Education Studies
Department |
Program | Courses
Program
The Education Studies Department currently offers two major programs: the B.A. in Education Studies, for students interested in pursuing the study of education without certification; and the B.A. in Education Studies with Elementary Certification P-5, for those who wish to become certified to teach at the Primary (P) through 5th grade level. A third program in the Department, the B.A. in Education Studies with Middle Grades Certification 5-9, for those who wish to become certified to teach at the 5th through 9th grade level, will not be available to new majors until further notice.
The Education Studies Department also offers courses
for students majoring in other departments that provide
the option of teacher certification. Students interested
in teaching may pursue certification for grades 8-12
in English, Mathematics, and Social Studies; for grades
5-12 in Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology;
for grades P-12 in Art, Music, and Physical Education;
and for Birth-Kindergarten in Interdisciplinary Early
Childhood Education. Specific requirements for each
program are listed under the appropriate academic program
elsewhere in this section of the Catalog,
in addition to the information in the "Requirements
for All Students Seeking Certification," which
follows.
Students seeking certification at all levels conclude their preparation with a pre-professional Spring Term practicum
and a professional Fall Term of Student Teaching and related activities.
Requirements for
All Students Seeking Certification
Becoming a teacher requires that candidates meet specific criteria at stated points during the preparation process:
1) admission to Berea’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the seventh (7th) term of attendance; 2) admission to Student Teaching in the eighth term; 3) successful completion of Student Teaching; and 4) recommendation for certification. Criteria at these checkpoints include an Education Portfolio that satisfactorily demonstrates students’ developing understandings, skills, and dispositions as they pertain to Berea’s TEP goals and to the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board’s (EPSB’s) New Teacher Standards. Portfolios must address all teaching fields for which certification is sought.
Specific Criteria for Admission to the
Teacher Education Program
For admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at Berea, students must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate a commitment to high standards of academic effort and achievement, and a minimum 2.5 overall GPA.
- Earn no grade lower than a C in major and/or certification field, collateral, academic specialization (5-9),
and Education Studies courses.
- Complete three-fourths of course work in the major by the end of the seventh (7th) term.
- Complete satisfactorily EDS 150, 227 or 228, 349, and 355 (or an approved alternative).
- Submit passing scores from the required PRAXIS content test(s). Scores MUST be received no later than
September 15 in the candidate’s seventh (7th) term. (The IECE test, which replaces the PRAXIS requirement for
that major, currently is under revision and is not required until further notice from the EPSB.)
- Submit the following required forms when requesting reimbursement for PRAXIS test: Application to TEP;
Health and Character Profile; Student Curriculum Contract and Code of Ethics, both signed; Waivers (three).
- Submit a satisfactory TEP Education Portfolio, which represents the candidate as an individual who intends to become a teacher, by the end of the third week in September of the seventh (7th) term (see the TEP Education Portfolio Guidelines for each certification area; and the Portfolio Rubric for Admission to the TEP).
- Receive a favorable and substantive recommendation from someone not related by blood or marriage who can comment on the candidate's recent work with children of the ages the candidate is preparing to teach. (To be placed in the Education Portfolio.)
- Receive favorable recommendations from the major department and the Education Studies Department.
- Exhibit proficiency in communication in all areas essential to teaching as displayed in classes, course work, written statements, and interviews. (Candidates’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills are essential considerations in the recommendations of the Education Studies and major departments.)
- Show no evidence or history of physical or psychological impairments that would preclude teaching success;
no record of felonies or serious misdemeanors; no history of, nor existing problem with, substance abuse or chemical dependency.
- Receive clearance that the candidate is not on academic, labor, or social probation.
- Sign a commitment to abide by the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board’s Code of Ethics for
Kentucky Educators, and show no evidence of willful failure to maintain that commitment.
- Additional specific expectations are embodied in the requirements of the TEP Education Portfolio and the description
of required courses in the candidate’s Curriculum Guide for each major with teacher certification.
Specific Criteria for Admission to Student Teaching (Ninth Term)
Stage I: Due at submission of portfolio during the pre-professional term in the eighth term (Spring Term):
- Admission to the Teacher Education Program, and continued meeting of all requirements for admission to the TEP.
- Demonstration of commitment to high standards of academic effort and achievement, with attainment of a minimum GPA of 2.50 in major, collateral, specialization, and Education Studies courses, and overall.
- Demonstration of moral, social, and ethical behavior consistent with the values and commitments of Berea’s Teacher Education Program and with the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board’s Code of Ethics.
- Satisfactory Student Teaching Portfolio for the major teaching field in which certification is sought, submitted to the Education Adviser by April 30. (See Student Teaching Portfolio Guidelines for each specific certification area and Portfolio Rubric for Admission to Student Teaching)
- A favorable recommendation from the classroom teacher with whom candidate worked during pre-professional placement. (To be placed in Education Portfolio.)
- Favorable recommendations from: A) Education Studies Department; B) the Education Adviser on behalf of the academic department; and C) the Berea College Labor and Student Life Office.
- Completion of application materials by the dates required.
Stage II: Must be received by the Education Studies Department prior to the start of Student Teaching in the
ninth term, (Fall Term):
- Grade of B or above in each EDS course taken in the pre-professional term.
- A passing score on the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test required for certification. (This must be submitted to the Education Studies Department’s administrative assistant by August 15 prior to the beginning of the Student Teaching Term.)
- Verification of a current medical examination, including a negative tuberculosis test. (This must be submitted to the Education Studies Department’s administrative assistant by May 10 of the 8th term.)
- Criminal Background Check clearance (national and state checks initiated by mid-May through assigned student
teaching placement).
Criteria for Recommendation for Certification:
- Favorable recommendations from cooperating teachers and College Student Teaching supervisor(s) based upon performance in meeting the New Teacher Standards and Berea College’s Teacher Education Program Goals.
- Favorable recommendation from the Education Studies Department based upon the candidate’s reflection of the values and commitments that underlie Berea College’s Teacher Education Program and adherence to the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board’s Code of Ethics.
- No grade lower than a B in any Student Teaching course.
- Satisfactory Eligibility Portfolio demonstrating competency in each field in which certification is sought that meets all New Teacher Standards (see specific major’s requirements).
- Completion of application for certification and related materials.
Major Requirements
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