The Education major consists of at least 120 credits, including:
- 24 credits of Professional Education Core courses
- 14 credits of clinical practice component
- Specified credits of Liberal Learning Outcomes (LLOs)
- A variable (depending on certification area) number of credits in the student’s chosen certification content area(s)
The State of West Virginia Department of Education requires a total of 125 hours of field experience before beginning student teaching.
See also the Education Student Handbook.
The Professional Education Core requires the following classes for all certification areas.
Foundations and Professional Components
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| EDUC 100 |
Introduction to Education |
3 |
| EDUC 203 |
Survey of Students w/Exceptionalities |
3 |
| EDUC 204 |
The Inclusive Classroom |
3 |
| PSYC 212 |
Life Span Development |
3 |
| EDUC 250 |
Technology in the Schools |
3 |
| EDUC 299 |
Theories of Learning and Teaching |
3 |
| EDUC 311* |
Assessment & Diagnosis |
3 |
| EDUC 320* |
Integrated Methods |
3 |
*No student may enroll in these courses unless admitted to the program or with special permission from the Teacher Education Program Coordinator
Clinical Practice Component
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| EDUC 497 |
Student Teaching in the Content Areas |
12 |
| EDUC 496 |
Seminar in the Content Areas |
2 |
Special Education Clinical Practice Component
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| EDUC 497 |
Student Teaching in the Content Areas |
6 |
| EDUC 422 |
Student Teaching in Special Education |
6 |
| EDUC 420 |
Seminar in Special Education |
2 |
Grand Total, Professional Education Core 38 credits
Class Availability
Classes are offered on a rotational semester basis for all education program areas (Elementary, Special Education, and Wellness). Due to circumstances beyond the Education Program’s control, this rotation schedule may change for a variety of reasons (e.g., course no longer offered, low enrollment, rotational change).
In addition, students/teacher candidates who seek to complete their major program area in less than four years must accept responsibility for monitoring their own degree plans and should meet with content faculty on a semester basis. If a student fails or drops a course or fails to take a recommended course in the rotation, it will be difficult to accomplish this goal of early program completion.
Transfer students should also be aware that courses may not always be available on their time line.