Education Studies Major
David P. Hildreth, Associate Professor, Chair
Julie Burke, Assistant Professor
Anna Oerther, Assistant Professor
Caryl Schunk, Assistant Professor
Nancy Yoder, Visiting Assistant Professor
The primary goal of the Education Studies program is to develop educators who are grounded in the liberal arts and are self-confident, inquisitive, and thoughtful in their practice. We seek to develop prospective teachers committed to and capable of constructive action in contemporary society. In preparing students to assume professional roles in schools, the program emphasizes understanding educational issues from a global perspective using observation, practice, experimentation and action research to discover how people learn and how schools and other educational settings are made effective.
Throughout the program, faculty and students in the department work together in interactive learning experiences in the classroom and in the field, incorporating practical application with theoretical discussion and exploration. The tutorial sessions, a unique and integral part of the program, engage students and faculty members in one-on-one interchanges in the first- and second-year courses.
Other central components of the program include the portfolio review, a written and oral self-assessment presented by each student to the education studies faculty midway through the major; the cross-cultural internship and inquiry, usually in another country; and the capstone experience after student teaching in which students reflect on their student teaching experiences in relationship to their theoretical and philosophical grounding and explore leadership roles that they may take in the future. Close faculty and student relationships are developed through tutorial sessions, peer group learning, portfolio reviews, field supervision, and the advising system.
The three major curricular components of the program are:
- a strong interdisciplinary liberal arts core required of all students.
- a double or joint major (an education studies major and a major in another academic department).
- a cross-cultural education internship that usually includes a semester abroad.
There are three licensure tracks in the Education Studies major:
- Elementary licensure, grades kindergarten through six.
- Secondary licensure, grades nine through 12, English, and Social Studies.
- K-12 licensure, grades kindergarten through 12, French, and Spanish.
Degrees Offered
The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in education studies.
Major Requirements
Education Studies requires a double or joint major, a variety of field experiences, and in most cases an experience abroad. Because these requirements must be carefully planned, students are encouraged to begin the program by the second semester of the first year. In many cases, students choose to complete the program with its two majors, cross-cultural field experience, and requirements for state and reciprocal licensing in four to four and a half years. Note: the second major must be completed at Guilford.
In accordance with North Carolina state requirements, formal acceptance into the program occurs during the sophomore year and depends upon a 2.50 grade-point average, recommendations, and other pertinent criteria (refer to the Education Studies Program Handbook, which includes Policies and Procedures for Teacher Education, Student Teaching and Licensure. Note: Some requirements may change in accordance with recommendations from state and national accrediting agencies). In addition, each student is required to pass the Praxis I: Academic Skill Assessment administered by the Educational Testing Service, prior to formal admission to the program. Formal admission is necessary for enrollment in advanced Education Studies courses. Enrollment in the college does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Other licensure requirements include passing the appropriate Specialty Area Praxis examinations, completing a technology portfolio, and other criteria as specified by the state. Criminal background checks are also required before student teaching. Criminal background checks and/or drug tests may be required by local education agencies as a condition of employment.
Required courses for all Education Studies majors (28 credit hours) are:
- PSY 224: Developmental Psychology
- the two tutorial courses (EDU 201: Education Inquiry and EDU 202: Learning and Teaching). NOTE: the prerequisite for enrolling in EDU 202 is EDU 201. The department prefers that students take the following courses in sequential order: EDU 201, 202, 203.
- EDU 203: Contemporary/Historical Issues in Education
- EDU 301: Field Study in Cross-Cultural Education
- EDU 440: Student Teaching
- EDU 410 or 420: Student Teaching Seminar
Fieldwork is required in all of these courses.
Additional required courses for secondary and K-12 Majors: EDU 312: Seminar in the Processes of Secondary and K-12 Teaching, or the appropriate specialty area courses (candidates for K-12 Licensure in languages take two courses at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro through a consortium relationship). Students seeking Social Studies and English licensure should refer to History, Political Science and English departmental catalogue descriptions for additional coursework. English students must take ENGL 380: Rhetoric and Composition.
Additional required courses for elementary majors: EDU 306/7/8/9: Seminar in the Processes of Elementary Teaching (includes internship); MATH 103: Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers; and one of the following U.S. History courses: HIST 103, HIST 103 HP, HIST 104, HIST 104 HP, HIST 221 HP, HIST 223, HIST 225.
Recommended course to fulfill Business and Policy Studies requirement: JPS 310.
Please see the online college catalog for a current copy of the Title 2 Teacher Preparation Report.