Education

Graduation Requirements

Goals of the Teacher Education Program

To prepare facilitators of learning for secondary schools, the program addresses the following goals:

1. to provide a program of studies constituting a liberal education;
2. to provide an academic major constituting in-depth knowledge of subject matter appropriate for teaching in secondary schools;
3. to provide a sequence of professional studies courses and experiences leading to pedagogical proficiency.  

Teacher Licensure

Through a series of articulation agreements with Duke University, Queens University of Charlotte, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Davidson College provides a course of study leading to North Carolina initial licensure/certification at the secondary level in the fields of English, French (K-12), Latin, Mathematics, Spanish (K-12), Science (which includes majors in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), and Social Studies (which includes majors in Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Religion).  Through reciprocity agreements, North Carolina licenses are accepted in forty-two additional states. For more detailed information, interested students should contact the chair of the Department of Education during the first or second year. The Teacher Education Program Handbook is available on the Education Department Web page and provides all details related to licensing procedures.

General Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements of the major, students in the Teacher Education Program must take the following courses: Education 121, 242, 243, and Psychology 101. Students must also have minimum scores designated by the State of North Carolina on the Praxis Series or minimum scores on the SAT prior to applying to the Teacher Education Program.

Admission Requirements

Formal admission to the Teacher Education Program usually occurs during the second or third year. Students complete an “Admission to the Teacher Education Program’’ form and meet the following guidelines:

1. proficiency in oral and written communications through completion of core requirements and interviews with the Education Department faculty;
2. state designated minimum scores on the Praxis I series (Pre-Professional Skills Test) or minimum scores on the SAT;
3. successful completion (grade of “C” or better) of two of the following four courses: Psychology 101; Education 121, 242, or 243;
4. a minimum overall GPA of 2.5;
5. a recommendation from the Dean of Students, the departmental advisor, and one other faculty member regarding the student’s interest and suitability for teaching;
6. approval of the Teacher Education Committee; and
7. approval of the Department of Education faculty and chair.

Student Teaching

Students take Education 400, 410–411, and 420 concurrently in one semester during the senior year that is reserved for student teaching. No additional courses can be taken at this time. The criteria for admission to student teaching include:

1. admission to the Teacher Education Program;
2. a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5;
3. a minimum grade point average in the teaching field of 2.0;
4. completion of all professional education courses with no grade below “C;’’ and
5. recommendation by the chair of the Education Department and approval of the Teacher Education Committee.

Concentration

Education Courses

• EDU 100W - Growing Up “Jim Crow”
• EDU 121 - History of Educational Theory and Practice
• EDU 221 - Contemporary Educational Theory and Practice
• EDU 240 - Reading, ‘Riting, and Race: The Racial Achievement Gap
• EDU 241 - Child Development (= PSY 241)
• EDU 242 - Educational Psychology and Teaching Exceptionalities
• EDU 243 - Adolescent Development (= PSY 243)
• EDU 250 - Social Diversity and Inequality in Education
• EDU 300 - Seminar: Special Topics in Education
• EDU 301 - Independent Study in Education
• EDU 302 - Field Placement in Education
• EDU 400 - Organization for Teaching
• EDU 410, 411 - Internship in Teaching
• EDU 420 - Seminar in Secondary Education