Typically, students begin taking education courses in their second year at Meredith. The first courses introduce students to teaching and learning theory and schools in society. These courses have a focus on teaching students who are academically gifted and students who are learning English as a second language. 

In the second year of the education program, students begin taking their methods courses in addition to studying how to help all students learn. 

In students’ senior year, they complete the methods course in fall. Spring semester is spent in a full-time student teaching experience.

Early Field Experiences: In the teacher education program at Meredith College, you will participate in a variety of field experiences in different school settings. Early field experiences may include tutoring, observing, classroom assistance, small group instruction and informal assessment, allowing you to continually connect what you’re learning in class to what you’re experiencing in the classroom. Early field experiences combined with coursework are designed to prepare you for teaching all students, including those with disabilities, identified as gifted, or learning English. 

Teaching Internship: In the teacher education program at Meredith, you will benefit from the College’s strong partnerships with more than 20 public schools, where you gain real-world experience. The culmination of the teacher education program is the teaching internship, which involves a full semester of student teaching. The internship begins with observing and assisting in the classroom, continues with individual student and small group lessons and builds to full responsibility for planning and instruction.

Because of Meredith’s unique approach to teacher education, Meredith students receive guidance and feedback from education faculty and, in many areas of study, from faculty within their chosen major—doubling the amount of support an undergraduate student would receive from a typical education program. All teacher education students benefit from the exceptional level of attention Meredith provides.

The mission of the Meredith College Department of Education is to prepare reflective practitioners who have the 21st century knowledge, skills and values to effectively teach all students. Graduates of the Department of Education, called “Meredith teachers,” believe that reflection is essential to improving the quality of their teaching. They are able to examine the dilemmas of classroom practice within the cultural contexts in which they teach. They are able to question the assumptions they bring to teaching and strive to understand how their actions impact their students.  Meredith teachers are able to engage in reflection, not only within their own classrooms but also within a community of professionals who have the common goal of improving student learning. 

The vision of the Meredith College Department of Education embodies teaching, learning, leading. We seek to become the premier teacher education program in the Southeast. Our programs strive to be responsive to the needs of public schools, rigorous both in content and pedagogy, and innovative in design and delivery.