Education Major (with Teaching Certification)
Department of Education
Division of Social Sciences
Students selecting the Education major will study the individual in community and the world of schooling. The major provides a comprehensive preparation for prospective elementary school teachers, and an interdisciplinary program for students who wish to examine human development in the context of theory and practice in education but who do not wish to seek teacher certification.
The Education major is designed to help students answer the question, “How do children develop into fully mature, autonomous and self-aware human beings who are capable of both intimate and public communal relationships?” These studies will facilitate an understanding of the development of children in our multifaceted society within the comprehensive liberal arts foundation of the Washington College experience. The Education major provides the opportunity for enlarging our understanding of the development of school-aged youth. This is a particularly appropriate foundation for individuals wishing to become elementary school teachers.
The academic program includes sequenced study in educational foundations (the history, philosophy, and psychology of education), a developmental progression of study in pedagogical theory and practice, a demonstrated knowledge of content in selected liberal arts disciplines, and multi-disciplinary courses from the departments of anthropology, sociology, and psychology.
Field experiences and research are essential components of the major. The major study for the teacher candidate requires a 100-day internship in a Professional Development School; for the non-teacher candidate, the major study includes field experiences in schools or other educational and social agencies.
Washington College places singular emphasis on the completion of a significant independent project as the culminating activity in a major program. The teacher candidate will develop and present a professional portfolio which includes an action research project; the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards will provide guidance and evaluative criteria. The non-certification major will develop and present an approved interdisciplinary thesis that includes field research.
Education Major with Teacher Certification Requirements
This sequence includes professional courses required for Maryland Approved Program Elementary Certification. Note that the Maryland State Department of Education requires a grade of “C” or better in all courses applied toward certification.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 211 | Clinical Field Experiences I | 1 |
| EDU 212 | Clinical Field Experiences II | 1 |
| EDU 213 | Clinical Field Experiences-Elementary | 1 |
| EDU 214 | Clinical Field Experiences-Elementary | 1 |
| EDU 251 | Principles of Education | 4 |
| EDU 252 | Educational Psychology | 4 |
| EDU 302 | Qual& Descrptve Mthds in Social Sciences | 4 |
| or CMS 302 | Qual& Descrptve Mthds in Social Sciences | |
| EDU 318 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Ed | 4 |
| EDU 330 | Diversity & Inclusion | 4 |
| EDU 351 | Processes & Acquisition of Reading | 4 |
| EDU 352 | Reading Instruction and Assessment | 4 |
| EDU 354 | Children's & Young Adult Literature | 4 |
| or ENG 342 | Children's & Young Adult Literature | |
| EDU 411 | Curriculum & Instruction: Math & Sci | 4 |
| EDU 412 | Curr &instr: Language Arts & Soc Studies | 4 |
| EDU 413 | Elementary Teaching Internship (part-time) | 4 |
| EDU 414 | Elementary Teaching Internship (full-time) | 12 |
| PSY 202 | Life-Span Development | 4 |
| Senior Capstone Experience (EDU SCE) | 2-4 | |
| Total Credits | 66-68 | |
Complete the following General Education Distribution Requirements
Complete 2 Natural Science Courses with a laboratory.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 100 | Current Topics in Biology with Lab | 4 |
| CHE/ENV 110 | Chemistry of the Environment with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 120 & CHE 122 | Chem Principles Org Molecules with Lab and Chemical Principles Orgnc Molecules Lab | 4 |
| CHE 140 & CHE 142 | Reactions of Organic Molecules with Lab and Reactions of Organic Molecules Lab | 4 |
| ENV 140 | Exploring the Solid Earth with Lab | 4 |
| ENV 141 | Atmosphere, Ocean & Environment w/Lab | 4 |
| PHY 105 | Astronomy with Lab | 4 |
**Students pursuing a minor in a Natural Science or Psychology should complete their natural science distribution requirement by taking one of the preferred two-course sequences below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 111 & BIO 112 | General Biology I with Lab and General Biology II with Lab | 8 |
| PHY 101 & PHY 102 | College Physics I with Lab and College Physics II with Lab | 8 |
| PHY 111 & PHY 112 | General Physics I with Lab and General Physics II with Lab | 8 |
Complete 2 Quantitative Math Courses
Complete 3 Social Sciences Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 251 | Principles of Education | 4 |
| EDU 252 | Educational Psychology | 4 |
| HIS 201 | History of the United States to 1865 | 4 |
| or HIS 202 | History of the United States Since 1865 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Complete 2 Humanities Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 207 | British Literature & Culture I | 4 |
| ENG 208 | British Literature & Culture II | 4 |
| ENG 209 | Introduction to American Culture I | 4 |
| ENG 213 | African Am Literature & Culture I | 4 |
| ENG 214 | African Am Lit & Culture II | 4 |
Complete 1 Course in Fine Arts (ART, DAN, MUS, THE)