Education

Program Overview
The Education program leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree and has majors in Elementary Education, a Physical Education preK-12, and Mathematics students may work toward a second major in Education if they are interested in teaching at the secondary level. Mathematics students interested in pursuing a recommendation for a teaching license in the State of Vermont must complete all of the designated requirements for the Mathematics major, and they must complete a sequence of Education courses to help prepare them to become secondary mathematics teachers.

Mission

The Education majors provide essential course content and preparation in knowledge and performance standards set forth by the State of Vermont Agency of Education in their Core Teaching Standards. The Education program is in line with the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium standards from which Vermont’s Core Teaching Standards were adapted. Education programming also fulfills the endorsement standards outlined by the Vermont Agency of Education for each area of Education-related licensure that is offered at NU. Norwich University hopes to contribute to the important field of education by producing well-prepared, dynamic educators who will have a positive impact on their students.

Goals

• To foster student knowledge and to promote student acquisition of the dispositions and practices of professional educators.

• To guide and develop students through the process of becoming a teacher.

• To prepare students for lifelong career development.

Core Concentration (CC) for Elementary Education Majors (Licensure)

Students studying Elementary Education who are seeking licensure must select 30 credits (nine of these credits should be at the 300-level or above) in one of the core academic areas below (may draw from General Education coursework):

• Language Arts (English, Spanish)

• The Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Environmental Science)

• Mathematics

• Social Studies (History, Psychology, Political Science)

The Fifth-Year Program

For those with degrees in appropriate fields, an opportunity to become a candidate for licensure is provided through a “fifth-year” program. These students are non-matriculating students. Each candidate’s course work and experience are evaluated and a program of study is recommended. Typically, for candidates without education or psychology courses, the program takes 1-1/2 – 2 years to complete. Because of course sequencing, a candidate with some of the required courses must commit to a minimum of one year. Candidates must meet the same requirements for licensure as those students enrolled in the Education Major.

Vermont Licensure Portfolio

All licensure candidates are required to complete a portfolio. Development of the portfolio begins early on as candidates collect evidence that will be used in various parts of the portfolio. Substantial progress toward completion must be demonstrated before the student is admitted to Student Teaching. The portfolio must be completed and passing before final grades are submitted for Student Teaching in order for a candidate to be recommended for licensure.

Praxis Tests

In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates must achieve a passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators and the PRAXIS II Content Tests.  These tests are discussed in detail with Education students during their individual advising times.

All students are required to pass PRAXIS I Core Academic Skills for Educators test and the Praxis II Content tests prior to placement in ED 425 Student Teaching.

Potential Careers

• Classroom teacher: public school, private school

• Preparation for overseas schools for military dependents

• International teacher of English, or other subject matter

• Test preparation companies

• School support personnel

• Public or non-profit organizations which support education

• Tutoring and learning centers

• Graduate study in specialized fields such as: English Language Learning, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, College Professor, School Principal / Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, Behavioral Specialist, Reading Specialist, Math Specialist

Admission to Student Teaching for Licensure Seeking

Prior to being allowed into Student Teaching, students have senior standing, have completed all required courses for the endorsement areas being sought, have fulfilled GPA requirements (see below), have been recommended by faculty in both Education, and in the major / concentration, have passed Praxis requirements (see below), and completed the Application to Student Teach by the required deadline.

Grade Point Average Requirements for Licensure Seeking

In order to successfully complete the Licensure option at Norwich University, students are required to have a 3.0 GPA both in Education, and overall. Secondary Education students must have achieved a 3.0 in Education courses, have a 3.0 in subject major courses, have a 3.0 average overall. This GPA requirement must be attained by Licensure option students before being placed in Student Teaching and before graduation. In order to be recommended for licensure, all Licensure option candidates must earn a B or better for Student Teaching.

Praxis Requirements for Licensure Seeking

All Education majors seeking recommendation for licensure are required to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) test and the Praxis II Content Tests before they will be admitted into Student Teaching. The Praxis Core tests “measure academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics deemed by teacher educators to be essential for all candidates preparing to be a teacher, no matter what content area or grade-level they aspire to teach” (ETS, 2019). Praxis Core should be taken and passed before the conclusion of the sophomore year. Praxis II is an assessment of content specific material and instructional pedagogy. For Elementary Education majors, this includes mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Praxis II should be taken around the spring of the junior year. Both Praxis tests are to be passed, with results received by the Director of Education Teacher Licensure prior to placement in Student Teaching. Other licensure requirements, such as the licensure portfolio and fingerprints, are articulated in the Student Teaching Handbook. All students preparing to Student Teach must apply by a specified deadline set forth by the Director of Education. The Student Teaching Application is available upon request, it will be sent via email to all Education students who have declared an Education major, and it will be discussed each fall at the Education Advising Plenary.