College of Education

André Green, Dean
J. Scott Glass, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education
Daniel L. Dickerson, Associate Dean for Research
Holly Fales, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Educator Preparation
Janee’ Avent Harris, Assistant Dean for Faculty and Staff Development, Wellness, and Engagement
Sarah Sconyers, Director of Assessment, Data Management, and Digital Learning

The mission of the College of Education (COE) is the preparation of professional educators and allied practitioners, including professionals in counseling, instructional technology, and librarianship. Significant to this mission is a strong commitment to three important, related areas, all of which are realized through partnerships and other endeavors: the encouragement and nurturing of professional growth for educators and allied practitioners at all levels and in all areas of the educational endeavor, a continuing emphasis on and support for scholarship and research/creative activity, and service in all areas of professional education. Critical to such commitment is the promotion of effective teaching, staff participation in the improvement of schools; and, in concert with other state agencies, the development and creation of educational policy for North Carolina.

Admission

An advisor will be assigned to each student to assist in program planning. Undergraduate educator preparation majors may also be required to complete an approved academic concentration as part of their programs of study. Additional information about academic concentrations and specific program requirements is available in the Colleges/Schools and Associated Programs section of this catalog. Educator preparation is a program that requires formal admittance. Educator preparation majors will become official education preparation candidates once they have been fully admitted to upper division.

Once enrolled in an educator preparation program and prior to admission to the upper division of study, students will be required to successfully complete an early education experience course, have a minimum cumulative 2.7 GPA, and post passing scores on Praxis CORE, SAT, or ACT scores (or a combination). Students must maintain a 2.7 GPA for retention in the upper division of all educator preparation programs. Additional information concerning admission to the upper division is available online in the Welcome to Educator Preparation Handbook.

Requirements for Students Preparing to Teach

The purpose of education preparation at East Carolina University is to prepare professional educators through partnerships who are academically and technically proficient, reflective in practice, committed to the intellectual empowerment of others, and guided by the larger democratic purposes of American education.

Birth-K, Elementary, and Middle Grades

See Special Requirements for BS Degree for Students Preparing to Teach found in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section of this catalog. See Licensure, below. See also the Department of Human Development and Family Science or Department of Elementary Education and Middle Grades Education. As part of their programs, elementary and middle grades majors will also complete approved academic concentrations from a list provided in the degree requirements for each degree. Students should consult their departmental advisor for specific program requirements.

Secondary and K-12 Special Subjects Education

See Special Requirements for BS Degree for Students Preparing to Teach found in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section of this catalog. See also the Department of Special Education, Foundations and Research, the Department of Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education, and the Department of Literacy, English, and History Education, as well as departments and schools outside the College of Education offering education degrees.

Students who aspire to complete the requirements for a BS degree in secondary teacher education must complete all general education requirements, the requirements stipulated by the department of the academic major, and the following professional credits: EDTC 4001 ; EDUC 3002 or PSYC 2777 or SOCI 1010 or other CEP approved course; EDUC 3200 and/or EDUC 4400 or PSYC 4305 in lieu of EDUC 4400 ; READ 3990 or READ 5317 ; SPED 4010 ; unit prefix 2123, 4323, 4324, 4325. Majors in the physical education K-12 program will also complete an approved academic concentration. Students should consult their advisor for specific program information.

Upper Division of Educator Preparation

Prior to enrolling in selected professional education courses (see departmental requirements) and applying for the internship experience, all students must be admitted to the upper division of educator preparation. Application for admission is normally completed during the second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of the junior year. They must have either (1) successfully completed a minimum of one semester (12 semester hours) at ECU with the appropriate grade point average, or (2) successfully completed the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Teacher Preparation from an North Carolina Community College with the appropriate grade point average prior to admission to Upper Division.

Steps in admission to upper division include:

Satisfactory completion of 16-hour early field experience with minimum grade of C (2.0), normally as part of departmental 2123, 2190, or 2611 courses (or program approved transfer).
Passing scores on PRAXIS CORE, SAT, ACT or combination.
A minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale for all college work attempted at East Carolina University. Students must also meet minimum academic major grade point average requirements. (See catalog or advisor.)

Internship

Internship is the culminating aspect of the professional component of educator preparation. The internship provides students opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning and experience; to develop and apply analytical and problem-solving skills to the various activities of teaching, including self-evaluation; and to grow professionally through observing, planning, and teaching with an outstanding teacher. The required national assessment, edTPA, is completed and submitted during the internship.

Applications for admission to the internship must be submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences one semester prior to the semester in which the student will complete internship requirements. Assignments will be located within the Latham Clinical Schools Network. Students are strongly discouraged from working during their internship. For applications and more detailed information, consult Welcome to Educator Preparation.

Administration of the internship is provided by clinical experiences coordinators, who work with the Office of Educator Preparation, department chairs, the educator preparation staff, and local school personnel.

A minimum grade of C (2.0) in the teacher education professional core courses and internship, a minimum 2.7 GPA, passing scores on the edTPA, and passing scores on required licensure exams are required to be recommended for licensure.

Additional Requirements for Interns in Selected Program Areas

Elementary Education (K-6), BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional studies and specialty area coursework, as well as MATE 3050 , MATE 3051 , MATE 3060 ; READ 3502 ; and SCIE 3216 .

Middle Grades Education, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional studies, specialty area, and academic concentration coursework.

Special Education, Adapted Curriculum, BS and Special Education, General Curriculum, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional studies and core coursework, as well as PSYC 2777 or SOCI 1010 .

English, Secondary Education, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional courses, as well as ENED 3018 , ENED 3815 , ENED 4010 , ENED 4323 , ENED 4960 ; ENGL 3000 , ENGL 3010 , ENGL 3020 ; LING 2700 , LING 2710 ; PSYC 1000 or PSYC 1060 ; and PSYC 2777 .

History, Secondary Education, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional courses, as well as HIST 3000 .

Mathematics, Secondary Education, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional courses and MATE coursework, and a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all MATH coursework. Student must maintain a 2.5 major GPA.

Science Education, BS : Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required professional studies and specialty area coursework. Student must maintain a 2.5 major GPA.

Art Education, BFA : In addition to meeting the requirements of all secondary education majors, art majors must have earned a minimum grade of C (2.0) in ART 3851 , ART 3860 .

Music Education, BM : Students must have a minimum cumulative and major 2.7 GPA. They must have earned a minimum grade of C (2.0) in MUSC 2123 and all professional core courses, including EDUC 3002 or PSYC 2777 ; EDUC 4400 or PSYC 4305 ; MUSC 4324 ; MUSC 4325 ; MUSC 4325 or READ 5317 , and SPED 4010 ; and in each course of their major methods sequence, MUSC 3218 , MUSC 3347 or MUSC 3447 , MUSC 4323 or MUSC 4333 .

Other secondary education and special subject majors must have a minimum major 2.7 GPA, except for mathematics education, science education and physical education who must maintain a 2.5 major GPA. They must have earned a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all professional core courses, departmental early field experience course; methods courses; EDTC 4001 ; EDUC 3002 or PSYC 2777 ; EDUC 3200 and/or EDUC 4400 or PSYC 4305 (check with program advisor); READ 3990 or READ 5317 ; and SPED 4010 .

Licensure

To be eligible for licensure in North Carolina, the student must complete the requirements of an approved competency-based teacher education program designed to meet the requirements for the professional studies components of programs in all teaching areas, and any other requirements deemed necessary by NC law or by policies implemented by the State Board of Education or the Department of Public Instruction. When the programs have been properly planned, coordinated, and implemented, and when these credits, experiences, and any additional state requirements have been verified by the appropriate unit, the dean of the College of Education or designee recommends the issuance of the proper license. Licensure requirements are beyond degree requirements.

Applicants seeking to add fields or subjects to their current NC license must submit a request for review and their credentials to the Office of Alternative Licensure for evaluation toward the competency-based educator preparation program for North Carolina. Submit materials via email to alternativelicensure@ecu.edu.