ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

The curriculum for the teacher education program at WVU Parkersburg is a product of the cooperative efforts of faculty, students and practitioners.  This program emphasizes the practical model.  The model focuses on the theoretical, development, and technological aspects of the knowledge base that are pre-requisites to the daily demands required to be a professional educator  in a school environment.

The teacher education program at WVU Parkersburg has been designed to meet these purposes:

• To help students develop appropriate planning skills.
• To help students develop teaching skills.
• To assist students in the development of interpersonal skills.
• To help students become capable decision makers.
• To foster in students a sense of commitment to their students, their discipline, and their profession.
• To help students understand the many faces of diversity including developmental, linguistic, cultural, racial, ethic, and gender which affect learning and teaching.

Teacher candidates who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education will be certified in West Virginia to teach elementary education, multiple subjects, grades kindergarten through six.  Program reciprocity is available across the nation in most states.

Pre-Education Status

• Students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree program may declare an intention to enter the program by indicating General Education with a concentration in Education on the college's application for admission form.
• Students who decide to change from another declared major to the baccalaureate degree in elementary education will need to make that change at the Center for Student Services.
• Pre-Education status does not imply full admission to program, however, or candidacy for earning the degree.

Provisional admission to the Education program for 2.9 GPA

Provisional Admission allows students to enroll in the Elementary Education Program under the following conditions: students must have passed all 3 subtests of the CORE Praxis test and have an overall 2.9 GPA in professional education courses and all courses on the Academic Map. If a student desires to seek Provisional Admission, the student will notify the Certification Analyst in the Education Division to submit an application.

Transfer and Returning Students

It is important that education-related coursework be current.  Current coursework is defined as successful completion of a course within the past 8 years.  Transfer and returning students must request a transcript analysis from the Certification Analyst.

Full Admission to Program

Students must apply for full admission to program.  Applications are due by March 1 for fall admission and October 1 for spring admission.  Application forms are available in the office of the Education Division and the following requirements must be met:

• Complete at least 45 hours of credit in approved courses.
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average computed on all coursework, all work attempted in the teaching field and in professional education, with no grade below a "C" in any required course.
• Complete EDUC 100, 200, 201, and 300 with a grade of "C" or better.  EDUC 300 is to be taken the semester in which the student applies for admission to program.
• Pass, at an acceptable level, all portions of the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CASE).
•  Meet speech and listening competencies by achieving a grade of "C" or better in COMM 111 Fundamentals of Speech.  Pass, with a grade of "C" or better, ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and PSYC 241.
• Successful completion (with a grade of "C" or better) in MATH 121 or higher is required for admission to program.
• Pass a background check.
• Students who complete the equivalent of EDUC 100, EDUC 200, and/or EDUC 300 at another institution must document the saftisfactory completion of required field experiences and complete service learning requirements.
• Students must complete a minimum of 50 hours of Service Learning activities.
• Pass, at an acceptable level, the Dispositions Assessment.
• Students must submit a formal letter of application for admission as part of the admission packet.
  
  • Students must be recommended for admission by the Teacher Education Review Panel.

In admitting a student to the program, the Education Division is not promising that the individual will be allowed to remain in the program or that the student will be able to successfully complete the program or be granted a degree.  In addition, admitting a student, the Education Division is not promising the State of West Virginia will grant the student a certificate.

The decision to grant or award certification is within the sole discretion of the West Virginia Department of Education.

Core Academic Skills for Educators Test

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree must pass all sections of the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CASE) before being officially admitted into the program.  The test is in three sections:  reading, writing, and mathematics.  This test is computer-delivered.  Registration and test center information is available at www.ets.org/praxis.  Satisfactory completion of the test is mandated by the West Virginia Department of Education, and portions of the test  not passed on first taking may be repeated.  There is a fee for taking this test.  Under certain circumstances, students may be exempted from this requirement.  Students should check with the Education Division before taking the test.

Retention Requirements

Students admitted to the Teacher Education program must:

• Maintain an overall 3.0 GPA, a 3.0 GPA in the teaching field, and a 3.0 GPA in professional education.
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA in area of specialization.
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA in professional education, with no grade below "C" in all work completed.
• Students must also demonstrate professional behavior consistent with the unit's philosophical framework which can be found in the Teacher Education Handbook.

Students who fail to meet retention requirements will be removed from the program for one full semester.  A student removed from the program may apply for readmission through a formal letter.  This letter must address the failure to meet retention requirements and how the deficiency(ies) will be remedied within one semester should readmission be granted.

Students granted readmission to the program must be in full compliance with retention requirements within one semester of readmission and must continue to meet retention requirements or be permanently removed from the program.

Dispositions Assessment

The dispositions assessment is used throughout the educational program to assist the candidate in understanding the critical dispositions that will support their efforts to be effective educators.  These dispositions are based on the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Critical Dispositions Indicators and are aligned to the WVU Parkersburg Philosophical Framework and the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards.

Admission to Residency is governed by the following requirements:

• Completion of all general education courses.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and no grade below a “C” in all required work attempted.
• Completion of all professional education courses prior to EDUC 401 and EDUC 410 with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A grade of “C” or better is required in each professional education course.
• Completion of all instructional strategies courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A grade of “C” or better is required in each instructional strategies course.
• Completion of all specialization courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A grade of “C” or better is required in each specialization course.
• EDUC 401 is to be taken the semester after the student applies for admission to residency.
• Passing score(s) on all state-required licensure exams
• Submission of a formal letter of application for admission for review by the Teacher Education Review Panel.  
• Adherence to WVU Parkersburg Code of Student Conduct.
• Completion of 25 hours of professional development with verification on file in the Education Division. These hours must be completed after admission to program.
• Recommendation for admission by the Teacher Education Review Panel.
• Completion of Zaner-Bloser Manuscript and Cursive Handwriting course with certificate on file in the Education Division.
• Completion of Ethics for Professional Educator (ETS) course with certificate on file in the Education Division.
• Completion of Family Engagement module.
• Completion of Safe Schools module.
• Issuance of a West Virginia Department of Education residency permit.
• Pass, at an acceptable level, the Dispositions Assessment.

Significant practicum for students pursuing additional certifications will be determined on an individual basis. 

 Graduation/Certification Requirements

To be eligible to earn the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, students must:

• Comply with the general regulations of WVU Parkersburg concerning entrance full admission to program, classification, examination, grades, grade point average, etc.
• Satisfy the following requirements:

1. Complete at least 16 of the last 32 hours before graduation, including EDUC 401, at WVU Parkersburg. A request for an exemption from this requirement must be made in writing to the Chair of Education and must be accompanied by appropriate recommendations and documentation from the transfer institution.
2. Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of approved college credit with an overall GPA of 3.0. At least 45 credit hours of the 120 must be in upper division courses (numbered 300 and above).
3. Complete an approved program in teacher education. Passing licensure exam scores are established by the West Virginia Department of Education.
4. Successfully complete a significant experience at each programmatic level for which certification is being sought. Teaching skills will be assessed to verify that they are satisfactorily demonstrated prior to exit.
5. Be at least 18 years of age, and be intellectually, emotionally, physically and otherwise qualified to perform the duties of a teacher.
6. Students must complete at least 30 hours of credit at WVU Parkersburg.
7. Complete application for graduation in OLSIS prior to stated deadline.

General Requirements for Professional Certification

To teach in the public schools of West Virginia, a candidate must hold a Professional Certificate issued by the West Virginia Department of Education. The individual candidate must apply for such certification.

To be eligible to receive a Professional Certificate, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Meet minimum state requirements for certification.
• Meet requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree at WVU Parkersburg.
• Complete at least 45 semester hours credit in upper-division courses.
• Have achieved a grade-point average of at least 3.0:     

1. On total college credit earned. 
2. On hours earned in professional education courses.
3. In each subject specialization.

• Meet state requirements on the Core Academic Skills for Educators tests and requirements for the PRAXIS II exams in the area(s) for which certification is sought.
• Comply with the West Virginia Board of Education regulations for teacher certification.
• Successfully complete a criminal background investigation.
• Be recommended for certification by the Chair of Education.
• Hold citizenship in the United States of America or have filed a declaration of intent to become a United States citizen.
• Successfully complete the West Virginia Performance Assessment (WVTPA).

Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi is an international honorary society in education.  Those eligible for initation into the society are Education majors who have been admitted to the Professional Education program and who maintain a 3.0 grade point average.  The WVU Parkersburg Sigma Omega Chapter holds initiations in both the fall and spring semesters.

Teacher Education Scholarships

The Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program is awarded by the state on a basis of outstanding academic qualifications.  Recipients are committed to teach in West Virginia's public school system.  Information regarding this scholarship is available in the Financial Aid Office.

The Dr. Joseph L. Badgley Diversity in Elementary Education Scholarship shall provide support to WVU Parkersburg elementary education students who have self-identified as a minority student on their college's applicagtion and admission form and are in good academic standing.  A 3.0 grade point average is required.