Course Descriptions
Without exception, appropriate authorization for enrollment in any course with an EST prefix must be obtained prior to registration. Moreover, failure to adhere to the following policies and deadlines may result in the delay of graduation by one or more semesters.
Student Teaching and Practicum Requirements: Students must complete an on-line application for practicum or student teaching prior to registering for these experiences. Application deadlines are February 15th for Fall field experiences and September 15th for Spring field experiences. Please note that these deadlines are strictly enforced and that placements will only be given to students who have achieved an overall 2.50 cumulative grade point average and a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the professional education sequence, with no grades below a C. Candidates for secondary and multi-age practicum and student teaching placements must also have at least a 2.50 grade point average in their major field. In addition, each EST practicum and student teaching course has specific course prerequisites and/or corequisites. Not all of these courses are listed below. Individuals should refer to their program checklist or check in the College Advising Office, RT 1401, for specifics.
NOTE: Under consideration at the present time, but not yet approved, are the following two proposals relating to Student Teaching and Practicum requirements: (1) All practicum experiences will require five half-days per week for one semester in an appropriate school placement; (2) Student teaching assignments will begin on the date when the individual’s assigned school begins in August/September or January and will continue for 15 weeks.
EST 370 Practicum in Early Childhood Education (3 hours). Prerequisites: requires prior on-line application and approval of the Office of Field Services and successful completion of Portfolio Checkpoint #2, all Foundations and Curriculum & Methods courses, EDL 300, EDL 301, ESE 415, 5-6 remaining Literacy or Special Methods, 2.50 GPA. Requires five half-days per week for one semester, observing and teaching under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor; includes seminar. Practicum or student teaching (EST 480) must be in an urban classroom. Both may be urban. If Practicum is in a pre-kindergarten classroom, then Student Teaching must be in a kindergarten-grade 3 classroom. If Practicum is in a k-3 classroom, then Student Teaching must be in a pre-k classroom. Practicum and/or Student Teaching may be in an inclusive classroom. Required for early childhood teaching license. Return to top
EST 371 Practicum in Middle Childhood Education (3 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Foundations and Curriculum & Methods courses; EDL 301; 50% of courses in each concentration; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Concentration GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with two methods courses as specified by program. Structured field experience designed to accompany specific methods courses and to prepare Middle-Childhood-Education majors for student teaching; stresses practical application of methods and theory with emphasis on the various roles of a teacher. Students begin formulating a personal philosophy for teaching while working four half-days per week in an upper elementary, middle-, or junior-high school classroom under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor; includes seminar. Required for middle childhood teaching license. Return to top
EST 373 Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language (3 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. University-supervised field experience designed to provide guided practice in the application of current theory and research in ESL/EFL instruction. Students spend four half-days per week in a classroom that serves ESL students under the direction of a mentor teacher; includes seminar. Required for TESOL endorsement. Return to top
EST 374 Practicum in Foreign Language Education (3 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Foundations courses; EDB 305, EDL 305; 50% Major Field courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with EDC 312 and EDC 313. Structured field experience designed to prepare modern-language majors for student teaching; stresses the practical application of theory and research to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of instruction. Students explore the various roles of a teacher and begin formulating a personal philosophy for teaching while working four half-days per week in a school under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor; includes seminar. Placement must be different than that received for EST 484 so that students gain both PreK-8 and 9-12 classroom experience. Required for multi-age foreign language teaching license. Return to top
EST 377 Practicum in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (4 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Foundations courses and three Curriculum & Methods courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. University-supervised field placement that provides extended, firsthand experience in working with students who need specially designed instructional programs. Requires four half-days per week for one semester in a state-approved special education program serving students with mild/moderate disabilities; includes seminar. Required for licensure as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist. Return to top
EST 378 Practicum in Special Education: Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs (4 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Foundations courses and three Curriculum & Methods courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. University-supervised field experience designed to provide extended, guided practice in working with students with cognitive disabilities, multiple disabilities, and/or emotional disturbances. Requires four half-days per week in a state-approved special education program that serves students with moderate/intensive educational needs working under the direction of a mentor teacher; includes seminar. Required for licensure as a Moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist. Return to top
EST 379, 380, 381 or 382 Practicum in Secondary Education English, Math, Social Studies, or Science (3 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Foundations courses; EDB 305, EDL 305; 50% Major Field coursese; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with either EDS 313, EDS 315, EDS 316, or EDS 317. Structured field experience designed to accompany secondary methods courses in English, science, mathematics, or social studies education. Prepares Secondary Education Minors for student teaching; stresses the practical application of theory and research to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of instruction. Students explore the various roles of a teacher and begin formulating a personal philosophy for teaching while working four half-days per week in a middle-, junior-high, or senior-high school classroom under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor; includes seminar. Required for secondary teaching license. Return to top
EST 480 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (10 hours). Prerequisites: requires prior on-line application and approval of the Office of Field Services and successful completion of Portfolio Checkpoint #3, course prerequisites listed on application including EST 370; 2.75 Professional GPA. Requires five full days per week for one semester, observing and teaching under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor; includes seminar. Practicum (EST 370) or student teaching must be in an urban classroom. Both may be urban. If Practicum is in a pre-kindergarten classroom, then Student Teaching must be in a kindergarten-grade 3 classroom. If Practicum is in a k-3 classroom, then Student Teaching must be in a pre-k classroom. Practicum and/or Student Teaching may be in an inclusive classroom. Required for early childhood teaching license. Return to top
EST 481 Student Teaching in Middle Childhood Education (10 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: EST 371; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Concentration GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with EDB 400. Five full days a week for one semester in an upper-elementary, middle-, or junior-high school classroom observing and teaching under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor. Required for middle childhood teaching license. Return to top
EST 484 Student Teaching in Foreign Language Education (10 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required.Prerequisites include: EST 374; 75% Major Field courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with EDB 400. Five full days a week for one semester observing and teaching under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor. Placement must be different than that received for EST 374 so that students gain both PreK-8 and 9-12 classroom experience. Required for multi-age teaching license in foreign language education. Return to top
EST 485 Multiage Student Teaching for Music Majors (10 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: all Professional Education courses; 75% Major Field courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field courses; 2.75 Professional courses. Must be taken concurrently with EDB 400. University-supervised student-teaching experience in two separate educational settings to provide both PreK-8 and 9-12 classroom experience. Involves observation and teaching music under a mentor teacher's direction, five full days per week for one semester. Required for multi-age teaching licensure in music. Return to top
EST 486 Multiage Student Teaching for Art Majors (10 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include all Foundations and Curriculum & Methods courses; 75% of Major Field courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with EDB 400. University-supervised student-teaching experience in two separate educational settings to provide both PreK-8 and 9-12 classroom experience. Involves observation and teaching music under a mentor teacher's direction, five full days per week for one semester. Required for multi-age teaching licensure in art. Return to top
EST 487 Student Teaching for Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (12 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: EST 377; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. University-supervised student-teaching experience in a state-approved special education program serving students with mild/moderate disabilities; five days a week for one semester observing and teaching under the guidance of a mentor teacher. Successful completion requires demonstration of competencies necessary for licensure as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist. Return to top
EST 488 Student Teaching for Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs (12 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: EST 378; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. University-supervised student-teaching experience in two separate state-approved special education programs: one for students with cognitive or multiple disabilities, and one for students with emotional disturbance. Five days a week for one semester observing and teaching under a mentor teacher's direction. Successful completion requires demonstration of competencies necessary for licensure as a Moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist. Return to top
EST 489, EST 490, EST 491, EST 492 Student Teaching in Secondary Education English, Math, Social Studies, or Science (10 hours). Prior on-line application to the Office of Field Services is required. Prerequisites include: either EST 379, EST 380, EST 381 or EST 382; 75% Major Field courses; 2.50 Cumulative GPA; 2.50 Major Field GPA; 2.75 Professional GPA. Must be taken concurrently with EDB 400. Five full days a week for one semester in a secondary school classroom observing and teaching under the direction of a mentor teacher and a university supervisor. Required for secondary teaching license. Return to top
EST 493 Special Topics in Curriculum and Instruction (1 to 4 hours). Prerequisite: May require permission of instructor. Opportunity to explore in depth, with a group having similar interest, a topic of a special nature; individual and group work in the classroom, library, or community under the direct supervision of at least one faculty member and other resource persons as necessary. In many instances, the topic explored may be under consideration as a new course or program to assure student participation in this process and will be included in the seminar title. May be repeated for a maximum of nine hours. Return to top
EST 496 Independent Study in Education (1 to 4 hours). Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and department chairperson. Independent project in a selected area of education; approval by and arrangements made with permission of the supervising instructor and the department chairperson. Independent study hours may not exceed six hours in a degree program. Return to top