Education

Teacher education programs educate prospective teachers through professional courses which emphasize the acquisition of knowledge, skills, competencies and professional dispositions. The experiences offered within the educational program enhance and complement the knowledge and values encompassed in the liberal arts component offered at College of Saint Mary. The department provides for individual differences, interests and needs within specific curriculum experiences while providing a broad overall theoretical and philosophical background in education. Professional course work, labs, and field-based experiences (at least 100 hours) provide students with practical knowledge regarding learners, learning processes, and teaching competencies relevant to identified careers. All methods courses provide opportunities for students to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska K-12 Academic Standards. Appropriate use of instructional technology is integrated into all content and pedagogy. Intensive reading and writing experiences are integrated into all Teacher Education courses.

Teacher Education students select from:

1. Bachelor of Science with an elementary education major and an early childhood minor.
2. Bachelor of Science with early childhood education major and a special education minor.
3. Bachelor of Science with an elementary education major and a special education major.
4. Bachelor of Science with an elementary education major and an ESL minor.
5. Bachelor of Science with Reading and Writing minor
6. Bachelor of Science with an elementary education major and a minor in a subject area, for example, art, English, math, music, physical education, science, social science, world language, or a related area, such as information technology or psychology.
7. Bachelor of Science/Arts with specialization in a field or subject area.

Students may seek certification in the following areas:

Admission

Students are introduced to early childhood, primary, middle grades, and secondary school programs through introductory courses in education and special education. These courses explore the nature of teaching at varied levels and identify specific needs of exceptional students. Students participate in diverse classroom guided experiences in Omaha or surrounding area schools. Students complete course work in developmental science and initial methodology courses within the second year.

During the spring semester of the sophomore year or second semester after transfer, students are evaluated and considered for formal acceptance into the teacher education program. Prior to or during the first year, students take the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test that is required for admission into the teacher education program. Core Academic Skills for Educators test scores, academic performance, evidence of professional dispositions for successful teaching, field experience evaluations, student interview, student website and command of oral and written language are factors considered in determining acceptance into the teacher education program. Students must provide evidence of academic competence and professional development by having attained a cumulative GPA of 2.65 in course work, providing an active digital portfolio of work that demonstrates professional and scholarly growth, and completion of an interview with the Teacher Education Committee.

Application for formal admission must be submitted to the Teacher Education Committee by March 1 or February 15 or September 15 using the online application form provided by the committee (located on MyCSM, Communities, Undergraduate Teacher Education). This committee is composed of a student’s education advisor, all members of the Teacher Education Department, and other faculty members. Evaluation procedures result in acceptance, provisional status, or no acceptance. Acceptance is granted to students who meet all of the requirements. Provisional status or non-acceptance is granted at the discretion of the committee based upon their judgment of the individual student’s preparedness to enter the education program.

Application for formal admission must be submitted to the Teacher Education Committee by March 1 or February 15 or September 15 using the online application form provided by the committee (located on MyCSM, Communities, Undergraduate Teacher Education). This committee is composed of a student’s education advisor, all members of the Teacher Education Department, and other faculty members. Evaluation procedures result in acceptance, provisional status, or no acceptance. Acceptance is granted to students who meet all of the requirements. Provisional status or non-acceptance is granted at the discretion of the committee based upon their judgment of the individual student’s preparedness to enter the education program.

Field Experience

For all courses with a field experience requirement, an official background check must be secured. The background check must be completed the first term a student is enrolled in a course with a field experience requirement and is valid for five years. Students are encouraged to join the Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN). Costs for these two requirements amount to approximately $90 per year.

Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

Applicants for certification with a single endorsement complete a sixteen week clinical practice in one setting. Those seeking multiple endorsements complete a ten week clinical practice in each field for which they are seeking certification. Clinical practice placements are planned in regard to students’ specific needs and certification requirements. Placements are intended to enhance prospective teachers’ exposure to various teaching styles, philosophies, and cultural settings. The online application for clinical practice must be submitted no later than September 15 or February 1 during the semester immediately preceding assignments.

Students applying for clinical practice are expected to show evidence of cumulative scholastic achievement (cumulative GPA of 2.75), appropriate methodological background, up-to date electronic portfolio, proficiency in spoken and written language, and a record of professional dispositions for successful teaching. An official background check must be completed within 30 days of beginning clinical practice. Transportation to clinical practice sites are the responsibility of the student. The Teacher Education Committee reviews applications for consideration of placement. The committee may accept, not accept or defer a candidate’s application. Deferred candidates may appeal and request a hearing before the Teacher Education Committee.

Certification

Students who successfully meet state required competencies may qualify for a Nebraska Teaching Certificate. Continuous growth in knowledge, pedagogy and professionalism, as well as satisfactory performance during clinical practice, and completion of Praxis II for each content area as required by Nebraska Rule is in the recommendation for certification. Completion of the education program does not guarantee certification.

Failure to apply for Nebraska Teacher Certification at the time of program completion/graduation may result in your program not meeting Rules 20, 21, 23, 24 or 27 changes in interim between application and program completion. Rule changes in effect at the time of application will need to be made up as deficiencies.

Since certification requirements of various states differ, a student planning to teach in a state other than Nebraska should inquire about specific requirements for that state.

In-Service Education

The education department recognizes its obligation to the community to provide leadership in the field of education and to act as an educational center for schools within the surrounding area. It recognizes the importance of requirements for certification and the multiplicity of changes in techniques, technology and needs of individual students and teachers. Therefore, some professional education courses are offered during summer sessions and in late afternoons or evenings.

Elementary 
Academic preparation for elementary education majors may include a minor in a subject area and/or supporting field useful in elementary.

The professional courses that are required include: EDU 101, 201, 312, 315, 342, 350, 353, 355, 372, 375, 427, 430, 470 or 471, 495, and 496. Supporting courses include PED 360 SPE 101 240, and 430.

Secondary Education and Middle School Major Sequences:
College of Saint Mary offers endorsement in these areas in secondary education:

During registration, students in secondary education are required to obtain advising for education courses in the education department.

The professional courses that are required include: EDU 101, 201, PSY 203, SPE 101, 240, EDU 312, 315, 351, 360, 375, 427, 471 and/or 472 and 495 and ENG 262.

PK-12 Endorsement

College of Saint Mary offers a PK-12 endorsement in Art.

K-12 Endorsements

College of Saint Mary offers K-12 endorsement in these areas: Religious Education or World Languages-Spanish

K-12 endorsements in art, religious education and world languages require methods and Clinical Practice in K-6 and 7-12.

Education Minor Sequences:

• Reading and Writing PK-6, 7-12
• English as a Second Language PK-12
• Special Education
• Early Childhood Education PK-3

Supplemental Endorsements

College of Saint Mary offers a supplemental PK-12 endorsement in English as a Second Language. College of Saint Mary offers supplemental K-12 endorsements in these areas: Reading and Writing and a supplemental Prek-3rd grade endorsement in Early Childhood Education* (see Early Childhood Education section for program requirements).
* Early Childhood Education can only be added by Nebraska law to elementary education.

Tremendous growth in numbers of immigrant children in the United States, particularly in Nebraska, has created a need for teachers trained to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). Undergraduate students at College of Saint Mary may earn a supplemental ESL endorsement with a 15-credit-hour program (ENG 320; EDU 415; EDU 425; COM 306; and EDU 473). When combined with EDU 375, teaching in a Multicultural Society, students achieve a minor in ESL.