Teacher Education Committee
Teacher education is an institution-wide committee at William Carey University. The 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.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Teacher education programs at William Carey University are designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. Completion of a teacher education program does not guarantee licensure. The student must meet all requirements specified by the Mississippi Department of Education and current law, which are subject to change after publication of this catalog. The current requirements for licensure, if different from those described herein, shall supersede this publication.
Students who intend to apply for licensure in Mississippi should refer to the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure (http://mdek12.org/OEL) for the most current licensure requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.
William Carey University cannot determine whether any program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. Students who intend to seek licensure in another state should verify that their program of study at WCU meets the desired state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling.
Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education
I. Program Admission Requirements and Procedures
- Students must apply for admission to the professional program in teacher education prior to taking courses in education.
- Students should apply for admission by the end of their sophomore year in college. Transfer students should apply prior to registering for their first trimester of courses at Carey.
- 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 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.
- The School of Education provides students liability insurance from Mississippi Professional Educators before field experience begins.
- Students must be formally admitted to teacher education before being allowed to take more than six hours (secondary majors) or nine hours (elementary majors) of 300-level education courses. (See #5)
- Prior to formal admission to teacher education, elementary education applicants must complete EDU 3000 , EDU 3001 , EDU 3720 , and EDR 3060 with a minimum grade of ‘C’; secondary and K-12 education majors must complete EDU 3000 , EDU 3001 , and EDU 3720 with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
- Students must score emerging or higher on WCU’s Professional Dispositions before admission to teacher education.
- All applications for admission to teacher education are 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).
II. Program Progression Requirements
- Transition Point 1:
- Complete the General Education Curriculum/Bachelor of Science curriculum for education majors (44 hours) with a 2.75+ GPA.
- Transition Point 2: Pre-Admission
- Complete remaining general education, interdisciplinary, and readiness courses (35-36 hours).
- Complete EDU 3000, EDU 3001, EDU 372, and EDR 3060 with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
- Transition Point 3: Admission to the Teacher Education Program
- One of the following:
- ACT Composite Score of 21 or above and a 2.75+ GPA.
- Qualifying Scores on the Praxis Core Reading (156), Writing (162), and Math (130) and a 2.75+ GPA.
- Complete the General Education Curriculum/Bachelor of Science curriculum for education majors (60 hours) with a 3.0+ GPA.
- Must have completed a background check with fingerprinting and received clearance.
- Continuous Enrollment - Once a student passes the criminal background check and/or is admitted to a teacher education licensure program, continuous enrollment is recommended. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment (fall, winter, and spring terms) must seek readmission to the university and may be required to seek readmission to teacher education. Readmission to teacher education may require the student to meet additional academic requirements and/or to pass a subsequent criminal background check.
- Complete all degree coursework with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
- Maintain a 2.75+ cumulative GPA.
- Meet Professional Dispositions expectations.
- Transition Point 4: Admission to Year-Long Residency
- Participate in pre-residency activities.
- Teacher candidates are encouraged to take the professional knowledge (Principles of Learning and Teaching - PLT) and the specialty area examinations (PRAXIS II) during Residency I.
- All teacher candidates must have attempted the PLT and PRAXIS II prior to beginning Residency II.
- Elementary Education majors must have attempted the Pearson Foundations of Reading examination prior to beginning Residency II.
- During Residency II, students must score a minimum of 80% on the following statewide common measures:
- Professional Dispositions – Scored by the University Supervisor
- TIAI Evaluations – Scored by the University Supervisor and Cooperating Teacher
- Impact on Student Learning Assignment – Scored by the University Supervisor
III. K-12 and Secondary Subject Areas
In addition to elementary education, William Carey University offers K-12 and secondary teacher education programs. K-12 education programs include music (choral and instrumental) and physical education. Secondary education programs include English, mathematics, and social studies. All programs adhere to the same admission, progression, professional standards, and academic rigor as stated herein. Each program requires completion of the General Education Curriculum, professional education courses, and courses within the specialty area of study and licensure. Except for music education, which requires its own set of professional education courses, all teacher education programs require, at a minimum, the following professional education courses: EDU 3000 , EDU 3001 , EDU 3720 , EDU 4360 , EDU 4780 , EDU 4840 or EDU 4960 , PSY 2010 , PSY 2020 , PSY 2030 or PSY 2050 , and PSY 2040 . Refer to the School of Music in this catalog for music education (choral and instrumental) program requirements.
IV. Professional Standards
The Education Professional Standards Committee formally reviews the status of students formally admitted to the professional program in teacher education and takes appropriate action in the following instances:
- at each transition point of the program;
- 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 such as when the student has consistent failing grades and failure to make timely progress;
- when the student makes application for Residency I and Residency II;
- 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 Residency II; and
- when the teacher candidate completes Residency II and the program advisor approves the final review of program for graduation and licensure.
V. Residency II - Student Teaching
A teacher candidate may enroll in Residency II - Student Teaching (EDU 4830 /EDU 4840 /EDU 4960 ) in one of the cooperating school districts during his/her senior year provided the following requirements have been met:
- Senior standing (completed at least 90 semester hours).
- Have been admitted to teacher education for one trimester.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA > 2.75.
- Have a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all professional education courses.
- Have a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all courses in major teaching field.
- Hold a valid Pre-service License from the Mississippi Department of Education.
- Have approval of the chair of the curriculum and instruction department and director of Residency I.
- Must pass Residency I, have the approval of the director of student teaching, and have attempted all licensure exams required by Mississippi Department of Education.
- Must have completed all specialty and professional courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
- Special permission from the chair of the department of curriculum and instruction must be secured to take courses during or after Residency II.
Licensure applications cannot be processed until all requirements are met.
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