events, inquiry, application of the scientific process, reporting findings, resources for teaching science, and assessment of science education. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290, 302, 305, 401, or consent of instructor. 3 credits.

Current trends in social studies, inquiry, discovery and group processes, creative activities and experiences, community resources, technology in social studies, thematic and integrative planning. Prerequisites: 150, 230, 270 or 290, and prerequisites or co-requisites of 302 and 305, or consent of instructor. 3 credits.

Offered fall, January, spring. 1-5 credits.

Supervised work experience in public school classrooms with students from age three through primary grades. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: admission to student teaching. 4 credits (part-time) or 12 credits (full-time).

Supervised work experience in public school classrooms with students in intermediate elementary grades. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: admission to student teaching. 4 credits (part-time) or 12 credits (full-time).

Supervised work experience in public school classrooms with students in middle school/junior high. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: admission to student teaching. 4 credits (part-time) or 12 credits (full-time).

Supervised work experience in public school classrooms with students in high school. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: admission to student teaching. 4 credits (part-time) or 12 credits (full-time).

Examination of topics related to entering the teaching profession, challenges associated with student teaching and personal teaching effectiveness. Prerequisites: admission to student teaching. Taken concurrently with Full-Time Student Teaching. 1 credit.

Examination of topics related to beginning student teaching, challenges associated with student teaching, and personal teaching effectiveness. Prerequisite: admission to student teaching. Taken concurrently with Part-Time Student Teaching. 1 credit.