Education

Majors:

Biology Education
Elementary Education
English Language Arts Education
Health/Physical Education Teaching P-12
Mathematics Education
Music: Instrumental Education P-12
Music: Vocal/Choral Education P-12
Religious Education
Social Science Education

Purpose
The purpose of the Department of Education is the "holistic preparation of teachers for service in a multicultural society." The programs are designed to prepare teachers for certification in Seventhday Adventist church schools and in public school systems, as well as for graduate study in education and related fields. The unit’s conceptual framework is built on the theme--”Holistic Preparation of Teachers for Service in a Multicultural Society” and provides the framework for the teaching and assessment systems. The fifteen conceptual framework outcomes are clearly identified in every aspect of teaching and of the assessment system to help students gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become effective teachers (see Conceptual Framework outcomes on unit website, Internship Handbook, and Policy Handbook).

Accreditation

The Teacher Education Program is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and it is approved by the Alabama State Department of Education, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Department of Education, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Teaching Certification: grades K-8.

Secondary Education
The following teaching areas are offered in secondary education: Biology Education, English Language Arts Education, Mathematics Education, Religious Education, and Social Science Education. Religious education majors are certified by the church. However, if state certification is desired, a second teaching field (state approved) must be pursued in order to be eligible for state certification (see education advisor).

Students pursuing secondary education must have earned an academic major in the appropriate discipline except Physical Education and Religion.

P-12 Programs
The following teaching areas are offered in pre-school through grade 12 programs: music education instrumental (P-12), music education vocal-choral (P-12), and physical education teaching (P-12).

These curricula allow students, upon graduation, to apply for Alabama Class B Certification: P-12; and SDA Basic Teaching Certification: K-12. The certification requirements for the North American Division states that “an applicant for denominational teaching certificate must be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as outlined in the employment policies of the union conference education code.” (See Certification Requirements K-12 for North American Division Seventh-day Adventist Schools.)

The North American Division of Education and the Alabama State Board of Education periodically revise the requirements governing certification. Therefore, requirements for degrees leading to certification are subject to change from those published in this catalog. The student is required to seek advisement from the Education Department at the beginning of his/her program of study to ensure that both degree requirements and certification requirements are met.

Application for Admission
Admission to Oakwood University does not mean admission to a teacher education program. Criteria for admission into teacher education include the following:

1. A formal written application for admission to teacher education submitted after completion of at least 60 semester hours, including 48 hours of general education.
2. No candidate may take more than five professional courses before admission into the program. The courses are the following: ED 130, ED 200, ED 240, ED 275, and ED 254.
3. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 and no grade below C in the teaching field or professional core.
4. A passing score on the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP) test.
5. Satisfactory recommendations from advisor(s) including content area advisors for secondary candidates only, an employment supervisor (if applicable), and a residence hall dean (if applicable).
6. First Portfolio Review Checkpoint.
7. An acceptable disposition assessment rating.
8. No incompletes.
9. A satisfactory interview by members of the Teacher Education Council.
10. Criminal background check and fingerprinting.

Additional Guidelines
Students who wish to receive credit for study at institutions outside the United States must obtain an evaluation of the credits from a state, federal, or private foreign credential evaluation service recognized by the Teacher Certification Office of the Alabama Department of Education.

All correspondence work in general studies or work taken off campus must have prior approval by the department.

Students desiring a career in secondary education must consult the secondary education program advisor no later than the first semester of the sophomore year in order to plan an appropriate course of study.

The exact course requirements may differ from candidate to candidate depending on the precise time a candidate enrolls in teacher education. This curriculum is based on denominational, state, and institutional policies and is thereby subject to change.

The Teacher Education Council (TEC) reserves the right to admit persons to teacher education who, in the judgment of the council, are most likely to profit from the teacher education program of study offered at Oakwood University. The TEC has the responsibility and authority to administer, evaluate, and revise all professional education programs.

Application to Internship
Prior to the student teaching semester/year, the candidate must submit an application for internship (student teaching) to his/her respective advisor and review the following criteria with his/her advisor to ensure that these requirements have been met.

1. Cumulative, professional, and teaching field GPA of 2.5
2. Passing score in all three sections of the APTTP test.
3. C or higher in every course in each of the following: professional courses, teaching field courses, religion courses, and health principles.
4. Recommendations (advisor, education faculty)
5. Passing score on the English Proficiency Exam
6. An acceptable disposition assessment rating
7. Satisfactory Second Portfolio Review Checkpoint (See Portfolio Handbook)
8. Passing PRAXIS II test

It is the candidate’s responsibility to prepare and submit to the Education Department the following items: application for graduation (which includes the final year schedule), transfer credit form with the required signatures (if applicable), completed four-year checksheet, university transcript, applications for SDA and Alabama State certifications information for graduate registry, and confirmation of registration with Career Services.

Consult your education advisor about courses in general studies that may also be counted in the teaching field for P-12 and secondary education programs. (For additional information, see unit website, Internship Handbook, and Policy Handbook.)

Due Process - Field Experience Program
At the recommendation of a cooperating teacher, a student can be placed on probation for two or more weeks. During the probationary period, the student will be closely observed by the college supervisor and the coordinator of student teaching. Any infraction during the probationary period is cause for immediate removal from the program. The student will be notified in writing.

Any student removed from student teaching (internship) for any cause, is automatically removed from the student teaching (ST) program. To be readmitted the student is required to reapply and to submit a letter of intent that addresses his/her problem. The letter and the application will be reviewed by the Teacher Education Council (TEC). The student will be notified in writing of the recommendation from the TEC.

A student who wishes to appeal any grievance arising during internship or any other field experience, should follow the steps outlined in the unit’s website, Internship Handbook, and Policy Handbook.

Grievances other than those related to field experiences follow Oakwood University Student Handbook policies.

Exit Examination
Exit examinations are administered in three sections. The candidate is assessed in the professional studies, writing proficiency, and in the teaching field. Exit examinations are offered once per semester. The teacher education faculty also conducts an exit interview with each candidate to observe readiness for the teaching profession. (See Policy Handbook for additional information.)

PRAXIS II replaces the departmental exit examination for all secondary programs except Religious Education.

State Certification
Alabama state certification requires: (1) a completed application; (2) an application fee; (3) an official transcript (submitted by the candidate); (4) completed program checksheet; and (5) a criminal background check with a set of fingerprints (a fee is required). Candidates are encouraged to apply for Alabama certification within one (1) year of their graduation date.

Graduate Deficiency
The Education Department will provide remediation, free of charge, to any graduate whose performance is found to be deficient in his/her area of specialization within two years of the program's completion.