School of Education and Urban Studies

Teacher Education Programs
Admission to the Teacher Education Programs

Dr. Patricia L. Welch, Dean

The School of Education and Urban Studies was established in 1981 by merger of the School of Education and the School of Urban Studies and Human Development. Currently, the School subsumes those academic programs that were administered previously within the merged schools and has primary responsibility for provision of quality pre-professional programs of study including supervised practicum experiences, leading to careers in education and family and consumer sciences. The School of Education and Urban Studies offers courses especially designed to satisfy general university graduation requirements relative to health and physical education.

Undergraduate courses and programs of study within the School of Education and Urban Studies are administered through the three (3) departments that comprise the School: Family and Consumer Sciences; Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; and Teacher Education and Professional Development.* The single asterisk (*) denotes the department that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs of study. Only undergraduate programs are described herein.

Students earning degrees in the School of Education and Urban Studies must meet the following graduation requirements.
All General Education Requirements
Major Requirements. Students must complete the requirements specified in the programs in which they are majoring.
Urban Core: Effective 1997 Fall semester, all students earning degrees in programs in the School of Education and Urban Studies must complete six credits in the Urban Core. The courses must be taken at Morgan State University and they cannot be used to satisfy other requirements. The courses must be taken outside of the major, but within the School.

NB: The Urban Core is not required for Elementary Education students.

The following courses are strongly recommended:

Teacher Education Programs

The School of Education and Urban Studies offers undergraduate programs for the preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers in nine (9) subject fields. All programs include the broad base of liberal arts courses required of all University students as described under “Graduation Requirements .”

Admission to the Teacher Education Programs

Admission to the University does not constitute admission to the teacher education programs. Students who plan to become teachers must formally apply for admission to the teacher education program to be pursued. The course “Foundations of Education and Teaching” (EDUC 200), is designed to be a part of the admissions procedure. All students who are interested in becoming teachers should enroll in this course no later than the first semester of the sophomore year. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with basic precepts and principles that undergird the discipline of education, and with experiences pertaining to the roles and responsibilities of teachers. As a consequence of the aforementioned activities and understandings, students can be more certain that their choice of teaching as a career isgrounded in the appropriate experiences. Formal application to the teacher education department may follow the completion of the aforementioned course, provided the applicant has satisfied all delineated criteria for admission to the program.

Transfer students who present course work equivalent to “Foundations of Education and Teaching” (EDUC 200 ) and who meet all admission criteria may apply directly, using forms that can be obtained from the Office of the Dean, School of Education and Urban Studies.

Students who fail to satisfy requirements for admission to teacher education at the end of the sophomore year are advised that it may not be possible to meet all requirements for graduation in the customary four-year period.

Criteria

Criteria for unconditional admission to Teacher Education programs are as follows:

The Applicant: (1) Has passed ENGL 101 -ENGL 102 with a minimum grade of “C” in each. (2) Is not pursuing developmental courses at the time of application. (A minimum grade of “C” is required for passing a developmental course.) (3) Has complied with the requirements of completing an application form and securing three (3) Faculty Evaluations (one of which must be prepared by the instructor of the course, “Foundations of Education and Teaching;” one of which must be prepared by an instructor who has taught the applicant; the final form may be completed by an instructor of the student’s choice.).
Has completed a minimum of 60 semester credits.
Has satisfactorily completed (with a minimum grade of “C”) the course(s): “Foundations of Education and Teaching,” and “Seminar/PRAXIS I (Academic Skills Assessment).” (6)Has satisfied the Maryland State Department of Education’s score requirements for passing the PRAX-IS I (Academic Skills Assessment) test battery (3 tests).
Has earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Retention in Teacher Education requires the maintenance of a GPA of 2.50, or higher. Any student whose GPA drops below 2.50 may be dropped from the program and may not take additional education courses. Specifically, a GPA of 2.50 is a graduation requirement.

Clinical Internship

The clinical internship is a 100-consecutive-day experience. It includes two semesters: (1) the semester in which the “methods” courses are pursued and (2) the following semester of student teaching.

Programs for the preparation of teachers for elementary and secondary schools require a twelve-week minimum period of student teaching. Elementary Education majors must complete two six-week, senior level experiences, one in an urban school system at the middle school, intermediate, or primary grade level; and the other, in a suburban environment at the alternate level. Dual-certification majors will complete two six-week, senior level experiences, one in an urban school setting at the elementary or secondary grade level; and the other, in a suburban environment at the alternate level. Secondary Education majors will complete two six-week, senior level experiences, one in an urban system at the middle, junior or senior high school grade level; and the other in a suburban environment at the alternate level. Since the clinical internship is the culminating experience in the pre-service training of teachers and requires full-time involvement, students should avoid enrolling in additional courses (day, evening, or independent study) while participating in the practicum.

Clinical internship programs in elementary education and in secondary education are under the auspices of the Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development. Chairpersons of departments having programs of study that require a practicum must recommend students for admission to the clinical practicum based upon the following criteria:

For matriculating in the practicum, the student: (1) Has been admitted to the appropriate Teacher Education Program. (2) Is currently enrolled in, or has successfully completed, the Methods Block of courses. (3) Has maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. (4) Has completed the professional education sequence of courses. (5) Has completed all courses in his/her major and removed all incomplete grades prior to the clinical internship. (6) Has earned no grade below “C” in major courses, supporting courses, developmental courses, and the professional education sequence of courses. (7) Has provided verification of satisfactory state of health as evidenced by a signed physician’s statement. This health clearance must include the results of a tuberculin skin test. All students are advised that a criminal background check will also be undertaken.

Teacher Certification

Teacher education programs offered by the School of Education and Urban Studies are evaluated regularly by the Maryland State Department of Education. Upon recommendation by the University, and after satisfactory completion of the PRAXIS I tests and the appropriate PRAXIS II tests (Principles of Learning and Teaching and the Specialty Areas), graduates of State-approved programs are eligible to receive the Standard Professional Certificate qualifying them to teach in the State of Maryland. Since Maryland is a participant in the Reciprocity System of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, persons qualifying for certification in Maryland are also eligible for certification in 34 other states and the District of Columbia, as these jurisdictions are also participants in the system. Students who are interested in qualifying for certification outside of Maryland should contact the Dean of the School of Education and Urban Studies for additional information.

Senior Level Examination

The University Board of Regents has indicated that each department within the Schools or the Colleges of the University shall design examinations to assess each student’s performance in the general education and major programs prior to graduation. The senior level examination requirement for all graduating seniors in teacher preparation programs is the successful completion of the PRAXIS II tests. For elementary education majors, the Praxis II tests include the Elementary Content Knowledge test and the Elementary Content Exercises. For secondary education majors, the Praxis II tests include the Principles of Learning and Teaching test (when applicable) and the appropriate Specialty Area test. The scores for the aforementioned senior level examinations must be submitted to the Chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education prior to the last day on which senior grades are due. No elementary education student will be certified as eligible for graduation without receipt of “passing” scores by the Chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education. Only those secondary education students who have met the state qualifying score on the appropriate Praxis II assessments will be certified as having been graduated from a state approved Teacher Education program.