Inclusive Education

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Chair: Gretchen Robinson

Faculty:  Irene Aiken¹, Kelly Ficklin^3,4,  Karen Granger^5,6,11, Tiffany Locklear, Lisa N. Mitchell², Claudia Nickolson, David Oxendine, Kayonna Pitchford^8,10, Amy Van Buren, Jennifer Whittington⁷

                                                           
¹Dean, School of Graduate Studies

²Interim Associate Dean, School of Education

³Coordinator, Elementary Education Undergraduate Program

⁴Director, Elementary Education Graduate Program
⁵Director of Teacher Education

⁶ Director, M.A.T. Graduate Program

⁷Director of Recruitment and Retention

⁸edTPA Coordinator

⁹Technology Coordinator

¹⁰Director of University-School Partnerships and Clinical Practice

¹¹AIG Coordinator

The Department of Teacher Education serves the core curriculum of all Teacher Education Programs. Teacher Education programs in the School of Education prepare committed, collaborative, and competent professional educators who are responsive to equity and diversity; who are knowledgeable, effective, and reflective; and who provide leadership in the classroom, school, and profession. These programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the North Carolina State Board of Education and provide the means for candidates to earn licensure to teach in the state of North Carolina.

At the undergraduate level, the department offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Add-On an Initial Professional License in AIG.

The Elementary Education program is designed to (1) provide experiences for candidates to develop the content knowledge necessary to be a successful teacher in the Kindergarten-Grade 6 learning environment, as noted by the North Carolina Teaching Content Standards; (2) provide candidates with experiences in pedagogical content knowledge, as noted by the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards; and (3) provide experiences whereby candidates develop into professional educators who are committed, collaborative, and competent, as noted in the UNCP School of Education Conceptual Framework.

It is our desire that the Elementary Education graduates will motivate and engage their Kindergarten-Grade 6 students in active learning and that they will inspire them to become lifelong learners. This program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and North Carolina State Board of Education and provides the means for candidates to earn an Initial Professional License to teach in the state of North Carolina. The AIG program is designed to lead to North Carolina Add-On licensure in Education of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG), K-12.  Upon completion of the program, students can add this area to either the Initial Professional License or Continuing Professional License. A valid North Carolina Teaching License and a Plan of Study from the School of Education are required.

At the graduate level, the department offers the M.A.Ed. degree in Elementary Education and the M.A.T. degree with specialization in Elementary Education. The mission of the M.A.Ed. program in Elementary Education is to prepare the experienced teacher for full participation in the profession as leader, researcher, and master practitioner. The mission of the M.A.T. program with specialization in Elementary Education is to prepare graduate candidates as classroom teachers and for full participation in the profession as leader, researcher, and master practitioner. The master’s programs are designed to promote both teacher autonomy and interdependence through inquiry, reflection, and practice. Teacher educators are encouraged to collaborate on ways to enhance their professional lives, improve learning and well-being of their students, the teaching and learning environments of their schools, and their collaborative relationships with diverse families and communities.

Each Elementary Education major or licensure candidate is assigned an advisor who helps the student plan and approves his or her program of study. Additional information about the elementary education department is available on the department’s web page, accessible through the School of Education’s website.

Graduate Courses

For complete information about programs and courses leading to the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) and the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), see The Graduate School  .

Programs

• Birth-Kindergarten Education (B-K), B.S.
• Elementary Education (K-6), B.S.
• Special Education (K-12), B.S.

• Special Education Professional Concentration

• Preschool Add-On Licensure

Courses

• EDN 2040. Field Experience (0 credit)
• EDN 2310. Race, Culture, and the Lumbee Experience (3 credits)
• EDN 3130. Content Area Reading (3 credits)
• EDN 3140. Aspects of Human Development and Educational Psychology (Grades 6-12) (3 credits)
• EDN 3150. Developmental Perspectives of Educational Psychology (Grades K‐12) (3 credits)
• EDN 3400. Philosophy and Curriculum of Middle Grade (3 credits)
• EDN 3900. Research and Writing in Education (3 credits)
• EDN 4020. Non-Licensure Internship (3 credits)
• EDN 4490. Internship (Full Semester) (9 credits)

• EDNS 4xxx. Special Topics (1-3 credits)

• ELE 2010. Child Development and Cultural Dynamics (3 credits)
• ELE 2040. Teaching Practices and Curriculum in Elementary Education (3 credits)
• ELE 3000. Arts Integration in the Elementary School (3 credits)
• ELE 3010. Differentiated Instruction for Today’s Learners (3 credits)
• ELE 3020. Classroom Design and Management (3 credits)
• ELE 3030. Purposeful Assessment for Learning (3 credits)
• ELE 3040. Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School I (3 credits)
• ELE 3060. Literacy and Language Arts: Developing Readers and Writers (3 credits)
• ELE 4030. Living in a Global Society (3 credits)
• ELE 4060. Internship in Elementary Education (9 credits)
• ELE 4070. Professional Seminar in Elementary Education (3 credits)
• ELE 4110. Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School II (3 credits)
• ELE 4120. Teaching Science in the Elementary School (3 credits)
• ELE 4150. Literacy and Language Arts: Fluent Readers and Writers (3 credits)

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