Education: Teacher Educator Preparation Program (EDU)
Professor David B. Hand, Ed.D. - Dean of the School of Education
Associate Professor Tammie S. Brown, Ed.D. - Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program
Professor Lydia McCardle, Ed.D. - Director of Clinical Internship
The School of Education Mission Statement
Teacher As Servant Leader
Learning to Teach – Teaching to Serve
The Belhaven University Undergraduate School of Education seeks to produce not only effective professional educators and state-certified teachers but also concerned, compassionate individuals who value each student’s life and who are dedicated to helping all students to learn and fulfill his or her God-given potential. The School of Education’s goal is the development of
Teachers as Servant Leaders, supported by its program that emphasizes academic excellence, professional knowledge, character development, and leadership opportunities. Education candidates will have real-world experience through internships, practicum and directed observation and teaching in elementary schools.
The Belhaven School of Education Conceptual Framework and Educator Preparation Provider Standards (BEPPS)
Serving as the Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) for Belhaven University the Graduate School of Education’s Mission Statement is:
To prepare effective professional educators who demonstrate both academic excellence and professional knowledge while providing distinctive Christian leadership and service to all students, parents, and communities.
The conceptual framework and the Belhaven Educator Preparation Provider Standards (BEPPS) identified by the School of Education are the foundation for the EPP’s
Quality Assurance Assessment System and reflect and inform candidate assessments of the following objectives:
Belhaven Educator Preparation Provider Standards (BEPPS)
BEPP Standard 1: Vision and Mission
The candidate supports and promotes, an academic and values centered, vision and mission to other teachers, staff, parents, and community to ensure that high quality teaching, learning, and schooling are implemented and continuous school improvement is taking place.
BEPP Standard 2: Knowledge of Content
The candidate assures that they utilize knowledge of content in creating learning opportunities that make subject matter meaningful and useful and promotes the growth and development of all students.
BEPP Standard 3: Learning Environments
The candidate promotes academic success and personal wellbeing of students by assuring that they design and manage learning environments that accommodate a diverse population, provide for individual differences, and enhance student learning and achievement.
BEPP Standard 4: Instructional Methods
The candidate, in cooperation with other school educators, selects and implements a variety of instructional methods & teaching strategies that develop students' critical thinking, problem solving, & performance skills.
BEPP Standard 5: Assessment
The candidate promotes appropriate and meaningful assessments and analyzes assessment data to monitor and document individual student learning, grade level growth, classroom, and school advancement
in order to inform improvements in instruction, the impact on student learning, and school enhancement.
BEPP Standard 6: Professional Growth
The candidate employs the tools of self-evaluation and reflection and utilizes available resources to support professional growth as an educator and leader, to create a culture of professionalism and promote student learning, foster improved instruction, and be an advocate for school enhancement.
BEEP Standard 7: Professional Dispositions
The candidate integrates and exhibits the Christian worldview in building inclusive learning environments that address the needs, perspectives, and diversity among students, families, colleagues, and communities. The candidate manifests the ethical principles and dispositions of a Christian professional educator and is a role model both in and outside of the school building, the district, and the community.
The Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP)
Candidates planning to teach in elementary schools must not only meet the requirements for graduation from Belhaven University but also must complete courses specified for teacher licensure.
All course requirements are subject to change reflecting requirements from the Mississippi Department of Education . Prospective elementary teachers major in
Elementary Education K-6 while identifying two additional areas of concentrations. The two concentrations lead to teacher certification endorsements: one required in Reading and the other endorsement to be of the candidates choosing. Prospective students desiring to teach at the middle/high school levels should major in the subject/content area in which they plan to earn their degree and should also consider the
Dual Enrollment option leading to the
Mississippi Alternate Route to Teacher Certification (see page 77 of this Catalogue for a complete explanation of this option or contact the Director of the Graduate School of Education).
Licenses that entitle the holder to teach in public schools in Mississippi are issued by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Educator Licensure, Jackson, Mississippi. Information for licensure may be requested from the School of Education, central office.
Students who plan to teach in states other than Mississippi are responsible for securing all requirements and forms.
Admission to Belhaven University Does Not Automatically Admit a Student to the Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP).
Admission into the Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP) in the School of Education:
The student must have successfully completed 44 hours have an overall GPA of 2.75, and meet the required passing score on the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Praxis Core, ACT (21 of higher and at least 18 in sub-scores) or SAT (1060+), a 3.0 or higher GPA, and the PLT. Basic professional courses may be taken prior to being admitted to teacher education. No courses listed under the Junior Year may be taken until a student has been admitted to the Teacher Educator Preparation Program*.
*There are three courses that are in exception granted by permission from the Undergraduate Chair and are open to all university students:
IMPORTANT TO NOTE : Candidates are allowed to take only a limited number of courses in the School of Education before they must be admitted into the Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP). If a candidate is not admitted to the TEPP they can no longer take courses from the School of Education and
will be required to change their major. Candidates are admitted to the TEPP after successfully passing the required Mississippi Teacher Educator Entrance Exams, having successfully completed the requisite Education courses, having met and successfully been interviewed by the
School of Education TEPP Candidate Approval Committee, and approved as a Teacher Candidate for the Belhaven Teacher Educator Preparation Program.
Additional Degree Requirements - Transfer Credits:
Students transferring to Belhaven are required to take at least nine hours in Education at Belhaven, excluding student teaching. Teacher candidates are required to take Clinical-Internships in Teaching at Belhaven. All teacher candidates must have at least a C average in all professional and specialty/content area courses.
Elementary Education K-6
Candidates majoring in Elementary Education are required to take the courses listed in sections 1-4 below. The student must also meet the university’s core and other requirements as outlined for a Belhaven University degree.
-
General Education Core Courses for Teacher Education
| English (ENG) | 12 hours |
| Science (BIO & PHY) | 9 hours |
| Mathematics (MAT) | 6 hours |
Social Studies (12 hours HIS & 2 hours HUM) | 14 hours |
| Mosaic (EDU) | 1 hour |
| Bible (BIB) | 6 hours |
| Kingdom Life (WVC) | 3 hours |
| Total | 50 hours |
-
Two Areas of Concentration for Licensure Endorsements: Teacher candidates are required to have their first Area of Concentration (Endorsement) in Reading with a minimum of 21 credit hours. The 21 hours will give candidates an Endorsement in Reading added to their Mississippi Teaching Certificate. Teacher candidates are also required to have a second Area of Concentration (Endorsement) in a content area of study with a minimum of 21 credit hours. The 21 hours in the second concentration will give candidates another Endorsement of their choosing to be added to their Mississippi Teaching Certificate. Core university courses may be counted toward areas of concentration.
- Art Education
- Drama/Performing Arts
- English
- General Science
- Physcial Education
- Music Education Instrumental
- Music Education Vocal
- Social Studies
-
Pre-Admissions Courses to Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP)
| EDU 200 | Intro to Education | 3 hours |
| EDU 201 | Education Seminar | (P/F) 0 hours |
| EDU 221 | Child Development | 3 hours |
| EDU 301 | Educational Psychology | 3 hours |
| EDU 309 | Effective Classroom Management & Learning | 3 hours
|
| EDU 335 | Creative Arts in Education or an approved Fine Arts Elective
| 3 hours
|
| EDU 342 | Exceptional Learner | 3 hours |
| Total | 18 hours |
-
Courses Only for Candidates Admitted to Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP)
| REA 311 | Literature Based Reading Skills | 3 hours |
| REA 323 | Early Literacy I | 3 hours |
| REA 324 | Early Literacy II | 3 hours |
REA
325
| Content Reading Skills
| 3 hours
|
| REA 326 | Diagnostic Reading Skills | 3 hours |
| REA 327 | Middle Level Literacy | 3 hours |
| EDU 303 | Language Arts/Skills | 3 hours |
| EDU 304 | Social Sciences for Children | 3 hours |
| EDU 307 | Science for Children (Counts in core science requirement) | 3 hours |
EDU 308
| Mathematics for Children | 3 hours
|
EDU
331
|
Planning, Assessment, and Data Analysis
| 3 hours
|
| EDU 400 | Clinical Practice I: Internship Methods | 6 hours |
| EDU 401 | Clinical Practice II: Internship Student Teaching | 10 hours |
| Total | 49 hours |
-
Second Area of Concentration/Endorsement
| Two to six additional hours need to be added to include the candidate’s choice for a Second Licensure Endorsement | 6 or more hours |
| Major Total | 126 or 138 Hours |
*Transfer Students should refer to degree requirements and receive individual advisement from the School of Education.
Secondary Education: Dual Enrollment and the Mississippi Alternate Route to Teacher Certification
The Belhaven University School of Education, other than Music, does not offer a traditional undergraduate program to prepare students to be licensed or certified to teach at the middle or the secondary school levels. Instead students are provided with an excellent opportunity to earn a 4-6th grade, middle school, and/or high school Mississippi Teaching Certificate by enrolling in the School of Education’s Dual Enrollment Program leading to the Mississippi Alternate Route Teacher Certification.
- Students enrolled in an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree program on a Belhaven campus in Mississippi may be eligible to take up to two Master’s Degree level courses in Education as the first two courses leading to the Mississippi temporary three year alternate route teacher certification.
- Students need to be in good standing as a traditional Belhaven University undergraduate student with an overall
GPA of 2.75 or better.
- Students are be classified at the Bachelor’s Degree Senior level (within 21 hours of graduation) and
have available during their senior year 3 to 6 elective course hours in order to take Alternate Teacher Certificate courses .
- Students must submit a signed
Request for Dual Enrollment - Graduate Course Form from the student’s major discipline department/school/campus dean or chair.
- Students may only take the following two courses:
-
EDU-501: Measurements and Evaluation Strategies
-
EDU-506: Classroom Management
- Mississippi Belhaven University students permitted to take Dual Enrollment in the Alternate Teacher Certificate Program will be required to have the knowledge of and understand the procedures required by the State of Mississippi for Alternate Teacher Certification as outlined in the
Belhaven Graduate School of Education Candidate Handbook.
- Mississippi students will have the understanding that they are required to take and pass the Mississippi State mandated
PRAXIS CORE and PRAXIS II (content area) Teacher Exams at some point during the Mississippi Alternate Teacher Certificate Program.
NOTE: In Mississippi, ACT composite scores of 21 or better may be used in lieu of PRAXIS CORE . For students outside of Mississippi, please see the requirements for the state in which you wish to teach.
- Once candidates have received their undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree,
submitted application and have been accepted into the Masters of Arts in Teaching Degree Alt/Cert program , have passed both CORE and PRAXIS II exams, and have successfully
completed EDU-501 and EDU-506, they will be eligible to make application for their
Mississippi Three Year Alternate Teacher Certificate.
- Once candidates have received their
Mississippi Three Year Alternate Teacher Certificate they are eligible to accept a teaching position within the State of Mississippi (right after graduation) and become a fully paid and licensed teacher. However, they must complete the two additional Master level courses, EDU 502 Dimensions I and EDU 503 Dimensions II as seminar and mentoring courses during their first year of teaching. Upon successful completion of their first year of teaching and passing Dimensions I and II, candidates will be eligible to apply for their
Mississippi Five Year AA Teacher Certificate.
-
PLEASE NOTE: Students enrolled in a Mississippi MAT Alt/Cert program can receive a Mississippi Alternate Teaching License (valid for three years).
The MS Three Year Alternate Teaching License is not valid in another state . Students must teach their first year in a Mississippi school in order to complete their certification process and receive a traditional Five Year Mississippi Teaching License. The Mississippi Five Year Teacher License is granted after the first year of successful teaching and maybe transferable and accepted in other states with some possible conditions.
However, candidates are held responsible for contacting other State Departments of Education to find out the transferability of a Mississippi teaching certificate and any additional requirements of the state or states they are interested in teaching in, in order to be certified and able to teach in that state.
Music
Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education leading to a teaching certification in music should refer to the Music Education program. See Music (MUS) in this catalogue: Bachelor of Arts in Music Education – Teacher Preparation (Emphasis in Instrumental Music Education and/or Emphasis in Vocal-Choral Music Education)
Honors Courses: The School of Education offers opportunities for students to enroll in honors courses from its department. The following are general education, elective, and major courses that may be taken as honors courses: EDU 221, 301, 304, 307, and 308, and REA 311 and 312. For students majoring in education, one must pass a minimum of nine hours of honors courses within the discipline and a minimum of nine hours from the honors courses of other departments. Each course must be passed with a B or better. No more than 18 hours are required for the honors degree. For other honors program policies, see “Honors Program” under the “Administration of the Curriculum” section of the catalogue.
