Mission

The mission of the School of Education is to prepare education professionals to serve and inspire excellence in teaching, administration, counseling, communication, technology, and other related services. Central to our mission is the development of leaders who promote social justice and dedicate themselves to the well-being of a global community.

History

The original charter of North Carolina Central University, issued by the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1925 (Chapter 56, Private Laws, 1925), set forth an institutional purpose that included the training of Negro high school teachers and principals. By 1927, the institution had in place sets of “combination courses” especially designed for high school teachers.

In the 1928-1929 school years, the Department of Education was one of the units of the College of Liberal Arts. At that time, the department offered six courses in professional education. The department’s academic offerings had expanded to 20 courses by 1937.

The General Assembly enacted a statute in 1939 which authorized the Board of Trustees of North Carolina College to establish graduate programs. The graduate program in education was among the first five graduate programs established at this institution under the organizational structure of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  The undergraduate program of the Department of Education was administratively supervised by the Undergraduate College in 1939.

On July 10, 1951, a joint trustee committee approved a cooperative arrangement between The University of North Carolina and North Carolina College for programs leading to the Ph.D. degree and authorized that they begin at the College in September, 1952. The first doctoral programs were organized in education in the areas of administration and supervision, elementary education, and guidance.  Five persons were awarded the Ph.D. degrees in education before the doctorate program was discontinued in 1964.

In 1957, the North Carolina State Legislature redefined the purposes of North Carolina College, permitting broader graduate programs in professional education.  In 1986, the Graduate School was merged with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Education became a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences. On July 1, 1989, the Department of Education was elevated to a School of Education with a Dean who reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Facilities

In August 2000, the faculty, staff and students moved into a new 104,000 square foot state-of-the art, technology ready facility.  The new building is almost three times larger than the former facility.  The building has many functional spaces and special equipment.  Examples of functional spaces are listed below:

Two master classrooms with stationary seats that have network ports for Internet connection.

Seventeen classrooms with wireless computer capability.

Two Smart Board Classrooms.

Two teleconference rooms.

A technology wing that has five faculty offices, one classroom, a computer lab, and a digital editing lab.

An auditorium that seats three hundred.

One computer lab for student use. Students can check course availability, check grades, review program requirements, register for courses, send e-mail to faculty, and access other Eagle Online pages. They can complete and print course assignments to submit.

Elementary Education (K-6)

Undergraduate

Undergraduates are required to complete one of the following academic concentration options: Art, Biology (general), English as a Second Language, English Literature, English Writing, History, Literacy, Mathematics (general), French, Spanish, or Social Science.

Middle Grades Education (6-9)

Undergraduate

Undergraduates are required to complete two of the following academic core major options: language arts, social studies, mathematics, or science.

Secondary Education (9-12)

English
Undergraduate and graduate

Mathematics
Undergraduate and graduate
 
Comprehensive Science
Undergraduate
(with degrees in Biology Chemistry, Geography, or Physics)
 
Comprehensive Social Studies
Undergraduate
(with a degree in History)
 
Family and Consumer Sciences
Undergraduate and graduate

Special Subject Areas (K-12)

Academically and Intellectually Gifted
(Add on)

English-as-a Second Language
(Add on)

Dance
Undergraduate

School Administration
Graduate

Spanish
Undergraduate

Literacy
(Reading Add on)

Media Coordinator
Graduate

Music
Undergraduate

Physical Education
Undergraduate and Graduate

Theater Arts
Undergraduate

 

Birth to Kindergarten (B-K)

Undergraduate

Special Education (K-12)

Adapted Curriculum
Graduate (initial)

Behavioral Emotional Disabilities
Graduate (initial and advanced)

General Education
Graduate (initial and advanced)

Visual Impairment
Graduate (initial and advanced)

Learning Disabilities
Graduate (initial and advanced)

Special Service Areas

Counselor Education (School, Career, Mental Health)
Graduate

Educational Technology
Graduate

Speech-Language Pathology
Graduate

Degree Programs in the School of Education

The School of Education offers degrees in the following undergraduate and graduate majors:

Elementary Education (K-6) B.A.

Middle Grades Education (6-9) B.A.

Educational Technology M.A.

School Administration M.S.A.

Special Education (K-12) M.Ed., M.A.T.

Behavioral Emotional Disabilities

Visual Impairment

Learning Disabilities

Communication Disorders M.Ed.

Speech Language Pathology

Counselor Education M.A.

School Counseling

Mental Health Counseling

Career Counseling

Admissions

The undergraduate division of education follows the University’s policies for admission. Generally, during the first two years, the student completes the University’s General Education Curriculum (GEC). The student is eligible for formal admission to the undergraduate Teacher Education Program (TEP), a state requirement, if the applicant completes:

1. All course work in the GEC.
2. Course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5;
3. Three English requirements in the General Education Curriculum with at least a minimum grade of “C” in each course;
4. The Praxis I (PPST paper-pencil or computer-based version) at a level required by the N. C. Department of Public Instruction (for the SAT/ACT alternatives, please see the program coordinator)
5. The TEP application (available from the appropriate program coordinator).

In addition to the University’s requirements for graduation, students seeking North Carolina licensure must do the following:

1. Complete the professional education program at NCCU, including student teaching;
2. Earn passing scores on the specialty area tests of the Praxis II, if required in program area;
3. Receive the recommendation for licensure from the faculty advisor in the licensure area; and
4. Submit the appropriate licensure forms and processing fee to the School of Education Office of Teacher Education.

To obtain licensure information, prospective teacher education majors should visit the School of Education website (www.nccu.edu/soe) before contacting the School of Education’s Office of Teacher Education. Specific specialty area and education requirements may be obtained from the academic department chairs or teacher education coordinators.

Academic Advisement

Students who wish to pursue teacher education as a career should seek advisement early in their academic careers. Incoming freshman and transfer students are initially advised in the University College.  Those who choose elementary or middle grades education as a major are transferred to advisors in the School of Education. Once transferred from the University College, advisement for students interested in K-12 or secondary education (9-12) is provided by chairpersons of academic departments or designated Teacher Education Council representatives.

Application forms for admission to the Teacher Education Program should be obtained from the student’s academic advisor, and then completed and submitted to the program coordinator.

University Policies for Undergraduates

The undergraduate teacher education programs adhere to the University’s policies in the following areas: Registration, Grading System, Minimum Required Grade Point Average, Academic Dismissal, Repeating Courses, Changing Grades, Changing Majors, Transfer Credit, Withdrawal from a Course, Withdrawal from School, Maximum and Minimum Course Loads, Enrollment of Seniors in 5000-Level Courses, and Degrees with Distinction. See the Academic Regulations section of this catalog for additional information on undergraduate policies and procedures.

Degree Requirements

At the undergraduate level, the School or Education grants the Bachelor of Arts degree for elementary education and middle grades education. The specific course requirements for each major are outlined in the sections that follow.

edTPA

edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from Day 1 in the classroom. The edTPA assessment includes versions of 27 subject-specific teaching fields. The assessment features a common architecture focused on three tasks:  planning, instruction, and assessment.

All candidates, seeking initial licensure, are expected to complete the edTPA portfolio assessment. Candidates will be expected to meet the expected minimum score, as established by NCDPI.

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