Education

Professors: Craig, Kerby, D. Miller, and Reiff; Associate Professors: K’Olewe, Laird, Medina, Orza, Rust, Schlossberg, and M. Trader (Department Chair); Assistant Professor: Swartz; Coordinator, Professional Development: Townsend.

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Craig: reading assessment and instruction, reading difficulties-prevention, intervention, and remediation, and writing instruction; Professor Kerby: media/library science, young adult non-fiction; Professor Miller: reading assessment and instruction, reading difficulties-prevention, intervention, and remediation; Professor Reiff: exceptional children; Professor K’Olewe: curriculum and instruction, teaching in secondary schools; Professor Laird: ASL specialist, ASL and Deaf Studies counseling; Professor Medina: psychological foundations of education, diversity, special education; Professor Orza: counseling psychology, empathy, and counselor education; Professor Rust: Deaf education/ASL and Deaf Studies; Professor Schlossberg: counseling psychology; Professor Trader: educational policy, curriculum, and instruction; Professor Swartz: mathematics: R. Townsend: Coordinator, Teacher Professional Development, field placement, physical education, and Educational Leadership.

Education Minor Program Requirements

McDaniel College, accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, has provided programs for teacher preparation and certification for over 110 years. Although the College has never had a major in education, it does offer minors in elementary, secondary, and PreK12 education. Students who complete the minor in elementary education, secondary education, or PreK12 (art, music, French, German, Spanish, or physical education) are eligible for initial teacher certification in the State of Maryland (and the more than 45 states involved in the Interstate Reciprocity Agreement) in elementary (grades 1-6), secondary (grades 7-12), or PreK12 (art, instrumental or vocal music, or physical education). All of the teacher education programs are fully approved and accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education. Note that course requirements for the education minor are subject to change in order to reflect Maryland State Department of Education certification regulations and accreditation requirements.

The Education faculty are committed to the department mission “to prepare knowledgeable, caring, reflective practitioners to facilitate learning for all students in a diverse and technological society.” Students preparing to teach at the secondary level (middle or high school) select a major in their field such as biology, English, music, etc.; students desiring certification to teach at the elementary level (grades 1-6) may select any major, usually one which supports the field such as communication, English, history, mathematics, sociology, or psychology. Students receive certification in elementary education or the following secondary education fields: biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, or social studies. Students may also receive PreK-12 certification in the following fields: art, French, German, Spanish, instrumental or vocal music, and physical education.

McDaniel College also offers a five-year bridging certification program in music. Students who complete the music five-year program graduate with a B.A. in their content area (music), certification in PreK12th music, and a Master’s of Science degree in their fifth year. McDaniel College is currently one of two colleges in the state of Maryland that offer a unique five-year bridging dual certification program in secondary general education and secondary special education. Students who complete the dual certification five-year program graduate with a B.A. in their content area (math, English, etc.), secondary teacher certification in that area (math, English, etc. in grades 7-12), a Master’s degree in Special Education, and certification in secondary special education (grades 6-12).

The Professional Year

Each student is required to complete his/her final two internships in a minimum of 100 days over two consecutive semesters in a Professional Development School (PDS) as required by the Maryland State Department of Education. Students must take their final methods course the semester prior to the semester they intend to complete a 12-credit student teaching internship. During the student teaching semester, elementary education students complete 12 credits of student teaching at the primary or intermediate grade levels. Secondary education students complete 12 credits of student teaching at the middle and high school levels. PreK12 certification students complete 12 credits of student teaching at the elementary and secondary levels.

All coursework should be planned so that one semester of the senior year may be kept entirely free for student teaching.

A long term substitute assignment or teaching on a provisional certificate will not fulfill this requirement of the student teaching internship.

If interested in education, make advisory contact with any of the following faculty members during the first semester on campus:

Elementary Education: Dr. Sharon Craig or Dr. Barbara Swartz
Secondary or PreK12 Education: Dr. Ochieng’ K’Olewe or Dr. Janet Medina or Dr. Barbara Swartz (secondary mathematics candidates)
Five-year bridging dual certification program in general secondary education and secondary special education: Dr. Janet Medina
Five-year bridging program in music education: Dr. Janet Medina

Transfer students must seek and consult with Dr. Janet Medina in the education department during their first months on campus to determine eligibility for admission into the minor.

Education Minor Requirements:

Secure an Education Department advisor.
Plan to complete a major in a field offering content appropriate for a minor in education. See the various department headings in this catalog.
Present passing PRAXIS Core scores in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, a minimum SAT score (verbal and mathematics) of 1100 (1000 prior to 1995), or a minimum ACT score of 24 prior to the spring semester of the sophomore year.
Expect to spend at least 2 to 2.5 hours, twice a week in a school-based internship during semesters in which you are completing education courses, except EDU 1141.
Complete all McDaniel Plan requirements and requirements for the major prior to the student teaching semester.
Meet the following program requirements:
1. To be formally admitted into the Education minor, students must complete EDU 1141 and EDU 2240 and EDU 2140 (secondary and PreK12 education) or EDU 2304 and EDU 2104 (secondary mathematics majors) or EDU 2015 and EDU 2115 (elementary education) with a grade of “C” or better, present acceptable Praxis Core (tests in reading, writing and mathematics), SAT, or ACT scores, and complete a candidacy application. PRAXIS Core scores or their equivalent must be submitted to the education department by January 1 prior to the spring semester or August 1 prior to the fall semester. Note that EDU 1141 should be completed in the spring of the first year or the fall of the sophomore year. Students must have sophomore standing to enroll in EDU 2240, EDU 2304 or EDU 2015. Note that EDU 1141 is a prerequisite for EDU 2240, EDU 2304 or EDU 2015.
2. In order to enroll for any EDU 3000-level courses, students must be formally admitted to the education minor.
3. Candidates for the education minor must complete an approved education Jan Term internship in an ethnically diverse classroom setting.
4. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all EDU prefix courses and all other certification requirement courses. Note: students who earn a C- or lower in any course required for certification must repeat the course in order to continue in the minor.
5. All students are required to have a criminal background record check through fingerprinting and disclosures prior to any school-based internship. Notification disclosures must come directly to McDaniel College, Education Department. All notifications will be reviewed by the department as a condition of participating in a school-based internship.
6. A formal application, interview, and minimum GPA of 2.75 in the major and overall are required for admission to the student teaching semester. All student teaching placements will be in a Professional Development School (PDS).
7. Passing scores on the Praxis II, attendance at all student teaching seminars and the successful completion and presentation of a final standards-based portfolio are the culminating activities required for eligibility for Maryland teacher certification.
8. Candidates seeking certification in French, German, or Spanish must pass the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Inventory (OPI) at the Advanced-Low level or above prior to admission to the student teaching semester.

Programs

Undergraduate Minor

Education Minor

Other Programs

Secondary (Gr. 7-12) Social Studies – Required Emphasis Study Teacher Certification

Education

Programs

Courses