Faculty: Associate Professor Adams (coordinator), and Assistant Professors Lanser.
Cottey College’s Secondary Education major is focused on contributing highly effective teachers in the sciences and other fields for grades 9-12. Teachers completing an education degree at Cottey are equipped to adapt to the educational needs of the next generation of students. The Secondary Education program involves interaction with local youth in area high schools through practica and student teaching. Cottey graduates obtain solid teaching preparation as well as depth of study in a given subject area. The baccalaureate degree in Secondary Education offers certification area options from which students will choose the area to teach: Biology, Chemistry, Business, English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Speech/Theatre. Students may complete a traditional certification track or a non-certification track, Education Studies.
A Secondary Education program involves a great deal of interaction with local youth in several area high schools and is often viewed as the original service learning course opportunity. Working in classrooms every semester is not only beneficial to prospective teachers, but is also valued as a major contribution to the schools and families in the community. Current faculty members already have a working relationship with schools in Nevada and surrounding areas and course descriptions include service-learning projects with local youth.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science - Secondary Education Program Goals
Communicates Effectively
A Cottey student uses appropriate communicative means to contribute ideas and engage others to advance the work.
Acts Responsibly
A Cottey student respects diversity, is attentive to cultural context, and demonstrates ethical reasoning and action.
Core Requirements
Teaching
Choose one
Total Professional Education Credits - 31
Course Credit Hours
Field Experiences
The field experiences involve activities in professional education, which include observations, tutoring, and assisting teachers in off-campus classroom settings.
The field experiences include a minimum of 75 hours of field visits in secondary schools (grades 9-12) with diverse school populations and in diverse settings (urban, suburban, rural) with 30 hours at entry level and 45 hours at a mid-level point. Student teaching requires 12 weeks. These entry and mid-program field visits include observations and practice teaching in the presence of a secondary school teacher licensed in the appropriate certification area.
Written documentation of these field experiences, candidate reflection, and teacher evaluation of candidates are required for all observations.
| Clock Hours | Semester Hours | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level - 30 hours | 1 | EDU 290 Field Experience I |
| Mid-Program - 45 hours | 1 | EDU 390 Field Experience II |
| Culminating - 12 weeks | 12 | EDU 490 Student Teaching |
| Course | Benchmark | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 210 | Entry | GPA, Disposition Assessment, apply for admission |
| EDU 382-386 | Methods | ETS-Praxis Content Assessments |
| EDU 490 | Student Teaching | Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) |
Admission for Certification Program
Cottey College students desiring to become a Secondary Education major will need to apply for acceptance into the Educator Preparation Program. Students begin the application process during EDU 210, Foundations of Education.
The application process is based upon three criteria:
- Academic performance
- Disposition
- Evidence(s) of commitment to teaching and learning
In an effort to identify these three criteria in an applicant, to be accepted into the Secondary Educator Preparation Program the student must:
- Academic performance
- Complete EDU 210 Foundations of Education with a grade of "C" or higher.
- Provide evidence of adequate grade point average (3.00 Content, and 3.00 Education) with an official transcript.
- Disposition
- Provide two faculty recommendations for the purpose of identifying academic performance dispositions, and potential as a future educator.
- Provide one non-faculty recommendation for the purpose of identifying dispositions, experience with youth, and potential as a future educator.
- Evidence(s) of commitment to teaching and learning
- Submit a completed application to the Education Department coordinator
- Submit a 500-600 word essay reflecting personal philosophy of education and reasons to enter the teaching profession
- Complete portfolio checkpoint 1
- Background check
- Minimum of 15 documented field experience hours
- Field experience summaries
- Interview with Education Admission Program Committee
When all parts of the application have been received, the Education Admission and Program Committee will consider the application. The committee will either admit the student unconditionally, conditionally, or deny admission. If the student is conditionally admitted, they will be provided with a statement of actions to complete for unconditional admission. If the student is denied admission, they may appeal the decision.
Assessment: Candidate
Candidate assessment and readiness are measured through systematic data collection and analysis that includes, but is not limited to:
- Course embedded assessments (rubrics correlating with course assignments)
- Candidate field experience evaluations (entry, mid-level, and student teaching)
- Candidate portfolio artifacts and reflective summaries integrated throughout the program
- Candidate ETS-Praxis Content Assessments
- Candidate Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES)
Continuation in the program is contingent upon maintaining an adequate GPA and appropriate disposition assessments.
The table below identifies the benchmarks at which candidates would be expected to complete these assessments.
| Course | Benchmark | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 210 | Entry | GPA, Disposition Assessment, apply for admission |
| EDU 382-386 | Methods | ETS-Praxis Content Assessments |
| EDU 490 | Student Teaching | Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) |