College of Education

Department of
TEACHER EDUCATION

The Department of Teacher Education administers the professional education component of all undergraduate and graduate teaching programs.

Dennis Potthoff, Chair

Ed Walker, Program Director for Teacher Education

Professors: Fredrickson, Freeman, M. Hadley, Ludeman, Powell, Walker
Associate Professors: Gallagher, Hansen, Hildebrand, Lewis, Middleton, Potthoff
Assistant Professors: Agard, Batenhorst, Clark, Montgomery, Schnoor, Tracy, Ziebarth-Bovill
Senior Lecturers: Flaherty, Hudson

Lecturers: McCollough, Mollard, Mumm, Stirtz, Strawhecker

Elementary Education Objectives:

• To provide the necessary undergraduate preparation in elementary education, early childhood education and middle grades education for students completing an initial endorsement in these areas;
• To provide a fundamental background in the nature of infants, children and young adolescents for students completing programs in early childhood, elementary education and middle grades;
• To provide courses to meet the needs of students enrolled in programs beyond those in the Department of Teacher Education;
• To provide appropriate educational experiences for a variety of populations in local preschools, elementary and middle schools.

Special Education Objectives:

• To provide education in the field of mild/moderate disabilities. This program provides the necessary competencies to become endorsed as either an elementary or secondary resource teacher working with children with mild/moderate disabilities (learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavior disabilities);
• To provide education in the subject area of early childhood special education. This program provides the necessary sequence of courses to become endorsed as a teacher of early childhood special education (0-5 years);
• To offer a minor;
• To provide courses for educators outside the field of special education to develop competency in recognizing and serving children disabilities.

Information for Students Seeking Teaching Endorsements
Upon admission to teacher education, candidates requesting a special education major, supplemental endorsement, or minor in special education should file a program with the Teacher Education Department for approval. Requirements for admission to student teaching in the endorsed areas are consistent with those recommended by the College of Education.

Field-Based Teacher Education Program: The Early Training Center (ETC) Designed for students considering a career in education, the Early Training Center (ETC) offers extensive pre-student teaching field experiences integrated with professional coursework. This optional program within the Department of Teacher Education provides Elementary Education majors with the opportunity to confirm their career choice early in their college program of study. Prerequisites for enrollment in ETC are successful completion of PTE 200, P T E 290, and a minimum of 27 credit hours.

Professional Coursework:
The Early Training Center offers courses which are required within the program of study for majors in elementary, early childhood, middle grades and special education (K-6 or K-12 mild/moderate). The following three courses are integrated into a professional interdisciplinary block and meet two days each week for the semester.

PTE 300, Learning and Evaluation - 3 hours
ELED 371, Teaching Elementary School Language Arts - 3 hours
ELED 374, Teaching Elementary School Reading - 3 hours

Register for additional courses with the approval of the ETC Coordinator.

Pre-Student Teaching Field Experiences:
Three pre-student teaching field experiences in various school settings will be arranged for the ETC student. Field experience requirements are met by observing and aiding in classroom settings two days a week for twelve weeks. Field experiences may be requested for three sections of the following course.

PTE 390, Pre Student Teaching Field Experience - 1 hour

Students must apply for admission into the Field-Based Teacher Education Program (ETC) the semester prior to participation in the program. For further information, or to make application, contact the Department of Teacher Education.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR

Three Options are available in this major:

1. Elementary Education Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree
2. Middle Grades Teaching Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree or
   Middle Grades Teaching Option - Bachelor of Science in Education Degree
3. Early Childhood Education Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree

SPECIAL EDUCATION MAJOR

Three options are available in this major:

1. Mild/Moderate Disabilities K-6 Teaching Subject Endorsement Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree
2. Mild/Moderate Disabilities 7-12 Teaching Subject Endorsement Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree
3. Early Childhood Special Education Subject Teaching Endorsement Option - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE - Subject Teaching Endorsement - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education

       English As a Second Language - Subject Teaching Endorsement - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education

Minor in Early Childhood Education. External Degree Minor/Second Endorsement information.
A minor in Special Education is available in the department.

Courses with the prefix ELED,  SPED, PTE and  LNSK are offered by the department.

11 May 2006
ugradcatalog@unk.edu