ACADEMIC CATALOG >>
2008-2009

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4-7: School of Education

Programs

4-7-1: Elementary Education Licensure Program
4-7-2: Secondary Education Licensure Programs: English, General Science, Mathematics, History
4-9-2: Music Education K-12 Licensure Program

Minor

4-7-3: Education Minor

The School of Education in collaboration with the School of Humanities and Sciences and the School of Music offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Music degrees that prepare students to pursue teaching careers in Elementary Education (K-6), Secondary Education (7-12), and Music Education (K-12).

The School of Education offers a carefully planned professional sequence of courses and field-based experiences within the framework of the arts and sciences. Students acquire and demonstrate broad liberal arts and pedagogical knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to make a difference in the lives and learning of children and in the field of education. The School of Education prepares teachers to be leaders who integrate faith, Christian integrity and ethical decisions as they serve in public and private schools in Colorado, the United States and globally.

Teacher Licensure Programs

The School of Education Teacher Licensure Programs are state-approved and include all requirements stipulated by the Colorado Department of Education for professional teacher licensure in Colorado K-12 public schools. Upon completion of education program requirements at the proficient level and graduation from the University, our students (teacher candidates) are recommended for Colorado Teacher Licensure awarded by the State of Colorado.

Teacher Licensure Programs are performance based with content, activities, and assessments aligned to the Colorado Teacher Performanace Standards and the appropriate Colorado Content Area Licensure Standards. Students apply and meet criteria for admission to the School of Education and specific licensure program. In the professional program students participate in courses, field experience and student teaching assessments aligned with performance standards required of Colorado teachers. The student's academic major includes knowledge and skill assessments aligned with state content standards.

Three semesters prior to student teaching, students are required to take and pass the PLACE or PRAXIS II exam in their content area. Students who are unable to fulfill this program requirement will undertake a remediation plan. The School of Education is not responsible for the timely student teaching neither placement nor graduation date for students who do not pass the examination at the required time.

The PLACE is taken by those students who plan to seek a teaching position in Colorado while the PRAXIS II is accepted in Colorado and numerous other states. As applicable, students can check with state education offices outside of Colorado to be advised of the appropriate teacher examination.

United States Department of Education Information

The United States Department of Education requires that all institutions receiving federal assistance under the Higher Education Act report the following information, collected in May 2007:

  • Program Information: The School of Education had 160 students in the School of Education College of Undergraduate Studies during the academic year 2006-07. 
  • The teacher preparation licensure programs offered by Colorado Christian University are approved by the State of Colorado. 
  • Pass Rate: CCU students taking the state teacher exam from Colorado Christian University had a 100 percent pass rate for the academic year 2006-07.

Screening

Students must qualify and complete a screening process for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program. Application is made to the School of Education Dean. General education or major courses can be taken prior to screening. Professional Courses that can be taken prior to screening include EDU 230, EPS 203, EPS 342, and SPD 310. Only screened students are permitted to register for advanced professional education courses.

Application Criteria:
For the Elementary Program students apply as a part of the coursework in EDU 201. The first required school-based field, EDU 214, must also be completed or in process.

For the Secondary Education and Music Education Programs students apply as a part of the coursework in EDU 204. The first required school-based field, EDU 215, must also be completed or in process. Additional criteria for screening includes:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in CCU courses.

2. Submission of a signed Application for Admission found in the CCU Teacher Education Handbook.

3. Submission of the signed Contract found in the CCU Teacher Education Handbook. This signature acknowledges that the student has read and will comply with the information found in the CCU Teacher Education Handbook.

4. Written documentation of 50 contact hours of appropriate experience as a leader, counselor, or aide working with elementary, middle school, or secondary children. Appropriate experience includes work with athletic programs, church youth, camps, Boy or Girl Scouts, 4-H, Head Start, teacher's aide programs, and can be paid or voluntary within the past five years (does not include babysitting). You may also split the hours between experiences if needed.

5. Submission of fingerprint card and fee (required by state when visiting K-12 schools).

6. Passing scores on one of the following basic skills exams:

  • COMPASS: Reading 85; Writing 85; Math Placement Domain of College Algebra or Higher
  • ACT: English 21; Math 21; Reading 21
  • SAT: Math 518; Verbal 508
7. Written statement addressing the student's Philosophy of Education.

8. Two letters of recommendation from sources outside the School of Education Faculty.

Progress

Appropriate progress requires students to maintain a cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher. In addition, students must demonstrate patterns of behavior appropriate for an individual preparing for a position of public trust. Students failing to maintain professional standards or failing to resolve performance dispositions may be dismissed from the program.

Student Teaching

Students must complete a minimum 16-week student teaching assignment bringing school-based clock hours to the state required minimum of 800 in an elementary or secondary school setting. Successful completion of student teaching requires assessed proficiency on each of the forty-five Teacher Performance Standards/Standard Elements and assessed proficiency on the Action-Research Project, the teacher candidate's example of effective teaching with classroom students. Further requirements for the student teaching are listed in the Student Teacher Handbook and can be obtained by request through the School of Education.

Students must take and pass the designated Colorado teacher licensure exam PLACE or PRAXIS II three semesters prior to student teaching (see Teacher Licensure Programs above).

Due to responsibilities of Student Teaching, School of Education policy prohibits students, during that semester, from holding an outside job either full or part time, paid or volunteer. Extra curricular activities on the CCU campus are also restricted.

Licensure

To be recommended for licensure, a student must complete the following:

  • Successful student teaching - including evidence of assessed proficiency on the Colorado Teacher Performance Standards and assessed proficiency on the Teacher Work Sample.
  • Documented 800 hours of K-12 classroom experience.
  • Passing score on the Colorado Department of Education-adopted PLACE or PRAXIS II licensure test in the student's licensure content area.
  • Completion of all course with a cumulative GPA of 2.75. 
  • Colorado Department of Education application for licensure.

Course Requirements

Students must complete courses in three categories: 1) General Education, 2) Major (Liberal Arts, English, Mathematics, General Science, or History and 3) Professional Education Courses; The University's foreign language requirement is waived for students completing a teacher licensure program, although foreign language proficiency is an asset.

Please note that the School of Education offers licensure programs approved by the State Board of Education; we are accountable and responsive to this outside accreditation body. Thus on occasion a specific major or professional course requirement may be changed from that listed in this catalog to meet dynamic higher education teacher preparation requirements and to assure our teacher candidates are prepared with best practices.