College Catalog
Education (EDUC)

Education is both an academic discipline and a professional program that prepares students for secondary, middle, elementary and pre-school teaching careers. The goal of teacher education at St. Norbert College is the production of self-educating men and women, who will carry on the Norbertine tradition of scholarship and educational service by transmitting a heritage of wisdom, skills and moral commitment to the next generation. By studying both professional education and traditional academic subjects, students grow intellectually. Commitment to Christian service and the process of learning how to fulfill that commitment through teaching, help young adults grow personally and morally. Through various teacher education programs, students prepare for teaching careers and become active and effective participants in community life.

Teacher education at St. Norbert College includes preparation in the natural sciences, mathematics, the humanities, foreign languages, fine arts, and social science, as well as professional education. All of the teacher education programs combine study in traditional academic subjects with theory courses, field experiences, methods courses and student teaching. While our faculty takes pride in its ability to integrate theory with applied or practical knowledge, St. Norbert students gain additional practical knowledge through working directly with cooperating teachers in local public or parochial schools through numerous course activities, practicum experiences, and student teaching. Teacher training may also incorporate an international experience through student teaching opportunities in Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, St. Lucia, Ghana, South Africa, or Japan.

Eligibility for enrollment in teacher education is determined by a student's overall GPA at the end of the freshman year. Students with GPAs of less than 2.75 will not be admitted to the teacher education cohort. During the freshmen year, prospective early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary, and music teachers must sign a cohort form to be filed in the teacher education office (Boyle 225) in order to be considered for acceptance into their teacher education cohort.

Students are formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program at the end of their pre-professional block and must apply to student teach during their junior or senior year. To be accepted to student teach and to be licensed, candidates must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average in their major, minor and professional education and 2.75 average overall. They must demonstrate proficiency in listening and oral communication, complete the human relations requirement and pass the Praxis I (PPST) in reading, writing, and mathematics. The Praxis II content area examination must be passed before a student can secure a student teaching placement. In addition, every candidate for licensure will be expected to develop and periodically submit for review a detailed portfolio reflecting the Wisconsin Standards for Teachers. Prior to student teaching, a candidate must obtain a physician's certificate of satisfactory health.

The St. Norbert College Web Site for Teacher Education contains full details on all teacher certification programs, and it establishes the current requirements for the Teacher Education Program. All transfer students seeking teacher certification will be expected to meet with the Chair of Teacher Education and will not be permitted to take education courses unless the student has met all program requirements at the student's stage of entry.

The St. Norbert College Teacher Education Program has eleven standards that serve as program objectives. It is expected that all teachers certified by St. Norbert will possess the knowledge, skills and dispositions and be able to demonstrate the performances entailed in each standard through portfolio assessment and student teaching.

Certification Portfolio: To be licensed, students must submit an acceptable certification portfolio based on the Standards for Teachers. Portfolio contents are aligned with each Education (EDUC) course and the portfolio process reflects a developmental approach revealing more advanced knowledge, skills, and dispositions at each stage of the teacher certification program.

Advisement: For the proper sequencing of courses the student is advised to consult the Teacher Education Web Site. Each student is also assigned to a faculty advisor and is free to consult with the advisor at any time. The advisor and student meet prior to each registration period to help the student meet all Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and St. Norbert College requirements. It is imperative that students familiarize themselves with their certification paradigm and monitor their program carefully to ensure appropriate progress through the teacher education program.

All prospective teachers should consult with their advisor(s) on a regular basis. This is especially important given the likelihood of changes in state certification requirements over the period of the students' undergraduate years. Completion of degree and certification requirements within the allotted time (i.e. the equivalent of eight or nine semesters depending on the area of licensure) may not be possible unless the student plans carefully with an "education" advisor from the beginning of his/her study at St. Norbert College. All secondary majors in teacher education must have assigned an advisor from among the teacher education faculty. Students are notified of changes in licensing requirements through the Education Newsletter, the student's academic advisor, and yearly updating of the Teacher Education Web Site.

Half-courses or 2 semester credit courses: There are many 2 credit courses in Education that enable a better focus on areas of significance. 2 two-credit courses are regarded as equivalent to a full course for tuition purposes but may result in students having more than the typical 16 class hours per week in some semesters.

Graduate School Advisor: Dr. Susan Landt

St. Norbert College currently offers four certification programs, which lead to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction initial licensure. These are listed below.

* Early Childhood-Middle Childhood……….........(Ages Birth - 10)
* Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence………….(Ages 6-13)
* Early Adolescence-Adolescence…………….....(Ages 10-21)
* Music Education ………………………………(Ages Birth-21)

...............General.......................... (Grades K-12)
...............Instrumental................... (Grades K-12)
...............Choral........................... (Grades 6-12)

In addition to the programs described in detail below, St. Norbert College offers an add-on certification program (12 credits) in Adaptive Education. St. Norbert also offers a Master's of Science in Education degree.

2005-2007 Education Program Requirements

2003-2005 Education Program Requirements

2001-2003 Education Program Requirements

Education Course Descriptions

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