Course Descriptions
EDU 101 Introduction to Student Development
The course examines child and adolescent development through a K-12 school perspective. Using a variety of course texts, students are introduced to theories of development and to the concept of diversity as it relates to student development, including attention to students with exceptionalities and language acquisition needs. They will also be involved in K-12 field work through which they are introduced to qualitative data collection/analysis techniques. EDU 101 students will examine development through a variety of activities that include reflective and analytical reports based on their K-12 field work. The required technology thread for this course includes effective use of Word and presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint and Prezi), management of electronic files, and extensive use of course management systems for access to electronic files and submission of assignments (e.g., Canvas).
Field component: Students in EDU 101 complete a total of 24 hours of field work spread across the semester in three school settings: elementary, middle, and high school. While the nature of the field work is largely observational and students do not have explicit teaching responsibilities, they are expected to be engaged in the life of the host classes and to interact with host teachers and students in ways that are helpful and enable them to learn about K-12 student development. EDU 101 students are introduced to field-based inquiry and specifically the tools of qualitative research.
Level: Open to any student; required of all Education Studies minors. Students interested in the Secondary Licensure Program are encouraged to take EDU 101 in the freshman or sophomore year. Offered fall and spring semesters.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
Distribution: III.C. (Behavioral Science)
EDU 201 Philosophy of Education
This class will examine foundational questions about education (e.g., What is the nature and purpose of education?) with a particular focus upon the role of public schools in a democratic society. We will read and watch texts drawn from philosophy, as well as from literature and history, as we consider the nature of teaching and learning at the classroom level and within the broader society. Issues addressed typically include: tensions between individual students’ development and the needs of the broader society; the role of the educational system in a diverse and multicultural society; (including the needs of students with exceptionalities, as well as issues of culture and language); the nature and goals of classroom relationship (teacher/student and student/student); and approaches to educational reform. The required technology thread includes use of the computer software to create and edit documents, and use of course management software for access to electronic files and submission of assignments. There is no field component required for this course.
Level: Open to any student; required of all Education Studies minors. Students interested in the secondary licensure program are encouraged to take EDU 201 in the sophomore year. Offered fall and spring semesters. Course is cross-listed in Philosophy and can be counted as a History/Philosophy/ Religion distribution credit.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
Distibution: III.F. (HIS/PHI/REL)
EDU 202 Literacy in Middle School Curriculum and Instruction
This course has three primary foci: a study of the philosophy of and key curricular models and debates around the contemporary middle school in the United States, the role of literacy in the teaching and learning of the content areas at the middle level, and early adolescent development. Students will be introduced to the major philosophies and curricular theories behind middle level education along with theories of literacy learning and current research on adolescent literacy instruction and early adolescent development. In the context of teaching young adolescents and promoting their literacy levels at this unique developmental stage, EDU 202 students are introduced to Classroom-Based Research (CBR) and will complete a pilot study examining their own questions of practice related to literacy instruction and student achievement in the content areas. Required field experience (25 hours) will culminate in a two-week co-teaching experience in a middle school setting. Field work and course content also includes attention to the instructional needs of students with exceptionalities and English Language Learners. EDU 202 is required for the Secondary Licensure Program and counts as a pedagogy course for the minor in Education Studies.
Field Component: Students in EDU 202 are placed in a content-specific middle level school and host class where they work collaboratively with a host teacher for the entire semester. EDU 202 students are expected to participate in regular (at least 1 per week) field visits at their host school and to increase the level of their involvement in co-taught instructional activities each week. In addition, EDU 202 students will work with teachers and students in Special Education and English Language Learning for approximately 5 hours. The semester will culminate with EDU 202 students collaborating with host teachers to co-plan and co-teach a two-week unit that emphasizes the role of literacy in the teaching of a specific content area at the middle level.
Level: Open to all students interested in Education Studies (counts as pedagogy course for the minor); it is recommended that students interested in the Secondary Licensure Program take this course in the sophomore year. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: EDU 101
Credits: 1
EDU 302 Diversity and Multicultural Education in High School Curriculum and Instruction
A high school general methods course incorporating content and methods relevant to multicultural education and diversity (defined broadly to include developmental, motivational, gender, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity). The course introduces students to a variety of planning and instructional methods consistent with constructivism, including relevant learning theory and multicultural models for differentiating instruction to serve learners with exceptionalities including abilities/disabilities and language acquisition needs. Required field experience (25 hours; see details below). EDU 302 is required for the Secondary Licensure Program and counts as a pedagogy course for the minor in Education Studies.
Field Component: Students in EDU 302 are placed in a content-specific high school class where they work collaboratively with a host teacher for an entire semester. EDU 302 students are expected to participate in regular (1-2 times per week) field visits to their host school and expected to increase the level of involvement in co-taught instructional activities each week. A minimum of five of the field experience hours should be spent in settings that incorporate Special Education and/or English Language Learning. During the culminating two-week daily teaching experience in the high school classroom, students are to co-plan and co-teach a unit or units incorporating multiculturalism, culturally appropriate pedagogy and diversity.
Level: Open to all students interested in Education Studies (counts as pedagogy course for the minor). Recommended that students interested in the Secondary Licensure Program take the course in the junior year. Offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: EDU 101
Credits: 1
EDU 330 Studies in Urban Education
In this course students study issues related to urban education and participate in a week-long immersion trip (currently to Chicago). Specific areas of focus include the needs of diverse and multicultural learners, including those with exceptionalities, as well as working with multicultural and multilingual communities. The course is required for students who intend to complete the Secondary Licensure Program. The course culminates with an immersion trip to Chicago in May, wherein students are paired with a host teacher in a Chicago Public School and spend the week between finals and graduation immersed in the urban setting and teaching in Chicago Public Schools.
Level: Required for the Secondary Licensure Program. With instructor permission, may be taken by any student in the Education Studies minor. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: EDU 202 or EDU 302.
Credits: 1/2
EDU 370 Special Topics
This course is a seminar focused upon historical and/or philosophical topics, including policy implications for U.S. and global educational systems. In general, historically-oriented and philosophically-oriented topics are taught in alternating years, and are cross-listed with the relevant department(s) as appropriate. The emphasis is upon shared exploration of the general background to the issue, accompanied by development of an independent research project connected to it. Because the content varies from year to year, this course may be repeated for credit with instructor permission.
Level: Required for the Education Studies minor. Offered in the spring semester.
EDU 387 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the Chair/Director of Education Studies.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
EDU 388 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the Chair/Director of Education Studies.
Credits: 1/2
EDU 401-406 Content Methods
In this course, using their liberal arts education and previous experiences in education classes, students will examine the methods, pedagogy, and student content standards specific to their discipline for teaching grades 5-12. Referring to Indiana and national content standards and best practices for secondary teachers, students will become familiar with the content and approaches to planning and instruction in middle and high school settings. As well, the course asks students to explore differentiated instruction methods (with special attention to students with exceptionalities and English language learners), the use of student assessment data, and technology in the context of their content area. In addition, students will reflect on their beliefs and experiences with learning and teaching in their content area as they continue to develop their teaching philosophy and identity. Students are also introduced to professional organizations and publications within their content area.
Field Component: Students in EDU 401-406 are placed in a content-specific high school or middle level class, preferably with the mentor teacher with whom they will be placed for student teaching. The nature of the fieldwork—a minimum of 10 hours—might include observing, co-teaching, and/or other school-related curricular activities such as: attending faculty/department meetings. Drawing on classroom and field-based experiences, students will develop curriculum maps to understand the scope and sequence of various courses within a single discipline.
401. Teaching of Language Arts (English)
402. Teaching of Mathematics
403. Teaching of Science (Physics, Biology, Chemistry)
404. Teaching of Social Studies (Psychology, History, Economics, Political Science)
405. Teaching of Foreign Languages (Modern)
406. Teaching of Latin
Level: Required for the Education Studies minor. Offered fall semester.
Prerequisites: EDU 101, 201, and 202 (may be taken concurrently with EDU 302)
Credits: 1/2 (Course meeting times are typically spread over the entire semester.)
EDU 423 Student Teaching Practicum
The purpose of this practicum experience is to bridge the gap in teacher preparation between theory and practice and to provide teacher candidates with real world teaching experiences in secondary school settings. The co-teaching model serves as the framework for this practicum, wherein the teacher candidates have collaborative mentoring relationships with their mentor teachers and gain experience co-teaching and solo-teaching. College faculty serve as the third leg of this collaboration and serve as facilitators, resources, and supervisors of the practicum experience. The Student Teaching Practicum places teacher candidates, who have completed all other licensure program requirements for the secondary teaching license, in a content-appropriate middle and/or high school setting where they work with a mentor teacher for an entire semester. Starting as close to the beginning of the middle/high school semester as possible, teacher candidates are expected to co-plan and co-teach for 12-14 weeks. Responsibilities for the teacher candidates gradually shift from the mentor teacher as the “lead teacher” to the teacher candidate as the “lead teacher” and back as the practicum experience comes to a close. The practicum culminates with the teacher candidates conducting a classroom-based research (CBR) project. Teacher candidates are supported and mentored as they work on these projects during regular seminar meetings on campus. Other topics covered in the seminar meetings will include: lesson planning, differentiated instruction (with attention to the needs of students with exceptionalities and English Language Learners), assessment, technology, classroom management, and education law. College faculty further support and mentor student teachers by making regular site-visits to their placement schools. Offered in fall and spring semesters.
Prerequisite: All previous education courses required for the minor and admission to the secondary licensing program.
Credits: 3
EDU 487 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the Chair/Director of Education Studies.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
EDU 488 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the Chair/Director of Education Studies.
Credits: 1 or 1/2