The Department of Teacher Education offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, as well as a dual major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Faculty advisors will work with you to develop a plan that meets your needs and that prepares you to become eligible for a teaching certificate. As a prospective teacher, it is the responsibility of the student to comply with all prerequisite requirements and to make sure that all selected course work complies with university and teacher certification requirements. Teacher candidates are also expected to complete a minor in a content area appropriate to their major, such as art, English, theatre, dance, creative arts, Spanish, math, biology, chemistry, earth science, geography, health, music social studies, history, and English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL). All of these recommended minors represent content that can be taught in a variety of school settings. Candidates are encouraged to check the minor requirements carefully and note any prerequisites. Careful planning is necessary to insure that the minor can be coordinated with education program requirements.

Many learning opportunities are available to teacher candidates. Some of these include membership in the Living Learning Community, Education Club, and Kappa Delta Pi, organizations for education majors. The Riall Lecture Series invites nationally known researchers to speak on current educational topics each semester. In addition, there are numerous scholarship opportunities available for teacher candidates.

You will find that faculty in the Department of Teacher Education are a creative, enthusiastic, and talented group of educators. They are engaged in local Professional Development Schools, working closely with prospective candidates and interns. Several faculty members sponsor international courses that include locations such as New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Faculty have also created collaborative programs that provide international sites for student interns, such as China, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and New Zealand. The integration of new technologies for teaching, including the use of handheld computers, smart boards, web assisted and online courses, and distance learning are also a department priority among faculty. We invite you to explore these exciting opportunities as you prepare to teach in the twenty-first century!