Academic Departments and Programs

Education

The purpose of the Education Department is to provide well-developed programs firmly rooted in the liberal arts which will enable those completing them to become certified elementary and secondary classroom teachers.

Secondary

Students enrolled in education programs leading to certification as secondary teachers must complete a content major that is approved as a first teaching field and a specialized minor of at least 20 credits for a second teaching field in addition to the education minor. These are prerequisites for admission to the graduate level fifth-year internship or Master of Arts in Teaching that lead to recommendation for certification.

Elementary

Students preparing to teach at the elementary level will complete the interdisciplinary Elementary Precertification major that meets the PEAK requirements for Professional Studies and Enhancements, Social Sciences and History, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This major as part of a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for admission to the graduate level fifth-year internship or Master of Arts in Teaching programs which lead to recommendation for certification.

Throughout the Education Studies Program, students will maintain a portfolio which will be used to assess their progress. There will be three times when portfolios will be formally assessed: at the end of the Introduction to Teaching course, at the end of their four years of study prior to beginning the internship, and at the end of the internship.

Both elementary and secondary education students may elect to complete a minor in reading education, English as a Second Language or bilingual education.

Admission to the Undergraduate Education Program

Students normally apply for admission to the Education Studies Program when they are sophomores. Transfer students and those who decide to pursue a teaching career after the sophomore year should meet with an advisor in the Education Department. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon the following criteria:

  • Satisfactory completion of specific portfolio assessment items
  • Confirmation of a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA
  • Written application (forms available in the Education Department office)
  • Writing sample

Graduate Programs

Recommendation for certification requires completion of either a graduate level fifth year program or the Masters of Arts and Teaching. These programs are described in the Graduate Catalog.

Majors

Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Precertification Major

This major is offered by the departments of science, mathematics, history, political economy, psychology, and education. This major will meet the major/minor requirements in Professional Studies, Social Science and History, and Mathematics and Natural Science PEAKs. It is a prerequisite for admission to the Fifth-Year and Master of Arts and Teaching programs that lead to state certification as an elementary teacher.

This major may not be taken in conjunction with the Education Studies Minor or the Education Minor.

Major Requirements (50-51 credits):

Candidates will need to complete a minor in Humanities and Fine Arts PEAK.

Minors

Bilingual Education Minor

This minor is offered by the Education Department in conjunction with Modern Foreign Language Department under the Professional Studies PEAK. The completion of this 20 credit minor qualifies a candidate for an Idaho Bilingual endorsement that can be added to an existing elementary or secondary teaching certificate.

Minor Requirements (20 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Oral and Written Communication
  • Candidates will be able to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish
  • Candidates will be able to describe the leading theories of language acquisition.
  • Candidates will demonstrate dispositions that are appropriate for someone with will work in K-1 2 schools.
  • Candidates will be able to describe the relationship among language, thought, and culture.

Education Minor

This 21-24 credit minor is offered by the Education Department under the Professional PEAK. It is a prerequisite for admission to the Fifth-Year and Master of Arts and Teaching programs that lead to state certification as an elementary or secondary teacher.

This minor may not be taken in conjunction with the Education Minor or the Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Education Precertification Major.

Minor Requirements (21 - 24 credits):

* Students seeking certification as secondary teachers are not required to take EDU-304.

Candidates planning to teach at the secondary level must complete the education minor, a major that is approved as a first teaching field and a 20 credit second teaching field that meets the endorsement requirements for Idaho. In instances where the first and second teaching fields are in the same PEAK (e.g. chemistry and biology, math and physics, art and theater, kinesiology and health) it may be necessary for the third and fourth PEAK requirements to be met by a 15 to 20 credit individualized minor that includes courses from both of the remaining PEAK areas. The individualized minor must be approved by the chair of the education department and the academic vice president.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Dispositions to Teach
  • Oral and Written Communications
  • Analytical Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Candidates will be able to develop lessons appropriate to the grade level and subject/s they will teach.
  • Candidates will be able to describe effective approaches to teaching reading in content areas.

Literacy Education Minor

This 21 credit minor is offered by the Education Department under the Professional PEAK. The completion of this minor will allow students earning an elementary or secondary teaching certificate to add a literacy endorsement.

Minor Requirements (21 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Oral and Written Communication

Teaching English as a Second Language Minor

This minor is offered by the Education Department under the Professional PEAK. It provides students who earn a teaching certificate with the option of adding an endorsement for teaching Second Language Learners (ESL).

Minor Requirements (20 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Oral and Written Communications
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Candidates will be able to describe the leading theories of language acquisition.
  • Candidates will demonstrate dispositions that are appropriate for someone with will work in K-12 schools.
  • Candidates will be able to describe the relationship among language, thought, and culture.

English as a Second Teaching Field Minor

This 18-credit minor fulfills the Humanities PEAK. It is designed for students who are pursuing secondary teaching certification in a different field but who also would like to meet the State of Idaho's requirements for English as a “second" teaching field. The minor will qualify a candidate to add a 6-12 English endorsement to a secondary teaching certificate*

Minor Requirements (21 credits):

* Though not part of the undergraduate minor, students will need to take EDU-544 Language Arts Methods for Secondary Teachers (2 cr) as part of the internship year to qualify for the English endorsement.

Student Outcomes

  • Written and Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Critical Thinking
  • Candidates will demonstate dispositions appropriate to working as an educator

Education Studies Minor

This minor is offered by the Education Department under the Social Science & History PEAK for students who, though not interested in K-12 teaching/certification, wish to better understand the role of education in a democratic society. The curriculum emphasizes the theory and foundations of schooling rather than the methodology of the discipline. This minor will provide background for students who wish to go on to graduate school to study educational policy or pursue careers in which they will work with and around schools in non-teaching roles. (Note: This minor may not be used to meet the Social Science and History PEAK requirement for students who are completing another education major or minor.)

This minor may not be taken in conjunction with the Education Minor or the Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Precertification Major.

Student Outcomes:

  • Written and Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving,
  • Analytical Reasoning,
  • Critical Thinking
  • Student will be able to articulate the role of education in a democratic society
  • Students will be able to describe the relationship between cognitive development and learning
  • Students will be able to discuss the interaction among culture, educational policy, and educational practice.