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Academic Catalog '14-'15 | Education (Undergraduate Programs)

Education (Undergraduate Programs)

 

Faculty

Dr. Cynthia Calderone, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Bweikia Steen, Assistant Professor of Education and Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs
Faculty in the School of Education also support Trinity’s undergraduate education program.

Description

Undergraduate Major & Minor Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences offers two different majors in early childhood education and elementary education as well as a minor in education.

The education majors prepare students for teaching careers either in early childhood education (ages 3-8) or in elementary education (grades 1-6). Candidates who successfully complete either B.A. major and fulfill the other requirements set by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (O.S.S.E.) are eligible for teacher certification in D.C. and in other jurisdictions, as determined by reciprocity agreements.

Trinity’s education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (N.C.A.T.E.) and approved by O.S.S.E.

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may also pursue a minor in education. Completion of minor requirements only will not satisfy certification requirements in D.C.

B.A. to M.A.T. Program

Education minors (as well as all of Trinity’s undergraduates) may well be interested in pursuing a Master's of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Trinity’s School of Education. The M.A.T. is offered in early childhood, elementary, or special education as well as selected areas of secondary education (English and social studies). A student must have a 3.0 G.P.A. in the content area in which he or she wishes to teach. Prospective students for Trinity’s M.A.T. program should refer to the School of Education’s Policy on the State Required Examinations.

Program Requirements

Acceptance Criteria and Advising

Formal acceptance into the major programs requires:

  1. Qualifying scores on state-designated teacher licensure examinations (Praxis I, ACT, or SAT)
  2. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all non-EDCC or EDTE courses
  3. A minimum grade of “B” (3.0) in all EDCC and EDTE courses
  • Note: The Praxis I exam may only be attempted twice.  Students who do not earn qualifying scores after the second attempt can submit a petition to attempt the test a third time.

Interested students should direct any questions about the process for formal acceptance into the education major or minor to their undergraduate advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students majoring or minoring in education should follow the required sequence of courses. This course sequence is designed to contribute to a liberal arts education while preparing students in content areas that, as elementary teachers, they will be teaching.

Field-Based Instruction

Teacher preparation at Trinity emphasizes field-based instruction that includes a series of integrated field experiences and practicum experiences at different grade/age levels in a variety of school settings. The education major requires a one-semester full-time internship of supervised student teaching after the successful completion of all education course work and the Praxis II exam (see below for application procedures).

Application for Student Teaching

Undergraduate students may not student teach until all of the following conditions are met:

  1. General Education Requirements are completed,
  2. Educational Core courses are completed,
  3. Education Methods Courses are completed, and
  4. Praxis II is passed.

During the semester before prospective teachers plan to student teach, they must submit an application for student teaching. This form must be signed by the student and the student’s advisor in the major (a CAS professional advisor’s signature is not acceptable). Failure to complete this form and obtain the requisite approvals may disqualify prospective teachers from student teaching. The completed and signed form is due to the program within two weeks of the opening of registration for the semester in which the student wishes to student teach.

Major Requirements

College of Arts and Sciences students majoring in both education programs must complete a set of required courses for their specialization in either early childhood or elementary education. Students must provide evidence of qualifying scores on the Praxis I, A.C.T., S.A.T., or G.R.E. prior to registering for education courses at the 400-level or above. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in the recommended sequence.

Majors must earn a minimum grade of “B” (3.0) in all Education (EDCC and EDTE) courses to fulfill requirements for the major as well as earn an overall G.P.A. of at least a 3.0.

Early Childhood Education

Required Courses (19 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

EDCC 220
EDCC 250
EDTE 301
EDCC 330
EDCC 340
EDTE 401
EDTE 232

Early Childhood Specialization Courses (35 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

EDTE 321
EDTE 421
EDTE 430
EDTE 432
EDTE 434
EDTE 436

ONE course in child psychology

PSYC 231

TWO teaching practica

EDTE 490
EDTE 491

ONE supervised internship in student teaching:

EDTE 471

ONE senior seminar:

EDTE 499

Elementary Education

Required Courses (19 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

EDCC 220
EDCC 250
EDTE 301
EDCC 330
EDCC 340
EDTE 401
EDTE 232

Elementary Specialization Courses (35 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

EDTE 321
EDTE 421
EDTE 422
EDTE 423
EDTE 424
EDTE 425

ONE course in child psychology

PSYC 231

TWO teaching practica

EDTE 490
EDTE 491

ONE supervised internship in student teaching:

EDTE 473

ONE senior seminar:

EDTE 499

Minor Requirements

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may pursue a minor in education. Students minoring in education must complete 19 credits of course work. Completion of Minor requirements ONLY will NOT satisfy standard certification requirements of the District of Columbia.

Education minors must earn a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 in all Education core courses (EDCC 220) and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in Education methods courses (all EDTE courses) to fulfill requirements for the minor.

Required Courses (19 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

EDCC 220
EDTE 301
EDTE 321
EDCC 330
EDCC 340

Choose ONE of the following courses in child psychology:

PSYC 231
PSYC 233

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:

Credits earned through Advanced Placement Examinations may fulfill general education for certification courses in cases where the student has earned a 4 or 5 on the examination and the credits have been reviewed by education faculty members.

CLEP Policy:
Credits earned through CLEP Examinations may fulfill general education for certification courses in cases where the student has earned a score that confers credit following the guidelines of the ACE and the credits have been reviewed by education faculty members.

Attendance Policy:
In all 300- and 400-level EDCC/EDTE courses, two late arrivals or early departures of 20 minutes or more constitute a single class absence, and any student with class absences or the equivalent that total more than 2 weeks’ worth of class meetings automatically fail the course. Faculty teaching EDCC/EDTE courses at the 200-level may adopt this policy in their syllabi as well, and faculty teaching EDCC/EDTE courses at any level may adopt a stricter policy in their syllabi.

Grades in Education Courses:
To fulfill requirements for the major or the minor, undergraduate students are required to earn a minimum grade of B (3.0) in all education courses (EDCC and EDTE).  In addition, majors must earn an overall G.P.A. of at least a 3.0.

Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling the major or minor — including general education courses required for certification — may not be taken Pass/No Pass.

Student Assessment:
Assessments of student proficiencies required of students in the major or minor are further described on the School of Education page, concerning the Student Assessment System.

Study Abroad:
Courses taken through a study abroad program approved by Trinity may count toward general education courses required for certification, pending review and approval by education faculty and the faculty of the appropriate academic program. In general, education courses taken abroad will not count toward the major or minor.

Praxis Policy:
Students must provide evidence of qualifying scores on the Praxis I, A.C.T., S.A.T., or G.R.E. prior to registering for education courses at the 400-level or above. The Praxis I exam may only be attempted twice.  Students who do not earn qualifying scores after the second attempt can submit a petition to attempt the test a third time.

Experiential Credit Policy:
Credits earned through experience may count toward general education courses required for certification, pending review and approval by education faculty and the faculty of the appropriate academic program. In general, experiential credits may not substitute for education courses counted toward the major or minor.

Transfer Credits:
Transfer credits may be awarded only after appropriate program review. Courses at the 400-level and above must be completed at Trinity. Courses taken as part of the School of Education program of study must be taken at Trinity.

Course Descriptions

Explanation of Course Prefixes and Numbers
Courses designated “EDCC” are education core and common courses across various programs in the School of Education. Courses designated “EDTE” are largely specific to the teacher education program. Students must provide evidence of qualifying scores on the Praxis I, A.C.T., S.A.T., or G.R.E. prior to registering for education courses at the 400-level or above.

EDCC - Education Core and Common Courses

EDCC 220
EDCC 250
EDCC 330
EDCC 340
EDCC 498

EDTE -Teacher Education Courses

EDTE 301
EDTE 321
EDTE 341
EDTE 401
EDTE 421
EDTE 422
EDTE 423
EDTE 424
EDTE 425
EDTE 430
EDTE 432
EDTE 434
EDTE 436
EDTE 441
EDTE 473
EDTE 490
EDTE 498
EDTE 499
EDTE 503


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Questions may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@trinitydc.edu.

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