Teaching is a rewarding – and demanding – profession
As a teacher, you will play an important role in affecting and shaping students’ lives.
The Bachelor of Arts Teacher Education Program at Wilkes emphasizes the development of lifelong learners, reflective practitioners and effective communicators sensitive to the diverse needs of all their students. You’ll be trained in the latest technology and methods to engage 21st century learners. You will be immersed in digital media and learn how to incorporate technology into your teaching.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education Program
Middle Level Education Program
Mission
Our mission is to provide the educational community and society at large with competent, caring, and ethical educators who are life-long learners, reflective practitioners, and effective communicators.
The Teacher Education program provides opportunities for students to grow academically and professionally. The program promotes an appreciation for diversity, as well as a regard for research-based and innovative practices. The ethic of service and dedication are expected of Teacher Education students to meet the diverse needs of all students within the learning community.
Learning in the Field from Professionals
Education students gain valuable hands-on experience through field experience placements in local agencies and public school classrooms. At Wilkes, you will begin to observe in classrooms beginning in your first year. Each year thereafter, you will take numerous courses with field experiences that provide a rich background of practical knowledge as well as the opportunity to teach lessons and learn about various school settings.
Competent. Caring. Ethical.
These three words sum up the type of teachers who inspire students to learn and achieve. These are the three qualities Wilkes University Education Department strives to nurture in its students.
Majors, Minor, and Dual Certifications
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved the Wilkes University Bachelor of Arts degree to offer majors and one minor leading to teacher certification. Both the majors and the minor may add Special Education certification.
As a Secondary Education major or minor, students will be prepared to teach a content area subject at the secondary school level (7-12). The major consists of 47 credits; the minor consists of 40 credits. Both the major and the minor lead to Pennsylvania secondary certification in grades 7-12. Also, dual certification in Special Education (grades 7-12) may be added to any of the majors that lead to initial certification.
Wilkes Teacher Education Program prepares students to become secondary teachers while they are studying their major. Field experiences, class work and mentoring by the Education faculty combine to give students the tools and the practice they need to become successful educators who can make a difference.
Through the Education minor course work, students will develop a strong foundation in pedagogy, classroom technology, methods and strategies to assist students with special learning needs. Also, students will have specialized course work in the methods of teaching specific content area, Students will graduate with a major that provides the knowledge base for their content area and a minor that prepares them to teach that subject to high school students.
The Secondary Education Major or Minor is combined with one of nine majors and will prepare you to teach high school (grades 7-12) in a specific content area. At Wilkes, secondary education students major in the subject they will teach.
In addition to the major or minor, students may add Special Education Certification grades 7-12.
The major in Middle School Education features strong subject matter content preparation and extensive clinical experiences to give students the needed background to be a middle school teacher. The program effectively combines subject matter content and pedagogy and includes coursework in adolescent learning topics such as cognitive development, motivation, and learning styles. In addition to understanding and practicing the use of academic standards and of assessment in instruction, the core Education courses focus on the acquisition of skills, knowledge, methods, curricular technology resources, and strategies that Education students will need to master to promote academic success in middle school classrooms.
The clinical field experience component, which is conducted in partnership with area school districts and agencies, focuses on classroom management, pedagogy, assessment, differentiated instruction, accommodations and adaptations. This experience in the field is directly linked to class work and is supervised by University personnel and host school mentoring faculty.
This major will prepare you teach middle school-aged children grades four though eight. This major requires a concentration in one of five areas:
- English, Reading & Language Arts,
- Mathematics,
- Science,
- Social Studies, or
- Mathematics & Science.
By taking appropriate, additional coursework, both majors may add Dual Certification in Special Education in grades Pre-K through eight.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education —this will prepare you to teach grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade four.
An Elementary and Early Childhood Education major leads to certification in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade (PK-4) This program incorporates an 18-credit minor in Reading Education. Elementary and Early Childhood majors take methods of teaching courses in mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, physical education and health, reading, language arts, as well as courses in educational theory and practice.
An Elementary and Early Childhood Education major with Dual Certification in Special Education. Students majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special education PK-8 will complete additional courses in Special Education.
Undergraduate Education Certification Program Outcomes
Certified teachers as determined by successful completion of Praxis II exams, PECT exams and utilization of GPA adjustment (as needed).