Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Teacher Education Committee
Teacher education is considered to be an institution-wide function at William Carey University. The teacher education committee broadly represents the departments interested in the preparation of teachers for elementary and secondary schools.
The teacher education committee formulates and reviews policies for teacher education consistent with state law and subject to the approval of the university administration. These policies deal with dispositions, philosophy and objectives, organization and administration, curricula and student personnel services. Curriculum changes must be approved by the academic council and/or the undergraduate committee.
Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education
- Admission procedures:
- Students need to make application for admission to the professional program in teacher education prior to taking courses in education.
- Students should make application for admission by the end of their sophomore year in college. Transfer students should make application prior to registering for their first trimester of courses at Carey.
- All students enrolled in education must have clearance of criminal background checks prior to participating in clinical activities (field-based practica). After initial enrollment, any subsequent disciplinary actions, arrests, charges, addiction or impairment (alcohol or drugs) shall also be reported immediately to the dean of education. Failure to report any and all subsequent disciplinary actions, arrests, charges, addiction or impairment will constitute falsification of records and may result in denial of licensure as an educator. All students must complete a certified background check that includes fingerprinting. After the report has been processed, the student will receive an ID card which is to be worn during all field practica and the final internship.
- All students must purchase liability insurance from one of the following professional organizations: American Federation of Teachers, Mississippi Association of Educators, or Mississippi Professional Educators.
- All students must be formally admitted before they will be permitted to take more than six hours (secondary majors) or nine hours (elementary majors) of 300 level education courses. A student who has not been admitted will not be permitted to take 400 level education courses.
- and and must score a “C” or better in the first six hours of teacher education course work.
- All teacher candidates must score emerging or higher on WCU’s Professional Dispositions before admission to teacher education.
- All applications for admission will be processed by the School of Education faculty. A file will be maintained on each student. Admission requirements are subject to change should the Mississippi Department of Education change licensure requirements.
- Students who make proper application will be admitted to teacher education and be referred to as teacher candidates when they meet these requirements for Transition Point One (admission/core):
Transition Point 1:
• Complete Bachelor of Science Core (44-45 hours) with a 2.75+
Transition Point 2:
• Pre-Admission: complete additional general education, interdisciplinary and readiness courses (39 hours)
• EDU 3000/3001 and EDU 372 with a final grade of C or above
Transition Point 3:
• Admission to the Teacher Education Program
- One of the following:
- ACT Composite Score of 21 or above
- Qualifying Scores on the Praxis Core Reading (156), Writing (162), AND Math (130)
- Bachelor of Science Core 3.0+
• Complete degree coursework - must be passed with a C or above
- Maintain an overall GPA of 2.75+
- Meet expectations as per Professional Dispositions
Transition Point 4:
• Admission to Residency
o Clinical Participation – 80% or above average
- Professional Dispositions – University Supervisor
- TIAI Evaluations – University Supervisor
- Lesson Planning – University Supervisor
D. Must have completed a background check with fingerprinting and receive clearance.
E. All teacher candidates must have successfully completed PRAXIS Core Academics for Educators tests—Reading, Writing, and Mathematics—prior to acceptance into teacher education or have an ACT score of 21 or higher. Teacher candidates are encouraged to take the professional knowledge (Principles of Learning and Teaching) and the specialty area examinations at least one trimester before residency II. The teacher candidates must present passing scores on PRAXIS II, PLT and specialty area to the School of Education and Foundations of Reading before they are allowed to begin Residency II.
II. Progression procedures:
The Education Professional Standards Committee will review the status of students formally admitted to the professional program in teacher education and will take proper action in the following instances:
- when advisors or other faculty members request to review the continued eligibility of a student;
- when advisors, faculty, or host school personnel recognize continual disposition related infractions by a teacher candidate;
- when the grades of a teacher candidate warrant such a review (consistent failing grades, a failure to make normal progress); Transition Point Two;
- when the student makes application for Residency I and Residency II; Transition Point Three;
- when the supervising teacher (university and/or site-based), the school principal, or the director of student teaching indicates unsatisfactory progress in Residency I or student teaching (Residency II); Transition Point Three;
- when the advisor approves the final review of program; Transition Point Four (graduation and licensure).
Teacher Education Liberal Arts Core
Teacher candidates seeking teacher certification must fulfill 44-46 hours of particular liberal arts core courses for admission to teacher education.
Special Subject Areas
Teacher candidates who want to teach in the areas of art, music (vocal and instrumental), and physical education are licensed to teach grades K-12. Those teacher candidates pursuing degree programs that meet K-12 licensure requirements must complete the university core (outlined elsewhere in this catalog for the B.A., B.S., B.F.A., and B.M. degrees), additional teacher education core courses, the specialty area courses listed within the respective departments, and professional courses including , , , , , , , , or , and . See Music for individual requirements.
Licensure Procedure
Teacher candidates are responsible for making the proper application to the Mississippi Department of Education, for requesting their licensure. Forms are available in the department of curriculum and instruction office. The student must also fill out a release-of-records form.
Completion of the teacher education program does not guarantee licensure. The student must meet all requirements specified by the Mississippi Department of Education and current law.
NOTE: All education programs and requirements are subject to change due to requirements set forth by the Mississippi Department of Education and state law. The current requirements for licensure—if different from this catalog—will supersede the catalog descriptions. New federal legislation requires each state to submit a definition for highly qualified teachers which adheres to federal guidelines.
Major
Minor
Other Programs
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
The purpose of the department is to provide individuals seeking a degree with the knowledge necessary to educate others about wellness for life. It is also the aim of the department to give physical education majors, minors, and coaches a clear understanding of procedures, methods, techniques, and materials for effective, competent teaching and coaching.
The department offers degrees in physical education; health, physical education and recreation; and physical education and health teacher licensure. Minors are offered in coaching; health and physical education; and recreation. The various paths towards majors and minors are as follows:
Major
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Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, B.A.
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Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, B.S.
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Physical Education, B.A.
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Physical Education, B.S.
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Physical Education, Teacher Licensure, B.A.
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Physical Education, Teacher Licensure, B.S.
