Department of Education
Majors:
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 Seventh-day 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). 
Elementary Education
The elementary education curriculum prepares students for elementary school teaching, graduate studies, employment in supervision, and related services. The curriculum qualifies students to apply for Alabama Class B Certification: grades K-6; certification in other states; and SDA Basic Teaching Certification: grades K-8.
Secondary Education
The following teaching areas are offered in secondary education: Biology Education, Business Education, Chemistry Education, English Language Arts Education, Family and Consumer Science 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 Business Education, Physical Education Teaching, Family and Consumer Science Education and Religious Education.
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.
This department is under the division of Academic Affairs.
|
52°F