2006-2007 Bulletin - Nicholls State University

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Office:	231 Polk Hall
Phone:	448 4314
Professors:	Barr, Mangum, Landry (Head), Roark, P. Rodrigue.
Associate Professors:	Dial, Hammerli, Hypolite, Hill, Mead.
Assistant Professors:	Bhattacharyya, Boudreaux, Brannagan, Crochet, Goellner, Jones-Hamilton, Lauer, Norris, Naquin, Smith, Stall, Triche.
Instructors:	D. Williams.

The department offers programs of study leading to the following bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Special Education, Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education has certification pathways for PK-3, 1-5 and 4-8. Within the Bachelor of Arts in Secondary and the Bachelor of Science in Secondary the following primary certification pathways are offered: Art Education, English Education, French Education, Social Studies Education, Business Education, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics Education, General Science Education.

The requirements stated in this Bulletin satisfy the certification requirements currently mandated by the Louisiana Department of Education. However, candidates must meet new and/or revised requirements if mandated by the Louisiana Department of Education.

General Information

Ethical Dispositions

The teaching profession has the responsibility to ensure that the welfare of society is safeguarded and enhanced. Consequently, persons whose actions, performance, or behavior could adversely affect children in the school or the school system will not be allowed to enter or complete the teacher education program.

Program Overview

The Teacher Education Program requires candidates to meet the requirements for Admission to Foundations Core. Admission to the college does not imply admission to the Teacher Education Program for a degree. The Program has four transition points where the progress of each candidate is reviewed and evaluated. The transition points include: Admission to Program, Prior to Clinical, Exit from Clinical, and Program Completion. Candidates must successfully complete the requirements for each transition point before advancing. Candidates not meeting the requirements at each transition point will be referred to the Admission and Retention Committee.

The program includes varied field experiences in PK-12 schools. Candidates must successfully complete 180 hours prior to clinical and 180 hours to exit clinical.

Computer Literacy Requirement

All candidates must successfully complete EDUC 251.

General Requirements for Teacher Education

•	PRAXIS Examination - A minimum score of 174 (321 computer-based) on the Pre-Professional Skills Test/Reading, 173 (318 computer-based) on the Pre-Professional Skills Test/Writing, and 172 (317 computer-based) on the Pre-Professional Skills Test/Mathematics is required for admission to Foundations Core.
•	All parts of the NTE/PRAXIS required for certification must be passed prior to clinical (student teaching). (Information on minimum passing scores available in the Dean's Office.) NTE scores taken after September 1, 1999 are not valid for certification in Louisiana.
•	All candidates with a Louisiana Teaching Certificate must complete the minimum requirements for additional certification before the Dean of the College of Education can recommend that their certificates be changed.
•	A minimum grade of C in all courses required for the bachelor's degree and/or certification.

Transfer Students

All candidates who have successfully completed the required methods courses at another college or university may audit one or more methods course(s) at Nicholls State University to become familiar with the Conceptual Framework of the College.

Candidates will receive credit for correspondence and extension courses taken at other institutions only when such courses have been approved for credit in advance by their advisor and by the Dean of the College of Education.

Transfer candidates must meet all of the Admission and Retention Policies within the identified transition points. Each candidate's transcript must be evaluated by his or her assigned advisor.
Transfer candidates must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses required for the bachelor's degree and/or certification after transferring.

Admission to Foundations Core

Candidates are permitted to enroll in EDUC 250, EDUC 251, PSYC 206, PSYC 210, and PSYC 220 when they have:

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Earned a minimum of 30 semester hours applicable to a degree. Included in the 30 semester hours must be:

•	ENGL 101 and 102 - a minimum grade of C
•	Mathematics - three semester hours other than developmental - Minimum grade of C.
•	Science - three semester hours
•	Social Science - three semester hours
•	SPCH 101 - a minimum grade of C or co-registered
•	NOTE: Candidates who have maintained a 3.5 overall grade-point average and meet the above course requirements may enroll in EDUC 250 with less than 30 semester hours.

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Earned a minimum overall grade-point average of 2.2.

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Completed an Application for Entry Form to the College of Education.

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Completed a Verification of Eligibility Form.

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Achieved passing scores on the PRAXIS Pre-Professional Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Examination.

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Qualified under the ten percent rule. Candidates will be placed on conditional status. Candidates who have earned 75 semester hours or more and are still classified on conditional status will be counseled out of the Teacher Education Program. The policy for admission under the ten percent rule is as follows:

•	The number of candidates eligible for admission under the ten percent rule will be determined by taking ten percent of the total number of candidates enrolled in all sections of EDUC 250.
•	Candidates must meet all other criteria required for admission to Foundations Core.
•	Only candidates who have passing scores on two parts of PRAXIS I (Reading, Writing, Mathematics) or who passed the general knowledge or communication skills component of the N.T.E. prior to September 1, 1999 will be eligible for the ten percent pool.
•	Candidates in the ten percent pool will be ranked by overall grade point average.
•	Candidates admitted under the rule remain on conditional status and are so notified.
•	A candidate admitted under the rule is not permitted to enroll in any additional professional courses in the next or any succeeding semesters until he or she attains a passing score on both sections of the N.T.E or PRAXIS equivalent required for admission.

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Transition Points

Admission to Program

Candidates are admitted to the program and are permitted to enroll in EDUC 312 and PSYC 311 when they have:

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Earned a 2.5 grade point average.

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Earned a minimum grade of C in all foundations core courses completed.

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Earned a minimum grade of C in SPCH 101.

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Successfully completed the Admissions process:

•	Written proficiency
•	Dispositions scale
•	Communication skills
•	Interview process.

•

Completed a Verification of Eligibility Form.

Prior to Clinical

Candidates are admitted to student teaching and permitted to enroll in EDUC 456, 458, 465, 467, 473, and 489 when they have:

•	Successfully completed all State of Louisiana Teacher Licensure (Certification) requirements other than Student Teaching.
•	A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 as calculated by the College of Education.
•	A minimum grade of C in all professional courses.
•	A minimum grade of C in all courses required for the Bachelor's degree and/or certification.
•	Satisfactory rating on the Teacher Education Portfolio.
•	Currently not on any type of probation or conditional status.
•	Completed a Verification of Eligibility Form.
•	Completed Dispositions Scale.

Exit from Clinical

Candidates exit from clinical when they have:

•	Satisfactory ratings on Evaluation Forms (Louisiana Components of Effective Teaching) completed by Supervising Teachers, university Coordinators, and Principal.
•	Documented attendance at seminars.
•	Completed 180 hours of successful teaching.
•	Completed 60 hours of Direct Observation.
•	Completed Dispositions Scale.
•	A grade of S for satisfactory or U for unsatisfactory is assigned for all courses designated as student teaching or practicum.

Program Completion

Candidates complete the Teacher Education Program when they have:

•	Successfully completed clinical experiences.
•	Satisfactory rating on Student Teacher Portfolio.

CLR – Computer Literacy Requirement	GER – General Education Requirement
OCR – Oral Communication Requirement	UR – University Requirement

Degrees:

Bachelor of Arts Programs in Education
Bachelor of Science Programs in Education