Department of Teacher Development and Educational Studies

485B Pawley Hall

(248) 370-2613

Fax: (248) 370-2639

Department website

Chairperson: Cynthia Carver

Elementary Program Coordinator: Patricia Bills

Secondary Program Coordinator: Anthony Tuf Francis

Professors emeriti: James W. Hughes, M. Sharon P. Muir, Dyanne Tracy, Dawn Pickard, Robert Wiggins

Professors: Ji-Eun Lee, Jon Margerum-Leys, Mary T. Stein,

Associate professors: Anthony Tuf Francis, Michael MacDonald, Mark Olson, Richard Pipan, Paul Weinberg

Assistant professors: Patricia Bills, Anica Bowe, Linda Doornbos, Danielle Ligocki, Dawn Woods

Special instructor: Lauren Childs, Linda Tyson

Visiting Special Instructor: Elizabeth Crowder

General Information

The Department of Teacher Development and Educational Studies offers programs designed to prepare students for careers in elementary and secondary school teaching. Both programs are approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) and the Michigan Department of Education.

In conjunction with the Departments of Human Development and Child Studies and Reading and Language Arts, the Department of Teacher Development and Educational Studies offers programs enabling students to concurrently earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Oakland University and recommendation for a Michigan elementary standard certificate (see: Michigan Teacher Certification).

The Department offers a fifth-year program, the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), that prepares students majoring in selected academic fields in the College of Arts and Sciences for recommendation for a Michigan secondary standard certificate. Students interested in secondary education programs should consult the College of Arts and Sciences section of the catalog.

Students who already hold a four-year degree from an accredited college or university will need to complete the Bachelor degree requirements, excluding the general education requirements, or can consider the Master of Arts in Teaching program (elementary or secondary).

Admission to the Major

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the major. Qualitative criteria may be required as well. The program seeks students who are committed to teaching in diverse schools or districts. Underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply.

Minimum criteria for admission to the elementary education major are:

Have official SAT or ACT scores on file with Oakland University
Completion of 12 credits of General Education Requirements coursework with a minimum grade of C in each course.
A minimum of 60 documented clock-hours experience working with children in noncustodial activities. Field experience in EED 2000 / EED 2001 meets30 hours of this requirement. Examples of activities and documentation forms are available on the advising website.
Minimum grade of B in EED 2000 / EED 2001 . (New transfer students who have taken an approved “Introduction to Education” course at their previous institution as well as first-year undergraduates who have participated in an approved teacher cadet program and students completing EED 1000 may be approved to take EED 2001 in lieu of EED 2000 .)
A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.80.
Submission of a completed major standing application to the SEHS Advising Office.

Advising

The SEHS Advising Office is located in 363 Pawley Hall, (248) 370-4182. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic adviser at least once per academic year. Academic advisers assist with schedule planning, interpreting degree requirements, admission to major standing, transfer credits, state testing requirements, certification information and graduation audits.

Professional Program

Upon being admitted to the elementary education program, students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment during the fall and winter semesters in at least one (1) and no more than four (4) professional education courses. Students must follow the required sequence of courses provided at the time of admission to major. Prerequisites are required for some professional education courses. See course offerings for prerequisites and corequisites. All General Education and Professional Education courses must be completed prior to student teaching.

Departmental Honors

Honors will be awarded to students based on outstanding academic achievement, evidence of exemplary professional dispositions and/or meritorious service to the profession.

Retention in the SEHS Professional Education Programs

Retention in the SEHS professional education programs is based on the expectation that students will demonstrate the characteristics of and conduct themselves as members of the profession as described in the program materials. Students may be removed from a program, removed from a field placement, or may not be recommended for certification for: (i) failure to fulfill any such expectations to Oakland University’s satisfaction, including, without limitation, the expectation that they demonstrate adequate and appropriate communication ability and character, and develop, maintain and fulfill their professional relationships, responsibilities and competencies: (ii) academic misconduct; (iii) violations of the Michigan Code of Ethics for Teachers; (iv) failure to fulfill any Oakland University academic or conduct requirements; or (v) violations of any other program or Oakland University’s policies, rules, regulations or ordinances.

Students may also be removed from field placements: (i) upon request of a building administrator; (ii) for a failure to comply with the requirements of this Competency and Retention Statement; (iii) if Oakland University determines that removal is in the best interests of the student, Oakland University, the professional education programs, or the schools where the student is placed; (iv) inadequate planning, classroom management, and/or discipline; (v) lack of content knowledge; (vi) deficiency in oral or written communication skills; (vii) inappropriate personal or professional behavior; (viii) ethical impropriety; (ix) violation(s) of community standards or policies; or (x) failure to exercise appropriate, professional judgments.

Field placements: In addition to the student teaching internship, participation is required in 4 field placements, each anchored to a specific course (EED 2000 /EED 2001 , EED 3001 , RDG 3231 , EED 4270 ) The Office of School and Field Services arranges placements, including placement in culturally and economically diverse school districts. Depending on school district requirements, students may be required to be fingerprinted and have a state police and FBI background check, at their expense, before beginning a field placement.

Internship: EED 4950 must be taken in the final semester of the degree program.

Application for the internship, EED 4950 , must be made one full academic year in advance of the intended enrollment. Students must check the School and Field Services website for the date of the required seminar meeting (held in the fall semester for both fall and winter student teacher applicants) at the time that application is made. Admission criteria for the internship are: a) satisfactory grade-point average and minimum required grades; b) completion of all professional education coursework and field placements; c) completion of all required coursework for the teaching major and/or minors; and d) students placed in K-5 classrooms must have passed the MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) Elementary Education Test #103; students placed in a middle school must have passed the MTTC Elementary Education Test # 103 and the MTTC Endorsement tests for their major prior to beginning the internship semester. Students will be required to be fingerprinted and have a state police and FBI background check at their own expense. EED 4950 may not be repeated.

Students must obtain approval from the Petition of Exception Committee to enroll in more than 12 credits during the internship semester. A minimum grade of C in EED 4950 is required for graduation and a minimum grade of B for recommendation for certification. Students who do not earn the minimum grade for certification can earn a B.S. without certification.

Michigan Teacher Certification

To be recommended for a standard elementary certificate, elementary education majors must successfully complete requirements for the Elementary Education, B.S., earn a minimum grade of a B in EED 4950, and successfully pass the Elementary Education MTTC #103, The State also requires a certificate in first aid and adult/child CPR before certification may be recommended. Successful completion of our program and internship does not guarantee certification by the State of Michigan.

Applicants should be aware that a conviction for a felony or misdemeanor may constitute grounds for denial of a certificate by the State of Michigan. Applicants/students are advised that the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) certifies applicants to teach in the State of Michigan. Neither successful completion of an Oakland University teacher education program, nor Oakland University’s recommendation to the MDE for certification, guarantees that the MDE will certify any applicant to teach.

The MDE, and authorized departments and agencies representing other states, may deny certification to an applicant, or suspend or terminate the certification of a certified educator, based upon their criminal record. The criminal record is generally verified through a fingerprint search response conducted by the Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that includes arrests, arraignments, and convictions for any crime, misdemeanor or felony. Visit the MDE website to view the current specifically enumerated or listed offenses that may prohibit certification in Michigan.

Questions regarding the MDE’s professional practices, criminal convictions or school safety laws should be directed to the MDE. If certification will be sought in another state, the applicant should contact that state’s department of education or appropriate agency or representative.

A criminal record may also prohibit an applicant from being placed as a student-teacher or in a field placement in a school and/or school district. Failure to complete all requirements of an Oakland University teacher education program, including without limitation the successful completion of a student-teacher assignment and/or a filed placement, will prohibit the applicant/student from graduating with a degree certified by Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services, and perhaps from another Oakland University college or school.

Teaching Certification for Elementary Education: The Michigan elementary standard certificate is valid for teaching all subjects in grades K-5, all subjects in self-contained classrooms for grades 6-8 in which one teacher provides a majority of the instruction, and in teaching majors and minors in departmentalized programs for grades 6-8.

Students who complete the ESL endorsement earn K-12 certification in this content area.

Schedule of classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

Course descriptions

For SE course descriptions, see the Department of Human Development and Child Studies; for RDG and DLL courses, see the Department of Reading and Language Arts. The department offers courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty. Specific offerings for each term may be found in SAIL. All professional courses may be retaken only once.