Education Studies Major

David P. Hildreth, Associate Professor, Chair
Julie Burke, Assistant Professor
Anna Oerther, Assistant Professor
Caryl Schunk, Associate 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 two licensure tracks in the Education Studies major:

• Elementary licensure, grades kindergarten through six.
• Secondary licensure, grades nine through 12, English, and Social Studies.

 

Degrees Offered

The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in education studies.

Major Requirements

 

Education studies requires a second disciplinary  major, a variety of field experiences and, in most cases, a teaching experience abroad. These requirements must be carefully planned. Students are encouraged to begin the program by the second semester of their first year. Although, with careful planning and advising, students complete the program with its two majors, cross-cultural field experience and requirements for state and reciprocal licensing in four years, students can opt to take 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. A 2.50 grade-point average (from Guilford College),  faculty recommendations, a passing PRAXIS I score or its equivalent 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.) Criminal background checks are required before student teaching. Criminal background checks and/or drug tests may be required by local education agencies as a condition of employment. Formal admission to the teacher licensure program is necessary for enrollment in advanced education studies courses. Enrollment in the college does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

There are other licensure requirements specified by the state Department of Public Instruction prior to the final procurement of a teaching license. These requirements do change. The education studies department intentionally keeps students informed on state and national policies that affect their eligibility for licensure and makes the appropriate accommodations in the program.

Required courses for all education studies majors, a minimum of 36 credit hours (7 courses):
1.  PSY 224 Developmental Psychology	4 credits
2.  EDUC 201 Education Inquiry: First Tutorial	4 credits
3.  EDUC 202 Learning and Teaching: Second Tutorial	4 credits
4.  EDUC 203 Contemporary/Historical Issues in Education	4 credits
5.  EDUC 301 Field Study in Cross-Cultural Education or EDUC 302	4 credits
6.  EDUC 440 Student Teaching	12 credits
7.  EDUC 410 or 420 Student Teaching Seminar *Note:  for secondary majors, 420/440 is only offered in the fall	4 credits
Additional required courses for elementary majors:
8.  MATH 103 Math for Elementary School Teachers	4 credits
9.  One course from:	4 credits
HIST 103 The US to 1877
HIST 104 The US since 1877
HIST 221 Changing Face of the South
HIST 223 Gender & Power in US History
HIST 225 African American History
10.  EDUC 306 Seminar in the Processes of Elementary Teaching I	4 credits
11.  EDUC 307 Seminar in the Processes of Elementary Teaching II	4 credits
12.  EDUC 308 Seminar in the Processes of Elementary Teaching III	4 credits
13.  EDUC 309 Seminar in the Processes of Elementary Teaching IV	4 credits
NOTE: EDUC 306,7, 8 & 9 are co-requisites and must be taken together
Total credit hours required for A.B. degree in elementary education	60 credits
Additional requirements for Secondary Licensure in English *A double major in English is required
8.  EDUC 312 Seminar in the Processes of Secondary and
K-12 Teaching (offered in Spring semester only)	4 credits
9.  EDUC 313 Sem in the Processes of Sec and
K-12 Teaching Theory into Practice (offered in Spring semester only)	4 credits
10.  ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition	4 credits
Total credit hours required for A.B. degree with Secondary licensure in English	48 credits
Additional requirements for Secondary Licensure in Social Studies *A double major in History is required
8.   EDUC 312 Seminar in the Processes of Secondary and
K-12 Teaching (offered in Spring semester only)	4 credits
9.   EDUC 313 Sem in the Processes of Sec and
K-12 Teaching Theory into Practice (offered in Spring semester only)	4 credits
10.  PSCI 101 The American Political System	4 credits
11.  PSCI 103 International Relations or PSCI 105 Comparative Politics	4 credits
12.  ECON 221 Macro: US in World Econ	4 credits
Total credit hours required for A.B. degree with secondary licensure in social studies	56 credits