Education Concentration

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The concentration in Education prepares students to enter the field of teaching. The concentration has two tracks: 1. the traditional student-teaching (licensure) track leading to North Carolina Teaching Licensure in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Latin, French, or Spanish; and 2. the interdisciplinary track designed for students who are interested in education but not currently interested in pursuing teaching licensure—these students might be preparing for graduate school, for teaching at an independent school where licensure is not required, or for obtaining a lateral-entry position in a discipline for which Davidson does not offer licensure (e.g., Art, German, Music, Russian, Theatre).

Requirements:

Licensure Track

Students should meet with the Chair of the Education Department during their first year to plan their schedules and discuss application procedures.

Completion of:

1. Four courses before the final semester of the senior year:

with a grade of “C” or higher;

EDU 121 - History Of Educational Theory And Practice Credits: 1
EDU 242 - Educational Psychology And Teaching Exceptionalities Credits: 1
EDU 243 - Adolescent Development (=PSY 243) Credits: 1
PSY 101 - General Psychology Credits: 1

2. In the final semester of the senior year

complete the student-teaching block by taking the following courses concurrently:

EDU 400 - Organization For Teaching Credits: 1
EDU 410, 411 - Internship In Teaching Credits: 2
EDU 420 - Seminar In Secondary Education Credits: 1
and

3. Prior to student-teaching

achieve designated minimum scores on the Praxis 1 series or minimum scores on the SAT,
earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.5,
provide recommendations from the Dean of Students, the departmental advisor, and one other faculty member regarding the student’s interest and suitability for teaching; and
be approved by the Teacher Education Committee.

Interdisciplinary Track

Completion of six courses with a grade of “C” to include:

1. Theory

EDU 121 - History Of Educational Theory And Practice Credits: 1

2. Three supporting courses from the clusters below

3. Field Placement

EDU 302 - Field Placement In Education Credits: 1
in the final semester;

4. A 300- or 400-level course

other than an independent study in the major that would have particular value to the candidate’s teaching, with prior approval based on an essay demonstrating an intellectual link between the course and education; and

5. No more than two courses which are also part of a student’s major.

Cluster 1 (Learning, Cognition, and Development)

One course selected from the list below.

EDU 241 - Child Development (=PSY 241) Credits: 1
EDU 242 - Educational Psychology And Teaching Exceptionalities Credits: 1
EDU 243 - Adolescent Development (=PSY 243) Credits: 1
PSY 276 - Cognitive Psychology Credits: 1

Cluster 2 (School and Society)

Two courses from one sub-cluster, or one course from a sub-cluster and an additional course from Cluster 1. Two different departments must be represented.

Application Procedure

The concentration in Education is administered by the Teacher Education Committee. The faculty liaison is Dr. Richard Gay. A student must submit written application to the Teacher Education Committee by the last class day of the fall semester of the junior year. The proposal must specify the courses to be used to satisfy the concentration requirements. Certification of completion of all requirements for the concentration is made by the Registrar upon the recommendation of the Teacher Education Committee.