The Wesleyan College Teacher Education Preparation Program has a vision of creating teachers who are prepared to teach in a diverse and multicultural global society, in which students must be able to confront the challenges of an ever changing, demanding, and information-rich technological world. The department’s mission is to educate exemplary teachers, who are committed to the highest levels of teaching and student learning, intellectual growth, and the continued development of their expertise. These exemplary teachers internalize the ideals of a liberal arts education, demonstrate professional knowledge in the classroom, and demonstrate a deep understanding of self reflection and evaluation.
Teacher Education Committee
Teacher Education at Wesleyan College is the responsibility of the College-wide Teacher Education Committee. This Committee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the approval or disapproval of all teaching field programs submitted by the departments, admission of students to teacher education programs, admission of students to student teaching, and recommendation of students for graduation.
Teacher Certification
Initial teacher certification may be obtained as a part of the student’s regular four-year program. Course work is approved and designed to meet standards for certification in Georgia. In addition to a four-year degree from an approved college program, the Professional Standards Commission of the Georgia State Department of Education requires that applicants successfully complete Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Admission Assessment, an assessment of competency in reading, writing, and mathematics, and GACE Content Assessment, an assessment tool measuring content area knowledge.
Candidates wishing to become certified to teach in Georgia schools must demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to have a positive impact on student learning. In order to be recommended for State Certification Candidates must have achieved the following:
- Maintained a 2.5 GPA or higher.
- Earned C’s or above in ALL courses listed on the State approved course list.
- Earned a B or higher in EDU 290: Exceptionalities in Children and Adolescents .
- Completed EDU 490: Student Teaching by assuming the Teacher of Record role for no less than three full weeks (15 days).
- Passed the state approved GACE Elementary Content Exam (this is NOT a requirement for graduation).
Post-Baccalaureate Status
Those individuals interested in teacher certification who have already earned a bachelor’s degree can complete certification requirements within approved programs at Wesleyan. Please see the procedures for obtaining Post-Baccalaureate certification in the catalog.
Teacher Education Degree (Non-Certification)
Students who do not maintain the state requirements (listed above) recommended for certification, or who do not wish to become a classroom teacher, may choose to complete the Elementary Education major without a Teacher Certification recommendation by completing the following:
- Listed in “Good Academic Status” for Wesleyan College.
- Completed EDU 452 in lieu of EDU 490 as the Professional Development Experience (PDE) required of all graduates. Non-Certification Candidates should complete 9 hours of EDU 452 in which they will be placed in a child-focused setting as an assistant or a paraprofessional but will not be expected to assume instructional responsibilities.
Field Experiences and Labs
In order to complete all required field experiences, all education students should have consistent and reliable access to transportation.
Teacher Education is a field-centered educational experience built around goals of attaining certain specified competencies. Students are placed in classrooms in the surrounding school systems for field experiences and educational labs, providing experience and knowledge of the practical aspects of teaching. Field experiences or labs are required in all but one education courses and are of three types as described below:
1. Observations and Field Experience Related to Course Work.
In the teaching field courses (200 level), the student is placed in classrooms for the purpose of observing teacher and student behavior, assisting the teacher, and assisting in instruction. Students are assigned 20 field placement hours in each EDU field experience course. Students need to schedule with their assigned cooperating teacher in order to obtain full credit for the field experience portion in each course.
2. Professional Lab Courses.
In the professional lab courses (300 level), the student is placed in classrooms for the purpose of planning, teaching, and assessing a standards-based, content-specific instructional unit. Students are expected to attend the assigned location for the duration of the semester consistently for three hours each week in each lab related course in order to obtain full credit in the lab course.
3. Clinical Practice (Student Teaching).
Clinical Practice (student teaching 400 level) is the culmination of professional field experience and professional lab course competencies during the candidate’s senior year. Candidates learn and teach for at least 14 weeks in the classroom of a certified teacher who has been selected as being an excellent example of the teaching profession. The EDU 490: Student Teaching course fulfills the College Professional Development Experience (PDE) requirement for Teacher Certification Elementary Education majors.
Integration of Technology
Pre-service teachers at Wesleyan College will use technology to gather information and apply appropriate multimedia tools as they develop and implement quality instruction. Interactive technology-based learning activities are integrated throughout the respective education courses. Students use hardware and software housed in the education classrooms to explore the computer-based educational resources and instructional techniques. Education facilities are networked to the Internet. In addition, education majors are provided opportunities to collaborate on the development, use, and application of instructional technology, STEM related activities and the use of our onsite Maker Space in the college classrooms and in their field-based classrooms.
Course Requirements
In addition to classroom experiences, the Teacher Education Program requires three types of academic work including general education, teaching field components, professional education, and Clinical Practice.
General Education Courses ensure the Candidates have the proficiencies and the background knowledge necessary to teach the content at the K-5 level. In order to receive state certification, a minimum grade of C is required in all required General Education courses.
Teaching Field Component Courses includes those courses specifically geared to providing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to teach diverse children in a professional manner. In order to receive state certification, a minimum grade of C is required in all Teaching Field Component Courses (a B is required for State Certification purposes in EDU 290).
Professional Education Courses allow the Candidate to achieve exceptional competencies in teaching the content required in Elementary Schools. They include courses in the methodology and pedagogy behind the areas of Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies. In order to receive state certification, a minim grade of C is required in all Professional Education Courses.
Clinical Practice Courses (student teaching) must be completed in the public school setting and are arranged by the counties’ placement officials in conjunction with Wesleyan’s field experience coordinator. Wesleyan’s Education faculties supervise students weekly. In order to obtain state certification the candidate must assume the “Teacher of Record” role for a minimum of 15 days (3 full weeks).
Courses related to the major are described below.
Integrative Experience and Professional Development Experience (PDE)
Education students will fulfill the integrative experience through EDR 390 and the PDE experience through EDU 490 or EDU 452 for non-certified candidates.
Pre-Education Major
Admission to Wesleyan College does not guarantee admission to the Education Program. Candidates should declare pre-education as their major and complete all required courses before applying to be fully admitted as an Elementary Education Major.
The Education Program is full time and field experiences, labs, and student teaching take place during the weekdays ranging anywhere from 7:30 am until 4:30 pm and requires the ability to obtain transportation to and from the various locations. Candidates wishing to be recommended for state certification are expected to have and to maintain a 2.5 GPA. Candidates dropping below 2.5 will be evaluated for program admission by the Education Faculty and the Teacher Education Committee (TEC) on a case-by-case basis or may choose to proceed in the non-certification teaching degree option.
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