Course of Study | Admission & Testing | Special Advisory

Program for pre-2004 enrollees

Course of Study - New Elementary Program

Note:  The information below is for students who enrolled at Albion College in fall 2004 or later.  All those who enrolled prior to fall 2004 should refer to the previous education program documents.

Students seeking teacher certification at the elementary level must complete a teaching major (minimum 8 units), a Planned Program of courses which are pertinent to elementary preparation; and the prescribed program in professional education. Please read through all the information provided in these pages; you will find that they answer most of your questions.  For additional information, please contact Mary Weicht, the department secretary.  She will be happy to put you in contact with someone who can help you (517-629-0588, mweicht@albion.edu).

Field experiences are integrated throughout the Elementary Program to help students to relate theory with practice.  Students observe in classrooms and gradually begin to teach small groups and whole classes during their sophomore and junior years.  In addition, students will engage in an intensive field placement during May of their junior years and will be required to complete a mentorship under the direction of the Shurmur Education Institute Director.  We also encourage students to get involved with programs outside of the Elementary Program, such as Brighter Futures, or Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Students must apply for student teaching no later than January 15 of the academic year preceding the year in which they wish to student teach. The application includes a short autobiographical essay and resume.  Students must make their own transportation arrangements for getting to and from their student teaching assignments. We try to place all Education students within the Albion area. We feel that this provides a multicultural and diverse socioeconomic context. However, if we are unable to place you within the Albion area, we will place you as close to Albion as possible (30 mile radius).

Changes in courses in these teaching majors may be made only after consultation with the department concerned. Any changes agreed upon must be sent in writing from the department chair and filed in the Shurmur Education Institute office. All courses in the teaching major and all education courses (except student teaching) must be taken for numeric grades.

Planned Program (5 units)

• Math 104:  Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (1 unit, spring)
• English 101H; Honors Composition (1 unit, fall, spring), or English 203; Advanced Expository Writing (1 unit, fall, spring, note--ENGL 101 is a prereq. for ENGL 203)
• English 348:  English Language (1 unit, fall, spring)
• Psychology 251:  Developmental Psychology (1 unit, fall, spring, note--PSYC 101 is a prereq. for PSYC 251)
• PLUS one of the following (each requires a concurrent lab):
  --Biology 195:  Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity (1 unit, fall, spring)
  --Chemistry 107:  Chemistry for the Non-Science Major (1 unit, fall)
  --Geology 101:  Introductory Geology (1 unit, fall, spring)
  --Geology 103:  Introduction to Earth History (1 unit, fall, spring)
  --Physics 105:  Introductory Astronomy (1 unit, fall, spring)

• EDUC 201: Processes in Teaching and Learning (1 unit, fall, spring)
• EDUC 202: Foundational Contexts of Education (1 unit, fall, spring)
• EDUC 259: Teaching for Understanding in a Diverse World: Inquiry and Reflection into the Pedagogy of Elementary Math and Science (1 unit, spring)
• EDUC 371: Literacy Pedagogy in the Elementary School (1 unit, fall, spring)
• EDUC 372: Teaching Reading in the Content Areas at the Elementary Level (.5 units, fall, spring)
• EDUC 396: Elementary Education Integrated Curriculum Theory and Development (MayMester) (1 unit, spring)
• EDUC 398: Shurmur Mentorship Practicum (.5 units, fall, spring)
• EDUC 4XX: Elementary Student Teaching (3 units, fall, spring)
• EDUC 4XX: Elementary Student Teaching Seminar (1 unit, fall, spring)

EDUC 201:  Processes in Teaching and Learning (1) Fall, Spring 
Examines four processes essential for effective instruction and curriculum:  observation, inquiry, reflection/assessment, and connections/creativity.  Staff

EDUC 202:  Foundational Contexts of Education (1) Fall, Spring
Prerequisite: Education 201 or permission of the department
Focuses on the historical, social, political, multicultural, and philosophical roots of American public education.  Staff

EDUC 371: Literacy Pedagogy in the Elementary School (1) Fall, Spring Prerequisites: Education 201, Education 202 and Education 259
Examines the relevant research base on literacy acquisition and a variety of pedagogical approaches based on competing theories about literacy. Students study culturally responsive pedagogy with children from a variety of racial, economic and ethnic backgrounds. A central focus will be on the knowledge, skills and attitudes involved with the program processes. The field experience for this course involves critical observation and teaching in public school classrooms. Development, implementation and assessment of lesson plans used with children is required.  Staff

EDUC 372:  Teaching Reading in the Content Areas at the Elementary Level (1/2)Fall, Spring
Prerequisites: Education 201, Education 202 and Education 259
Examines theory and pedagogy in literacy in content areas in the elementary grades, integrating reading and writing instruction into subject matter from liberal arts disciplines across the curriculum to enhance lifelong literacy skills. The field experience for this course involves work in educational settings. The development, teaching and assessment of lesson plans, using children’s fiction and non-fiction literature, is central to the course.  Roose, Staff

EDUC 396:  Elementary Education Integrated Curriculum Theory and Development (MayMester) (1) Spring
Prerequisites: Education  201; Education 202; Psychology 251
This course/experience begins during the spring semester and extends for three and one-half weeks after graduation for all junior elementary teacher education students.  It is focused on learning about and working in the Albion Public Schools with children/youth from different backgrounds, combining theory and practice, and exploring and developing integrative and creative teaching skills before doing the student teaching semester.  Mercer, Roose, Staff

EDUC 398:  Shurmur Mentorship Practicum (1/2) Fall, Spring
Prerequisites: Education 201 and Education 202 and junior standing with a 2.7 cumulative GPA
The Shurmur Mentorship Practicum allows prospective teachers to develop a deeper awareness of the complexities in education and policy issues.   Students are be paired with mentors who work with education policy issues.  They learn to interpret, evaluate and work with current educational policy issues faced by those administrators and legislators who work on the behalf of children and youth. Offered on a credit/no credit basis.  Roose, Staff

EDUC 4XX:  Elementary Student Teaching (3) Fall, Spring
Involves a full-time, semester-long placement in a local K-5 classroom.

EDUC 4XX:  Elementary Student Teaching Seminar (1) Fall, Spring 
Weekly seminar where student teachers discuss theory and methods of teaching, learning, and curriculum and where they critique their and their classmates evolving instructional skills and dispositions.

Note:  (a) EDUC 4XX:  Elementary Student Teaching and 4XX:  Elementary Student Teaching Seminar must be taken concurrently;  (b) No other coursework make by taken during the student teaching semester;  (c) All 200-level and 300-level education coursework must be completed before student teaching, although students may return after the student teaching semester to complete other requirements for their B.A. degree.

Students who begin their studies in Education as juniors or seniors usually need additional time at Albion College to complete requirements. They often graduate with their class and then return to Albion the following fall to complete any remaining elementary certification requirements.

There is a suggested sequence for how to structure your course of study.  This sequence also lays out a schedule of additional requirements (besides coursework) that should be fulfilled at certain times.