Education

Part of the Education Division

Teacher Education Professional Courses

Teacher education at Maryville College is an interdepartmental function, the responsibility of the College as a whole rather than a single department. The program of preparation combines broad study in the liberal arts, specialized courses in a major field of study, and a professional education component. For students who plan to teach in the elementary grades, Maryville College offers a program designed to prepare students for licensure for grades K-6. These students complete the Major in Child Development and Learning offered through the Division of Behavioral Sciences. Those interested in teaching at the secondary level (grades 7-12 & K-12) complete the appropriate major in the area in which they plan to teach.

Learning Outcomes

The Maryville College faculty and administration believe that the teacher education program should provide students with the skills, dispositions, and knowledge needed to be successful first-year teachers. Our coordinated efforts are dedicated to provide a teacher education program that will develop teachers who demonstrate:

  1. The influence of a broad liberal arts education;
  2. An understanding of the learning process, and the skills to design instruction appropriate for diverse student populations;
  3. The skills needed to analyze and implement the instructional process;
  4. The ability to solve the many theoretical, practical, and ethical problems associated with who to teach, what to teach, and how to teach;
  5. The ability to effectively integrate technology into the instructional process;
  6. A thorough, comprehensive understanding of the assessment process as it relates to student learning and professional development;
  7. A commitment to personal and professional growth.

The following secondary licensure programs are available: Biology, Chemistry, Economics/History, English, History, History/Economics, History/Political Science, Mathematics, Political Science/History, Spanish, and Theatre Studies. French and German are offered as initial licensure in con­junction with another licensure area. Music (vocal or instrumental) and Physical Education/Health, and Theatre Studies are available as K-12 licensure programs. Teaching English as a Second Language is available as a P-12 licensure program. Students are encouraged  to pass the Content Knowledge exams of the Praxis II Series before they are assigned to student teaching.

Additional liberal studies and professional courses designed to prepare students to meet licensure standards must also be taken. They include:

Secondary Licensure:
    PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs.)
    PHR 236: Health Issues in Education (2 hrs.)
    PSY 218: Psychology of Adolescence (3 hrs.)
    PSY 334: Culturally Diverse and Exceptional Children (3 hrs.)
        (Physical Education/Health for licensure students are exempt from Psychology 334)
    SOC 271: Sociology of Education (3 hrs.)
    EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management and Instruction (3 hrs.)
    EDU 302: Educational Technology (2 hrs.)
    EDU 321: Reading and Writing in the Content Classrooms (2 hrs.)
    EDU 343: Practicum in Methods and Materials (2 hrs.)*
    EDU 401: Student Teaching (9 hrs.)
    EDU 402: Professional Seminar on Teaching (3 hrs.)
*Physical Education/Health and Theatre Studies majors take two additional hours of practicum credit.  Teaching English as a Second Language majors take four additional hours of practicum credit.

Elementary Licensure:
    PHR 236: Health Issues in Education (2 hrs.)
    PHR 331: Physical Education for Children (2 hrs.)
    SOC 215: Sociology of Marriage and Family (3 hrs.)
    SOC 271: Sociology of Education (3 hrs.)
    MTH 307: Mathematics and Instructional Strategies for K-6 and 4-8 Teachers I (3 hrs.)
    MTH 308: Mathematics and Instructional Strategies for K-6 and 4-8 Teachers II (3 hrs.)
    ENG 212: Children’s Literature (3 hrs.)
   One of the following courses:
        HIS 111: Colonial and Revolutionary America (3 hrs.)
        HIS 112: History of the United States in the 19th century (3 hrs.)
        HIS 203: History of the United States in the 29th Century (3 hrs.)
    BIO 311: Natural History of the Southern Appalachians (4 hrs.)
    EDU 302: Educational Technology (2 hrs.)
    EDU 303: Models of Classroom Instruction (2 hrs.)
    EDU 305: Strategies for Classroom Management (2 hrs.)
    EDU 321: Reading and Writing in the Content Classroom (2 hrs.)
    EDU 322: Instructional Strategies for Science and Social Studies (3 hrs.)
    EDU 323: reading and Writing K-4 (3 hrs.)
    EDU 401: Student Teaching (9 hrs.)
    EDU 402: Professional Seminar on Teaching (3 hrs)

Post-Baccalaureate Program for Teacher Licensure:
Maryville College offers a Post-Baccalaureate Program for teacher licensure in the following licensure areas: Biology, Chemistry, Elementary Education, English, History, History/Economics or History/Political Science, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education/Health, and Spanish. Post-baccalaureate students must meet the same screening and admission standards as Maryville College baccalaureate students. In addition, post-baccalaureate students must pass the Content Knowledge Exams of the Praxis II Series before they are assigned to student teaching. The Registrar, adviser from the academic discipline, and adviser from the Division of Education evaluate academic transcripts to design an appropriate course of study. Student teach­ing consists of fifteen weeks of full-day responsibilities.

Additional Endorsements: Maryville College offers additional endorsements in the following licen­sure areas: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Elementary Education, English, History, Mathematics, Geography, Government, Spanish and Theatre Studies. Maryville College bac­calaureate students may complete an additional endorsement according to the following guidelines while completing their initial licensure:
1.  Each candidate (with the exceptions noted in 2,3, and 4) must complete a minor in the endorse­ment area as part of an individualized educational plan developed by the academic adviser. Requirements for a minor designed for additional endorsement may vary from those for a traditional minor, a larger number of credit hours may be required, and some additional endorsements may be available only to students majoring in a related area. Specific additional endorsement requirements are available from faculty advisers in the subject areas.

2.  A candidate completing initial licensure in Economics/History, History, or History/Economics may complete an additional endorsement in Government with Political Science 121, 122 and one course from Political Science 211 and 212.

3. A candidate completing initial licensure in History, History/Political Science, or Political Science/History may complete an additional endorsement in Economics with Economics 201, 251 and 332.

4.  A candidate completing initial licensure in Economics/History, History, History/Economics, History/ Political Science, or Political Science/History may complete an initial endorsement in Geography with Social Science 201 and two additional courses chosen from the World Cultures 370 options.

During student teaching, licensure students are assigned to one class in their additional endorsement area(s) as well as their initial licensure areas.  They are additionally required to achieve the minimum passing score(s) on the Praxis II specially test(s) in their endorsement area(s).

For all teacher licensure programs, careful planning of one’s course of study is necessary to ensure that all general education, major, and professional requirements are met in a timely manner. It is particularly important to complete Psychology 101, Introductory Psychology, in the first year. Students should meet with the adviser for teacher licensure in their major area as soon as possible.

Admission to Teacher Education is not automatic and occurs only after certain qualifications are met. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 in the major and overall is required in addition to a minimum score on certain standardized tests. The Level I screening process is fully explained at screening meetings held in September and February each year. Requirements include, in addition to the GPA and standardized test requirements, a writing sample from the candidate, satis­factory recommendations from faculty and others, and an interview with the Screening Committee. Admission to Teacher Education is considered conditional until Level I of the process is completed.  No course with an Education (EDU) prefix may be taken unless a student has been accepted into the Teacher Education program through the Level I screening process, or conditional acceptance is authorized by the Director of Teacher Education.

Title II of the Higher Education Act mandates that institutions publish pass rates on Praxis II exams required by the State of Tennessee for teacher licensure.

Maryville College Percentage Passing:

     2008-2009........................ 100%
     2009-2010.......................   97%
     2010-2011.......................   97%
     2011-2012.........................TBA*

*Current information is available on the Maryville College website: maryvillecollege.edu.

Core Curriculum Requirements

Each student must satisfy the core requirements and requirements for individual programs of study.

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