Programs of Study

Program Overview

The Educator Preparation Program at High Point University has long been recognized for its excellence throughout North Carolina and the Eastern United States. It is broadly based within the liberal arts tradition, rigorous, field centered, and highly personalized. All of the educator preparation programs at High Point University are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Embedded within the High Point University educator preparation program is many opportunities to become closely involved in local public schools. Collaboration on a variety of research based projects and partnerships currently exist between High Point University’s Stout School of Education and the surrounding public schools. As a result, our candidates are engaged in many pre-professional activities such as literacy and technology tutoring, mentoring, and assisting with small group and whole class instruction beginning in the second semester of freshman year with EDU 1200. All fieldwork experiences are carefully structured and supervised by faculty in the School of Education so that candidates are challenged to grow in their knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

All initial licensure programs offered through the School of Education include the following components:

• Programs of study focus on 21st century skills that include the development of collaboration, technology, assessment, and leadership.

• All methods courses include developing an understanding of integrated curriculum, inquiry based teaching, growth mindset principles literacy, and field-work to promote an understanding of the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.

• A strong literacy strand has been woven throughout all programs of study that focuses on reading process, assessment, literacy across content areas and writing.

• Technology is infused throughout the programs of study. In junior year, a technology course called Technology for Teachers (EDU 3110) will introduce students to Web 2.0 technologies as well as training in using the SmartBoard and iPad. All candidates will take their final technology course in senior year called Technology Integration for Middle & Secondary Level Classrooms (EDU 4008); Technology Integration for Special Education K-12 Classrooms (EDU 4009); or

Technology Integration for Elementary K-6 Classrooms (EDU 4110). Candidates will combine their technological skills with pedagogical and content knowledge to integrate technology effectively into lesson plans and units. Strategies for videotaping the required edTPA instructional lesson plan occurs in EDU 4008/9/10).

• Concurrently with the final internship experience, all candidates will create assessments and conduct data analyses in order to make informed instructional decisions about the K-12 students to whom they are assigned. Technology integrated evaluation systems such as the Educational Value-

Added Assessment System is also addressed.

Licensure and Non-Licensure Options

Initial Teacher Licensure Degree Programs:

• Elementary Education (K-6) • Middle Grades Education (6-9), Concentrations: LA, Math, Science, or Social Studies • Secondary Education (9-12), Concentrations: Biology, Comprehensive Science, English, Social Studies, or Mathematics • Special Subjects Areas (K-12), Concentrations: Spanish or Health/Physical Education • Special Education (K-12), Concentrations: General Curriculum or Adapted Curriculum • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education K-6 (Phase I Completion Required) • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Mathematics 9-12 (Phase I Completion Required)

Non-Licensure Degree Programs:

• Education Studies (liberal studies major) • Elementary Education (without student teaching and other licensure assessments such as edTPA) • Special Education (without student teaching and other licensure assessments such as edTPA) • Health/Phsysical Education (without student teaching and other licensure assessments such as edTPA) • Middle Grades Education (without student teaching and other licensure assessments such as edTPA)

Add-On Licensure Programs:

• Academically Gifted • Add-On License in Educational Administration • Add-On License in Exceptional Children’s Program Director

Minors:

• Special Education Minor • Health Education Minor • Athletic Coaching Minor • Education Studies Minor

Advanced Licensure Programs:

• MAT Elementary Education K-6 (Phase II Completion is required for Masters Degree) • MAT in Secondary Mathematics 9-12 (Phase II Completion is required for Masters Degree) • B.A. to M.Ed. Program in Elementary Education (STEM, Content or Literacy Concentration) • B.A. to M.Ed. Program in Special Education: Intellectual Disabilities • B.A. to M.Ed. Program in Educational Leadership • M.Ed. in Elementary Education (STEM, Content or Literacy Concentration) • M.Ed. in Secondary Mathematics 9-12 • M.Ed. in Special Education Intellectual Disabilities • M.Ed. in Educational Leadership • Ed.D. in Educational Leadership