Teacher Education Major

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

(440) 826-2166

OVERVIEW

At Baldwin Wallace, your path to becoming a contributing, compassionate and competent professional educator begins your first year with relevant coursework and in-school classroom observations.

Rigorous and career-focused, BW's undergraduate education program builds on the strengths of a liberal arts-focused foundation.

Your education studies will include comprehensive, professional coursework and practical experiences. You'll learn innovative classroom techniques and research-based teaching methods and gain the knowledge, skills, technical competencies and professional perspectives to prepare for an ever-changing education environment. Before you graduate, you'll have more than 650 hours of field and clinical experience in a variety of diverse school settings.

Education Major Working with a Young Student

BW graduates meet a rigorous set of standards on their way to licensure eligibility. As a result, they meet and most often exceed requirements set by the State of Ohio.

Small classes, personalized attention and high standards are at the forefront of the program. You'll learn the latest, effective teaching practices, as well as see them modeled in classes by faculty members with decades of teaching experience. An education studies minor is also available for students interested in the field of education, but not interested in getting a teaching license.

PARTNERSHIPS HELP POISE STUDENTS FOR CAREER SUCCESS

The rigor and high professional standards of BW's education program have fostered an outstanding reputation in Northeast Ohio and beyond. BW has partnerships with more than 60 districts and hundreds of schools.

FULLY ACCREDITED PROGRAM

Baldwin Wallace University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Department of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for initial and advanced programs. Music Education (grades PK-12) is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). All BW licensure and endorsement programs are approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).

View additional education accreditation information and CAEP annual reporting measures.

LICENSURE AND GRADUATE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to traditional undergraduate programs, BW offers two initial teacher licensure programs for individuals with bachelor's degrees seeking to enter the teaching profession without earning another bachelor's degree.

Initial licensure - earn an initial teaching license
License + master's - earn an initial teaching license plus a Master of Arts in Education in a specialty area

BW also offers a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) program, endorsements and licenses, professional development courses for licensed teachers, and courses leading to a school social work license.

CURRICULUM

BW's undergraduate education program provides a professional experience for aspiring teachers that includes:

Freshman year field experiences
Three years of technology-integration instruction
Minimum of five field experiences — more than 650 hours — in four years
Exceptional opportunities for year-long clinical placements and co-teaching with experienced teachers

Programs Offered

Dual Primary and Primary Intervention Specialist (Grades Pre-K to 5)

This license is for candidates who wish to teach children in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 (ages 3-10). This program allows students to earn multiple credentials including the early childhood education license and early childhood intervention specialist license. Graduates of the program will be able to teach young children with and without disabilities in a variety of inclusive settings. Candidates may also choose to complete certification in English for the Second Language Learner by adding two courses.

Middle Childhood (Grades 4 to 9)

The middle childhood license is for grades 4 through 9 (ages 8-14), and requires that teachers hold a license in two subject areas from the following: reading and language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students who select reading and language arts as one of their middle childhood teaching areas will also receive the reading endorsement (grades 4-9) as an addition to their middle childhood teaching license. Students must complete requirements of the middle childhood program outline and two subject areas from the teaching fields for middle childhood.

Adolescent/Young Adult (Grades 7 to 12)

The Adolescent/Young Adult (AYA) license is for subject-related teaching disciplines that span grades 7 through 12 (ages 12-21). Candidates will obtain an AYA Major with options for either a second major or a minor, depending upon the area they wish to teach.

Licensure Content Areas Offered in AYA:

History: Integrated Social Studies
Integrated Language Arts
Integrated Mathematics
Integrated Science
Life Science
Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry)

Multi-Age (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12)

The multi-age license is for subject-related teaching disciplines that span pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (ages 3-21). See also adolescent/young adult, above, for additional subject-related teaching areas. Content areas for multi-age licenses:

Music
Spanish

Intervention Specialist - Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (Kindergarten to Grade 12)

This intervention specialist license is for kindergarten through grade 12 (ages 5-21). Graduates of the program will be able to teach students with disabilities in a variety of inclusive settings.

Education Studies Minor

This minor is available for students interested in the field of education, but not interested in getting a teaching license.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:

Field and Clinical Practice Experiences

Throughout your four years at BW, you'll have a variety of field experiences that enable you to observe as well as teach in a classroom. The capstone of BW's education program is a year-long clinical practice experience. Through this opportunity, you'll demonstrate competencies in planning, delivering and assessing student learning. You'll develop the skills and professional attitudes needed to be responsive to student needs, to work collaboratively with other professionals, and to successfully represent the high standards and teaching practices you learned through your BW studies.

Student Clubs & Organizations

Personally and professionally rewarding, student organizations and activities foster career skills, leadership and teamwork.

Baldwin Wallace Student Education Organization (BWSEO)
BWSEO is a student organization that promotes and supports the professional teacher education interests of traditional and non-traditional students. It keeps students informed of educational activities and trends. It also sponsors its own professional conference each year.