Catawba College is a small liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Church of Christ. We’re located in the southern piedmont region of North Carolina. Undergraduate education is the primary focus of the college, with majors in the arts and sciences, as well as some specialized fields. In addition, Catawba College operates a small graduate program that serves local educators. Utilizing the skills of 93 full-time faculty, Catawba College provides instruction to approximately 1300 students representing 30 states and 12 foreign countries.
The small classroom setting of the Catawba College School of Education allowed me to develop close, professional relationships with my professors which set an incredible example for how I should treat my students.
The goal of Catawba’s Teacher Education Department is to prepare reflective teachers who possess the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effectively teaching students in a diverse and global society. The Department of Teacher Education at Catawba College offers several pathways that allow students greater flexibility in completing education majors and minors while providing different options for future careers as educators. The vitality of Catawba College lies in its tradition of strong academic programs; sensitive, concerned but demanding faculty; diverse students who share a seriousness of purpose; successful, loyal graduates and informed, committed trustees.
Biology (9-12) Chemistry (9-12) Elementary Education (K-6) English (9-12) Language Arts, Middle Grades (6-9) Math (9-12) Math, Middle Grades (6-12) Music (K-12) Science (9-12) Science, Middle Grades (6-9) Social Studies (9-12) Social Studies, Middle Grades (6-9) Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12) Theater Arts (K-12)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
You will declare your major and/or minor during the second semester.
You'll complete EDUC 2000: Introduction to Teaching and Educational Technology, take and pass PRAXIS Core by April and apply to the teacher education program and complete a criminal background history.
Complete your junior year professional sequence. You will maintain a required academic average, take and pass appropriate specialty area tests required for licensure (pre-requisite for admission to student teaching). Apply and be admitted to a student teaching program.
Enroll in a student teaching and EDUC 4500 Professional Leadership Seminar. Complete the appropriate edTPA portfolio. A passing score on edTPA is required for licensure.
Program Hallmarks
All undergraduates participate in internships and service learning during their coursework, providing them with the hands-on application of their learning in real-world, on-the-job situations. Catawba’s Elementary Education majors engage in a year-long internship and mentoring experiences at a local public school. Dual Elementary/Special Education majors participate in an additional semester of internship. Middle, secondary, and special subject majors enroll in content-specific methods classes with internship experiences of 30 or more hours per semester. Enrollment in Internship in K-12 Education allows additional classroom experience ranging from 1 to 40 hours per week of classroom experience.
Students can actively engage in Teacher Education activities outside of the classroom through participation in the Student North Carolina Association of Educators chapter at Catawba. Activities sponsored by the chapter include community service events in the local schools, Professional Learning Community and Professional Development activities, as well as social events.
Prospective education teachers learn to provide instruction to children with disabilities in courses such as Psychology of Exceptionalities and Adapting Activities for Special Populations. In literacy methods coursework required for all candidates, students receive instruction in best practices for supporting ELL students. Candidates in Learning Environments and Professional Practice and methods classes learn strategies for providing instruction to children with disabilities, children from low income families, and limited English proficient students. Effective strategies for working with diverse populations are learned in specific methods classes which are connected with internship experiences in local schools that serve diverse populations.
Students enrolled in methods courses are partnered with a mentor teacher where they observe best practices of experienced classroom teachers. Mentor teachers and college supervisors provide oral and written feedback for informal and formal lessons taught by the intern. During the student teaching semester, the student teacher is placed with a cooperating teacher who provides support and gives oral and written feedback throughout the semester. Each student teacher is observed by the college supervisor numerous times and is given written feedback.
The Catawba College Department of Teacher Education has partnerships with Rowan-Salisbury Schools and surrounding county school systems through Memorandums of Understanding. The conceptual framework, Teacher as Reflective Practitioner, provides the philosophical foundation for Catawba College’s teacher education undergraduate programs. Feedback and evaluation about performance are received from college faculty and school-based partners as a candidate progresses through the program. Students complete an evaluation of their internship experience. Program completers have an opportunity to complete the Survey of New Teachers one year after completion. Data from these evaluations is used in guiding program development.
Stats
Gender
Male
Female
36%
64%
Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
0%
0%
1%
7%
0%
90%
2%
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