DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Academic Studies Major | Academic Major | Professional Education | Admission to the Methods Block | Admission to Student Teaching | Course Descriptions

CHAIR: Charlene Crocker

FACULTY: Contant, Edgington, Hammer, Henderson, D. Johnson, E. Johnson, Sullivan, Swartz, Taube, Williams

ACADEMIC STUDIES (ACS)

Leading to certification in Early Childhood – 4th Grade

OR

4th Grade – 8th Grade

The primary purpose of the Academic Studies (ACS) program is to prepare candidates to become exemplary teachers in Early Childhood – 4th Grade (EC-4) classrooms and 4th Grade – 8th Grade (4-8) classrooms. The ACS program consists of 62 hours of Academic Foundation courses, a 48-hour (minimum) Academic Studies major, and 24 hours of Professional Education courses, including student teaching. Candidates registered for nine hours during the student teaching semester are considered to be full-time students.

All candidates seeking teacher certification must satisfy the requirements for admission to candidacy in Educator Preparation (see Standards for Admission to Candidacy in the Educator Preparation Program under Initial Teacher Certification in this catalog).

Students majoring in Academic Studies (ACS) have the following choices of major/ minor combinations. If students wish to teach in grades EC-4, the major is Academic Studies (ACS) with five choices for minors which are Bilingual Education (EC-4 Bilingual), Early Childhood (EC-4 Early Childhood), English as a Second Language (EC-4 English as a Second Language), Reading/Language Arts (EC-4 Reading Language Arts), and Special Education (EC-4 Special Education).

If students wish to teach students in grades 4-8, then the major is ACS with choices of a minor being English Language Arts and Reading (4-8 English Language Arts), Mathematics (4-8 Mathematics), Science (4-8 Science), or Social Studies (4-8 Social Studies).

Students may also choose a major and minor that allow them to teach in grades EC-8. There are only two choices that provide an EC-8 certification. Those are English Language Arts and Reading (EC-8 English Language Arts and Reading) and Mathematics (EC-8 Mathematics). There is one option that provides for certification in EC-12 that is a major in ACS with a minor in Special Education.

The certificates described above can be summarized as follows:

EC-4 Bilingual

EC-4 Early Childhood

EC-4 English as a Second LanguageEC-4 Reading/Language Arts

EC-4 Special Education

4-8 English Language Arts

4-8 Mathematics

4-8 Science

4-8 Social Studies

EC-8 English Language Arts and Reading

EC-8 Mathematics

EC-12 Special Education

All of the above programs have a 62-hour common core of Foundation Courses and a 24-hour common set of Professional Education Courses. Each major has a unique set of Academic Studies Courses which vary in the number of hours depending on the choice of major. The Academic Studies major component has a minimum of 48 hours. Students choosing one of these majors/minors should contact the Department of Curriculum and Instruction or the Department of Language, Literacy and Special Populations as soon as possible to learn the exact courses required for the selected minor and for advising to assist in a smooth progress through the program.

ACADEMIC STUDIES MAJOR

Academic Foundation Courses (62 hours)

ACADEMIC MAJOR

(Minimum 48 hours but total varies depending on the major) Course Selection is unique to the specialization. A list of course requirements for specific majors are available at the major department, major advisor, and the SAM Center.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (24 hours)

All ACS majors are:

1) required to apply for admission to educator preparation 9see Standards for Admission to Candidacy in the Educator Preparation Program) under the catalog section on Initial Certification.

2) required to apply for Literacy Block (RDG 370/RDG 390). See Language, Literacy and Special Populations for description of Literacy Block courses.

3) required to apply for Methods Block (EED 434, 435, 436, 485, RDG 431).

4) required to apply for Student Teaching (contact edu_ofe@shsu.edu for student teaching information).

NOTE: The above represents a sequence of checkpoints and candidates must be recommended at each checkpoint to progress through the program.

ADMISSION TO THE METHODS BLOCK

Candidates for certification at all levels including, EC-4, 4-8, EC-8, EC-12 and 8-12 must participate in a one-semester ACS methods block which occurs prior to the student teaching semester. Students must apply to be accepted into the methods block specific to their major. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction determines the eligibility based on criteria, which includes admission to the Educator Preparation Program, course work completed, and dispositions. Students should consult their education advisor to determine the process for application and admission.

ADMISSION TO STUDENT TEACHING

Student teaching is intended to be the culminating experiences in a candidate’s preparation to become a teacher. The candidate should enroll in student teaching the final semester of their preparation program (see edu_ofe@shsu.edu for student teaching information).

ACADEMIC STUDIES (ACS) COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

EED 367 TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM. This course will apply technology and computers to support instruction in the elementary and middle school in various content areas. The course will explore, evaluate, and utilize computer/technology resources to design and deliver instruction as well as to assess student learning. Prerequisite: C S 138. Credit 3.

EED 374 HUMAN GROWTH AND LEARNING. This course examines growth and learning in elementary and secondary environments. Major theories of teaching-learning process are studied. Human development related to education is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the cultural milieu. Prerequisite: Junior status. Field experiences in public schools at appropriate levels included in this course (10 hours). Credit 3.

EED 434 MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. This course emphasizesmaking mathematics meaningful to children. Students are expected to pass a mathematics proficiency test to receive credit for this course. Students are to make a lesson plan of acceptable quality, to produce a practical teaching aid, and to be able to integrate mathematics with other areas of learning. Students observe and teach math lessons in an elementary or middle school classroom for a minimum of six hours. Prerequisites: Admission to Educator Preparation Program required and Departmental Approval. Field experiences in PK-8 public schools included in this course. This course is taken in block with EED 435, EED 436, EED 485 and RDG 431. Credit 3.

EED 435 SCIENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. This course is concerned with the scope and sequence of the science curriculum for elementary and middle school children. Students are expected to pass a science proficiency test to receive credit for this course. Students are given experience in lesson planning, in organizing units of instruction, in the use of instructional materials, and in laboratory methods appropriate to elementary or middle school classrooms. Students observe and teach science lessons in an elementary or middle school classroom for a minimum of six hours. Prerequisites: Admission to Educator Preparation Program required and Departmental approval. Field experiences in PK-8 public schools included in this course. This course is taken in block with EED 434, EED 436, EED 485 and RDG 431. Credit 3.

EED 436 SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. In this course experience is provided in the selection and evaluation of teaching methods, unit and lesson planning, use of curriculum and audio-visual materials, and the preparation of instructional materials appropriate for social science content and skills at different elementary and middle school grade levels. Students are expected to pass a social studies proficiency test to receive credit for this course. Emphasis is placed on the unit approach to teaching social studies. Students observe and teach social studies lessons in an elementary or middle school classroom for a minimum of six hours. Prerequisites: Admission to Educator Preparation Program required and Departmental approval. Field experiences in PK-8 public schools included in this course. This course is taken in block with EED 434, EED 435, EED 436, and RDG 431. Credit 3.

EED 475 PROBLEMS. Designed to permit individual students to study specific areas of interest and need. Prerequisite: Departmental Approval. Credit 3.

EED 476 DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER PORTFOLIO. The purpose of this course is to provide the prospective elementary or middle school teacher the opportunity to organize artifacts on the development, exploration, integration, application, and teaching of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skill development in the development of a professional teacher

EED 484 ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION, AND LEGAL ISSUES IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM. The purpose of this course is to provide the prospective elementary or middle school teacher practical experience in the areas of assessment, evaluation, and legal issues in the elementary or middle school. The course will include a study of teacher made tests, standardized tests, interpretation of test scores, performance assessment techniques, grading and reporting student progress, and legal issues relevant to education. This course is taken during the student teaching semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Educator Preparation Program and Departmental Approval. Credit 3.

EED 485 ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT IN A DIVERSE POPULATION. The purpose of this course is to provide the prospective elementary or middle school teacher with the experiences in classroom management and discipline theories appropriate for the diverse population of students in the elementary or middle school. Prerequisite: Admission to Educator Preparation Program and Departmental Approval. This course is taken in block with EED 434, EED 435, EED 436, and RDG 431. Credit: 3.portfolio. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in student teaching and Departmental Approval. Credit: 3.

EED 491 STUDENT TEACHING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. The student is assigned to student teach in an elementary or middle school classroom for six weeks. Must be taken with EED 492, ECE 486, BSL 488, SPD 484, or SED 497 for a total of six semester hours credit for the provisional elementary or provisional all-level certificate. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching Program. Credit 3.

EED 492 STUDENT TEACHING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. The student is assigned to student teach in an elementary or middle school classroom for six weeks. Must be taken with EED 491. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching Program. Credit 3.